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Livermore Makes Top-5 List of Neighborhoods On The Rise

Real-estate website ranks Livermore as one of the next top neighborhoods in the country for 2013.

Now trending: Livermore.

The growing city in the East Bay appears to be on its way to becoming the next destination for prime housing, according to real-estate gurus.

RedFin.com, a real-estate website ranks Livermore No. 5 on a list of neighborhoods they predict will be the hottest in 2013. And no, we're not talking about the scorching summer temperatures the area is known for.

A San Francisco Chronicle blog post describes the RedFin.com real-estate rankings:

They looked for “shrinking selection, increasing sales, and increasing prices — often at rates far above the metro areas that contain them...In Livermore, listings are down 71 percent, sales are up 13 percent and prices up 20 percent.

Further information provided in this Huffington Post article.

Livermore currently boasts a thriving downtown, a historic wine country, a new outlets shopping center and a deep science and technology hub.

But that's not all.

The area's profile also is rising in the film industry, with commercials and movie scenes recently shot in town.

Do your thing, Livermore. Do your thing.

What do you enjoy most about Livermore and what are your thoughts on the RedFin.com rankings? Tell us in the comments section below.

Sherry Rosso January 24, 2013 at 04:22 pm
I believe what RedFin.com is talking about is trending data, which indicates upward pressure on prices due to low inventory, mixed with their subjective evaluation of Livermore as being a high quality of life place to live, especially relative to the surrounding areas. My husband, Marc Rosso, has been a real estate appraiser and RE agent for 20 years, and is with People & Properties, Sotheby's International Realty, Danville office. He predicted this very trend about six years ago for the same reasons, seeing it's high intrinsic value and low prices making upward price pressure inevitable once people began seeing it's relative value. The thing is, until downtown was made more substantial and up-to-date in terms of today's URBAN (think Walnut Creek) living (the newer Livermore condos within walking distance to downtown), shopping, and nightlife trends, outside of Livermore, non-residents' old perception remained (more countrified, less nightlife, too far out, etc.). Now several years into a great makeover, Livermore's main street has changed perceptions about Livermore having it all, and being worth the commute. However, with this trend continuing, the time to buy in Livermore is now, before summer, and before a year or two or three slips by, and the price gap between Livermore and nearby Tri-Valley communities disappears.
Paisley January 24, 2013 at 05:51 pm
I agree Livermore could become very desirable over surrounding communities, if they can stave off high density housing. However, I doubt Livermore has any control over that. Jerry Brown controls that. He sued Pleasanton to force them to have low income housing. Even Danville looks like it's being forced to do the same. This ridiculous mixed used housing where they sell some at market and others below, are just going to turn into low income housing. It's nice to say you want to help that one family by essentially subsidizing their home, but when they bring their low income problems - the people paying full market are going to move.
What people say they will accept, and what they actually accept are two different things.
a local citizen January 24, 2013 at 06:20 pm
That's incorrect Paisley. Jerry Brown does not have control. The State Legislature has control.
Paisley January 24, 2013 at 06:48 pm
Fair enough. Not that it makes much difference. I should have just said "the government". My point is still the same.
Julia January 24, 2013 at 07:30 pm
Please, do not kill off our beautiful open space with more big box stores, malls, housing.... Let's use the vacant existing strip malls and vacant buildings & plots in town first. The LAST thing we need is more housing & less open space. I see the hwy 580 corridor near the outlets are already filling up with high capacity housing. YUCK! What a shame... it wont be long till we are as over crowded as Fremont, and San Jose.
a local citizen January 24, 2013 at 09:22 pm
Of course there is a difference.You have got to be kidding.
Steve January 24, 2013 at 09:28 pm
But Plutonium is still being shipped monthly into government labs here. Real estate house hunters don't know that.
Steve January 24, 2013 at 09:31 pm
Does Ruby Hill know the General Electric nuclear waste storage is in the hills behind their club house?
Steve January 24, 2013 at 09:46 pm
Jan 30 is public meeting on Livermore labs plutonium shipments into Livermore. Please attend.
Julia January 24, 2013 at 09:58 pm
Thanks Steve! Do you have the details (time/place)?
Paisley January 24, 2013 at 10:01 pm
@a local citizen. In what way? Honestly, I was just being agreeable. Because I've read dozens of articles about this issue, and none of them say the legislature was involved at all. He started this before he was even Governor. (this time)
"In April, 2007, AG Jerry Brown joined an environmental law suit against fast-growing San Bernardino County because its general plan didn't take into account the greenhouse gas emissions that result from sprawl development." http://www.planetizen.com/node/23989 and here http://www.planetizen.com/node/39568 where it talk about Pleasanton.
Paisley January 24, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Additionally:
Brown alleges that the cap on housing forces workers to live elsewhere, thereby adding to suburban sprawl and worsening greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2009/06/25/jerry-brown-sues-pleasanton
John Harrington January 24, 2013 at 10:58 pm
I've always thought that was a bad law/policy the way it is implemented. They need to look at job markets and housing markets more broadly. Livermore should not be separate from the rest of the Tri-Valley. If you live in Livermore and work in Pleasanton or Dublin or vice versa, then that should suffice for purposes of housing/jobs balance.
a local citizen January 24, 2013 at 11:01 pm
