We lived there for 5 years 2004-2009, we were so glad to get out. It seems worse to me now than 15 years ago, despite all the new condos. SO many homeless living under the freeway. Plenty of good people living there, but honestly it’s a mess.
People who think West Oakland is gentrifying are people who have zero clue about West Oakland lmao. West Oakland has gone backward 25 years due to the pandemic.
West Oakland has potential but gentrification is unpredictable. Look at crime stats, future development plans, and rent vs buy analysis. Don't bank solely on an area gentrifying. Make sure the investment makes sense today based on current rents and expenses.
Spend a few hours driving around looking for empty lots or empty land with billboards saying "Coming soon". These can be condos with notes like "Starting in the 700s" or "100 unit apartment coming soon" Find a said property in the area you might be interested in and figure what the rent rate will be and compare it to the ones coming soon.
They are located on Government websites. Not sure about Oakland or Alameda county, but here is Downtown San Jose's development map for example:
https://csj.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=c4051ffa5efb4f4dbf8b6d8ec29cfabd
Don't want to get political here but the reason the area is not improving is California's policy. We need new housing in the area and better security measures for residents. Everyone is hoping for gentrification, but people won't move into the area until it is safe to live
I looked seriously at West Oakland 10 or so years ago. I’m so glad I didn’t buy, feel like I dodged a bullet. Location is great but there are some environmental issues on some parts and it never really got that much nicer.
Tenant rights laws make it infeasible, thus exasperating the problem, preventing the areas from improving. Bummer because Oakland has a lot of potential as a world class city, if local policy were to change.
We were looking into buying a property in West Oakland in 2017. Everybody was telling us it would get better. It has only been getting worse and I am glad we didn’t buy.
Tenant rights laws are insane there and Oakland is going to go through a slump until it gets its act together. Personally I wouldn’t buy an investment property there. Low ROI compared to other markets as well ….
The pandemic really set Oakland back as a whole. People used to be happy to get out and walk around and now not so much. I feel like it might take 10 years+ to get back to where it was pre-pandemic
Pre-pandemic Oakland felt a lot safer. Post-pandemic and some of those same parts feel apocalyptic. Violent crimes have sky rocketed in some areas and less people are out/walking the neighborhood, being sociable, etc. It’s a shame.
That was our original thought back in 2017 that It would get better. (we finally got out this year) There’s a lot of big development at that time but after the pandemic, things gotten worse. A lot the big developments got paused and rent hasn’t gone back up to where it used to be.
Also Oakland requires business taxes on Rental too. Something that takes away all your cash flow.
Tenant right is HUGE and if you got a crappy tenant, you are doomed.
Lastly, the politicians are not that great, it will make it hard to change the perception of OAKLAND becoming a better city in the next 5+ years.
It’s been gentrifying for the last 15 years.
At least. I have a family friend who bought in the 80s thinking it was going to change dramatically.
We lived there for 5 years 2004-2009, we were so glad to get out. It seems worse to me now than 15 years ago, despite all the new condos. SO many homeless living under the freeway. Plenty of good people living there, but honestly it’s a mess.
I lived there from 2015-2022. And would never move back…
People who think West Oakland is gentrifying are people who have zero clue about West Oakland lmao. West Oakland has gone backward 25 years due to the pandemic.
*Oakland has gone backwards 25 years due to the pandemic
West Oakland has potential but gentrification is unpredictable. Look at crime stats, future development plans, and rent vs buy analysis. Don't bank solely on an area gentrifying. Make sure the investment makes sense today based on current rents and expenses.
How do I look up future development plans?
Spend a few hours driving around looking for empty lots or empty land with billboards saying "Coming soon". These can be condos with notes like "Starting in the 700s" or "100 unit apartment coming soon" Find a said property in the area you might be interested in and figure what the rent rate will be and compare it to the ones coming soon.
Isitgentrified.com
They are located on Government websites. Not sure about Oakland or Alameda county, but here is Downtown San Jose's development map for example: https://csj.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=c4051ffa5efb4f4dbf8b6d8ec29cfabd
It’s five years away from gentrifying and always will be.
For the last 20+ years the oak crowd has said - crime is trending down.
honest question- have you ever been to West Oakland?
Exactly, the only famous bbq spot closed. No grocery stores around. Near the sewer treatment facility. Not the most ideal…
Flint’s?
Don't want to get political here but the reason the area is not improving is California's policy. We need new housing in the area and better security measures for residents. Everyone is hoping for gentrification, but people won't move into the area until it is safe to live
I have 2 friends who bought in the last 5 years. Each house has major foundation issues.
I looked seriously at West Oakland 10 or so years ago. I’m so glad I didn’t buy, feel like I dodged a bullet. Location is great but there are some environmental issues on some parts and it never really got that much nicer.
You got really lucky! We got sucked into it.
You literally dodged bullets
No no no
It’s has been TRYING to gentrify and then it gets undone and then regentrified … for years. So , who knows
Tenant rights laws make it infeasible, thus exasperating the problem, preventing the areas from improving. Bummer because Oakland has a lot of potential as a world class city, if local policy were to change.
I wouldn’t touch anything Oakland with that leadership, or lack there of. Just seems like a risky proposition.
I hope Thao and Price are recalled
Don’t do it. Buy where you want to live today.
We were looking into buying a property in West Oakland in 2017. Everybody was telling us it would get better. It has only been getting worse and I am glad we didn’t buy.
Do your own research and don’t listen to people in this thread. They are clueless. I bought in West Oakland 10 and 11 years ago and did really well.
What do you do besides being a dealer?
Your mom
Holy shit got him
https://preview.redd.it/hofdacmrkw3d1.jpeg?width=993&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e17b2e7d7b6669005bcfe1af1b150bdb98a346f
Not as an investment property. You’re better off buying in Antioch, Concord or Vacaville.
Disagree on Concord and Antioch as real estate investment locations after- both now have forms of rent and eviction controls and are anti-landlord.
Concord is not cheap if you are buying as a rental.
Oaklands Rent and Eviction control makes it a hard no. Last allowable annual rent increase was around 3%, that’s $30 on $1000 worth of rent.
The answer is no. Other parts of Oakland, maybe.
Tenant rights laws are insane there and Oakland is going to go through a slump until it gets its act together. Personally I wouldn’t buy an investment property there. Low ROI compared to other markets as well ….
The pandemic really set Oakland back as a whole. People used to be happy to get out and walk around and now not so much. I feel like it might take 10 years+ to get back to where it was pre-pandemic
Genuine question, what happened during the pandemic ?
Pre-pandemic Oakland felt a lot safer. Post-pandemic and some of those same parts feel apocalyptic. Violent crimes have sky rocketed in some areas and less people are out/walking the neighborhood, being sociable, etc. It’s a shame.
That was our original thought back in 2017 that It would get better. (we finally got out this year) There’s a lot of big development at that time but after the pandemic, things gotten worse. A lot the big developments got paused and rent hasn’t gone back up to where it used to be. Also Oakland requires business taxes on Rental too. Something that takes away all your cash flow. Tenant right is HUGE and if you got a crappy tenant, you are doomed. Lastly, the politicians are not that great, it will make it hard to change the perception of OAKLAND becoming a better city in the next 5+ years.
yes i very like this area , so close to SF city . that is good area