One example: Lafayette, California. Lafayette is a community east of Oakland, just over the Berkeley Hills in the East Bay.
Lafayette, with a population of about 25,000, has a small town atmosphere. It is a popular destination for home buyers because of top rated schools, a low crime rate, mild climate, and easy access to other parts of the Bay Area. Lafayette has its own Bay Area Rapid Transit station (BART), and it is only about a 25 minute BART ride into the heart of downtown San Francisco. There are a variety of excellent restaurants in town. There are oak trees on the hills around.
Homes, especially those selling under $1 M, are going fast. They often involve multiple offers. There is now a shortage of inventory. Luxury homes in the $2 M+ range are selling a little slower.
This is a short video about the community:
http://www.youtube.com/
There are other communities in the greater San Francisco Bay Area that are experiencing a similar trend. What the future holds, no one can say for sure, but interest is definitely picking up in many areas.
The Matchmakers is a real estate company specializing in beautiful homes in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, France, Italy, and Mexico. The company is also part of a network of top trusted agents throughout California and across the United States and Canada.
The Matchmakers website is at: http://www.thematchmakers.org.