And who do you think created that law for the Attorney General to sue a city who is not following that law. Geesh!
Paisley January 24, 2013 at 11:12 pm
What law were they breaking? Pleasanton voted for a housing cap! If they want to change that - they should get to VOTE on it! Not be forced by the AG, or environmental groups.
a local citizen January 24, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Paisley, I have to ask you. Do you now what a State Legislature is and does? Do you know what the role of a State Attorney General is?
a local citizen January 24, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Here let me help you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_attorney_general http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_legislature_%28United_States%29
Paisley January 25, 2013 at 02:20 am
Seriously?
Okay. You are correct. The legislature makes these stupid laws. Jerry Brown "chose" to enforce it. He was not obligated by law to do so. He just joined the lawsuit. And I can only assume there is some stupid law, because Pleasanton "chose" not to fight it.From NAAG: The Attorney General’s brief also noted that the Attorney General, as chief legal officer for the state, “is the only person to whom authority is given by law to appear for the people in this Court.” The Attorney General is also vested with discretion, and part of that discretion “is to decide, with respect to asserting the interest of the state in litigation, what is and what is not in the public interest. http://www.naag.org/decisions-affecting-the-powers-and-duties-of-attorneys-general1.php
a local citizen January 25, 2013 at 02:36 am
Paisley,
It would behoove you to stick with the facts and correct information in place of spouting off the top of your head. For example when you said that Orchard Hardware did not pay sales tax on their "We Pay The Sales Tax Weekend".
Paisley January 25, 2013 at 03:06 pm
For which I acknowledged my mistake on the Patch. Anything else?
Why are you changing the subject. Do you agree, or not agree, the AG has discretion?
a local citizen January 25, 2013 at 04:37 pm
My subject is that you comment with incorrect information.
Steve January 27, 2013 at 06:47 am
It is all about the greed and that is a fact.
Steve January 27, 2013 at 06:53 am
Trish,You are so very correct.However I see one "silver lining", change is inevitable and this trend too will change.Those of us who decide to ride it out will,I believe , eventually see a reversal of the hostile business climate.California is just too huge of an engine not to.It may take some time and I know some cannot afford the luxury of time.Good luck to you in your future ventures wherever they may lead.
Steve January 27, 2013 at 07:08 am
Dear local citizen, Paisley is right about everything.Waste you're time if you want but I could not get a point across involving labor history, because it is an expert in EVERYTHING and it is absolutely, silver spoonly, well healdy, correct in every aspect in the entire cosmos.Good luck.haha.
Paisley January 27, 2013 at 09:59 pm
"Dear local citizen, Paisley is right about everything." That translates to - I argued with her and lost. Therefore she is a spoiled bitch.
Steve January 28, 2013 at 04:52 pm
Lost.That says it all about you.I hope I never meet you in person ...hoark! HAHA!.
Pegyy Menzie January 29, 2013 at 01:13 am
Actually, not to get off subject, but the low income apartment houses you see popping up all over the Bay Area and across the U.S. is a result of Obama's push for granting amnesty to 30 million+ illegal aliens. If this happens nothing in this country will ever be the same.
Punxnotdead January 29, 2013 at 03:04 pm
Umm, I'm glad you tried to not get off subject, but I commuted to Oakland for years before President Obama took office and have always noticed high-density housing located near BART stations. It has more to do with housing supply & demand, and location, location, location. Developers aren't going to make as much money putting in single family homes next to BART, so they build complexes. Bringing up President Obama is a red herring and exposes your bias. As far as aliens go, I suppose you are a Native American? Which tribe do you belong to?
Ms. B February 18, 2013 at 03:40 pm
Livermore is improving, the schools are better than most, and not so good as others but they're improving. The community is being carefully planned now. This wasn't always the case in the past. They still have very poorly planned and "ugly" blight areas (at least more so than most other tri-valley areas.) Contrary to what most believe or even know, they have a small, but ever growing gang-problem that isn't ever talked about, but it's definitely there (read your Livermore police logs and/or talk with school employees.) The downtown renovation is really helping and the addition of newer, nicer homes brings in money and tax dollars. There are more stores that people actually shop at now (can be viewed as good and bad) so it's growing. Property values are still 150-200k behind other tri-valley cities but that should improve. No Bart (that's actually a good thing) but swamped freeways. They'll have to be careful to avoid urban sprawl. Not sure how they're going to prevent/battle the gang problem, though. The more section eight apartments, the more problems. Sad but true.
kk May 10, 2013 at 10:43 pm
I know this is 3 months after the last post. Just wondering if anyone in the Livermore area, commenting here, has seen what homes and neighborhoods look like in middle America. The "ugly" "blight areas" of Livermore, which I've never seen, are probably more like a well-manicured park in comparison to... well, to what actually doesn't exist here in Eastern NM.. spontaneous grass?! Median landscaping?!
"Property values are still 150-200k behind other tri-valley cities"... Property values ARE 150-200k, in the nice part of town, here. (Yes, I know about cost of living.) Although, I think that yalls tax dollars buy you more benefit, in Livermore, than in a New Mexico town. But probably not enough to justify the headache of being a civil-minded resident. That's an easy job, here. My point is this: It's easy to forget just how insular the environment of a small community bubble really is, even if it includes an online community.

