Real Marina Group

Homes in Albany, CA

Albany packs top-ranked schools, Solano Avenue dining, and bayfront parks into 1.8 walkable square miles just north of Berkeley.

Alameda County
Walkable School Town
30-40 min to San Francisco
15-20 min to Oakland
55-70 min to San Jose
BART: El Cerrito Plaza Station (5 min)
Bus: AC Transit Rapid 72R (San Pablo Ave)
Ferry: Richmond Ferry (15 min drive)

Why Albany?

Walkable Lifestyle

Most errands can be done on foot or bike thanks to Albany's compact footprint and flat terrain.

Top Schools

Albany Unified delivers consistent test scores, robust arts, and engaged PTAs across all campuses.

Waterfront + Hills

Residents enjoy both Bay shoreline parks and Albany Hill trails within minutes of any home.

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Interactive Map

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Neighborhoods in Albany

Discover the unique character and charm of Albany's diverse neighborhoods.

Albany Hill & Ocean View

Wooded hillside streets with Bay views and quick access to trails.

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Neighborhood Characteristics

Community Type:
Hillside Residential
Home Styles:
Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary, Bungalows
Lot Sizes:
Small to Medium
Walkability:
Moderate

For current pricing and availability, please contact us for personalized market information.

What Makes This Neighborhood Special

Albany Hill Park trailheads sit at the end of most blocks.

Bay and Golden Gate views from living rooms and back decks.

Mix of preserved early-century cottages and modern rebuilds with ADUs.

Solano Avenue Core

Flat, walkable blocks surrounding Solano Avenue's shops and cafes.

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Neighborhood Characteristics

Community Type:
Urban Village
Home Styles:
Craftsman, Spanish Revival, Mixed-Use Flats
Lot Sizes:
Small to Medium
Walkability:
Very High

For current pricing and availability, please contact us for personalized market information.

What Makes This Neighborhood Special

Daily errands, yoga studios, and restaurants within a five-minute stroll.

Weekly farmers markets and the Solano Stroll parade activate the avenue.

BART and Transbay buses are a short bike ride away for fast commutes.

San Pablo Corridor

Transit-oriented strip of apartments, condos, and live/work lofts.

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Neighborhood Characteristics

Community Type:
Mixed-Use, Transit-Oriented
Home Styles:
Apartments, Condominiums, Live/Work
Lot Sizes:
Compact
Walkability:
High

For current pricing and availability, please contact us for personalized market information.

What Makes This Neighborhood Special

Multiple AC Transit rapid lines and El Cerrito Plaza BART nearby.

Newer mid-rise condos provide elevator access and secured parking.

Direct bike lanes connect to Berkeley, Richmond, and the Bay Trail.

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Schools in Albany

Quality education is a cornerstone of Albany's appeal to families.

School NameLevelSchool RatingActions
Cornell Elementary SchoolElementaryView
Marin Elementary SchoolElementaryView
Albany Middle SchoolMiddleView

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Note: Verify current ratings and boundaries with official district resources. School assignments may change based on enrollment and boundary adjustments.

Major Employment Hubs & Local Employers

Albany offers excellent access to major Bay Area job centers and is home to several major employers.

Major Employment Hubs Near Albany

  • Downtown Berkeley / UC Campus

  • San Francisco Financial District

  • Oakland City Center & Uptown

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Top Employers in Albany

  • USDA Western Regional Research Center

    Federal food and nutrition research campus adjacent to Albany Village.

  • Albany Unified School District

    Major employer through TK-12 schools, music programs, and student services.

  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (adjacent)

    Nearby national lab employing Albany residents in science and administration roles.

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Commute Times

Albany offers excellent connectivity to major job centers, airports, and regional destinations.

Commute to Major Job Centers

Downtown San Francisco
El Cerrito Plaza BART to Embarcadero
35-40 min
Downtown Oakland
BART to 12th Street or drive via I-80
15-20 min
UC Berkeley / Downtown Berkeley
Bicycle or local bus along Marin Avenue
10 min
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Airports

OAKOakland International Airport
Airport
20-25 min
SFOSan Francisco International Airport
Airport
35-45 min
SJCSan Jose Mineta International Airport
Airport
55-70 min

Regional Hotspots

UC Berkeley Campus
Bicycle via Marin or Ohlone Greenway
10 min
Jack London Square
AC Transit Rapid 72R or I-80 south
20 min
Albany Bulb & Eastshore State Park
Buchanan Street to waterfront
5 min
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Lifestyle & Amenities

Discover what makes Albany a special place to live.

  • Albany residents embrace a decidedly walkable rhythm - morning coffee on Solano Avenue, biking to UC Berkeley, and evening strolls to Albany Hill lookouts.

  • Family life centers on community schools, after-school music programs, and youth sports at Memorial Park or the Albany Community Center.

  • Outdoor culture thrives with Albany Bulb dog walks, Bay Trail jogs, and weekly hikes up Albany Hill for sunset views.

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Weather & Climate

Quick-hit visuals that show how Albany feels throughout the year.

Temperature Story

Quick look at the seasonal swing in Albany

Winter Comfort Band
Summer Warmth Band
W
S
40°F60°F79°F
W

Winter Comfort Band

45–50°F

Typical overnight lows from December through February.

S

Summer Warmth Band

68–74°F

Afternoon highs during peak summer months.

Climate Type

Bayfront Mediterranean

Overall pattern

Days of Sunshine

260+ days

Bright days/year

Annual Rainfall

23 inches

Nov–Mar showers

Marine fog moderates summer heat, while hillsides stay a few degrees warmer than the shoreline.

Dry summers with coastal breezes, mild springs, and winter rain concentrated between December and Ma...

Comfortable temperatures support year-round cycling, farmers markets, and outdoor dining without air...

Parks & Recreation in Albany

Albany maintains over 7 parks and recreational facilities, from neighborhood parks to large regional parks.

Albany Hill Park

Natural Area

Cypress-topped hill with singletrack trails, Bay vistas, and wildlife habitat.

Hiking trailsScenic overlooksWildlife viewing

Memorial Park

Community Park

Sports complex with pool, tennis, ball fields, and summer concerts.

Aquatic centerSports courtsPlaygroundsPicnic areas

Ocean View Park

Neighborhood Park

Playgrounds, soccer turf, and community gardens near the waterfront.

PlaygroundsSoccer fieldPicnic lawn

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Natural Hazards & Fault Lines

Important information about seismic activity, flood zones, and fire hazards in Albany.

Major Fault Lines Near Albany

Hayward Fault

Approximately 3 miles east near the Berkeley hills

Type: Right-lateral strike-slip

San Andreas Fault

About 15 miles west across San Francisco Bay

Type: Strike-slip

Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Moderate on Albany Hill grasses; Low on flats.

CalFire Classification

Seismic Hazard Zones

Liquefaction Zones

Portions of the San Pablo Avenue corridor and waterfront rest on Bay fill with higher liquefaction potential.

Landslide Zones

Localized landslide risk on the steepest slopes of Albany Hill.

Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone Status

Albany is outside mapped Alquist-Priolo zones but follows Berkeley/Hayward fault retrofit guidelines.

FEMA Flood Zones

Zone Type

Zone AE along Codornices Creek and the Albany Bulb shoreline; elsewhere mostly Zone X.

Flood Risk Notes

Waterfront parcels should maintain flood insurance and elevated utilities due to sea-level projections.

Additional Notes

City encourages seismic retrofits for older bungalows and funds vegetation management atop Albany Hill.

What Locals Say

Hear from residents about living in Albany.

"We can walk our kids to school, grab coffee on Solano, and bike to UC Berkeley in under fifteen minutes."

Marin Avenue Parent

"Albany Hill hikes are my daily reset - quiet trails with Golden Gate views right above town."

Albany Hill Resident

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Local Favorites

Discover recommended restaurants and dining spots in Albany.

Bua Luang Thai Cuisine

ThaiCasual

Neighborhood staple serving curries, larb, and Thai iced tea for over 30 years.

Bowl'd Korean Rice Bar

KoreanCasual

Build-your-own bibimbap, sizzling bulgogi, and shareable Korean fried chicken.

Little Star Pizza

PizzaFamily Friendly

Albany outlet of the Bay Area's iconic cornmeal-deep-dish pizza shop.

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What Makes Albany Special

Discover unique features, historical facts, and notable highlights of Albany.

Solano Stroll

One-mile street fair drawing 200,000+ visitors with parades, bands, and vendors.

Albany Bulb Art Park

Former landfill transformed into an outdoor gallery of driftwood sculptures and murals.

USDA Research Center

Major agricultural research hub tucked behind the Gill Tract.

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Insider Tips

What to know and what to be aware of when considering Albany.

What to Know

BART Parking Fills Early

El Cerrito Plaza lots fill before 8 a.m.; consider biking, walking, or securing monthly permits.

Albany Hill Stewardship

Neighbors participate in vegetation management and wildfire prevention days twice a year.

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What to Avoid

Weekend Solano Traffic

Plan errands early during the Solano Stroll or farmers market to avoid congestion.

Overlooking Seismic Retrofits

Many 1940s bungalows still need foundation bolting and cripple-wall bracing.

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Homes for Sale in Albany

Active listings coming soon. Contact us for current availability.

Coming Soon

We're working on bringing you real-time listings for Albany. In the meantime, contact us to get personalized information about available homes in this area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Albany

Common questions about living and buying in Albany.

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