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Nika Megino (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 10:59 am
Hi Christian! Sorry for the trouble! I've gone in and reapproved your posts. I did, however, deleteRead More the duplicates. Please let me know if you have any more trouble with posting, and again, sorry for the inconvenience with our Spambot!
Christian Holm June 17, 2013 at 04:04 pm
Thanks, Nika! I truly appreciate your efforts. I just wish the software would get fixed.
Bridget Carney June 15, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Hi Penelope! I am interested in finding out more about your puppies. Please e-mail me atRead More bridget.carney@gmail.com
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 13, 2013 at 07:32 pm
thank you Lauren
Cindy Eckel June 14, 2013 at 08:01 am
Did you try 'Pleasanton Rentals' in Pleasanton...I know you asked for Livermore but this place hasRead More it all!
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Thank you Cindy I'll give them a call. apprecitate you taking the time.
Abby and Buddy
Beatrice Karnes June 13, 2013 at 08:48 am
They are beautiful and you described them so well! I hope that someone steps forward quickly! (IRead More have my quota of cats already.)
TrueRealist June 12, 2013 at 06:35 pm
It isn't up to the gov. to help raise your kids. The stork didn't drop the kid off unexpectedly. IfRead More you can't afford kids then don't have them.
barbieann June 13, 2013 at 08:39 am
Wow, so quick to jump to conclusions and judge. Maybe T.G. BUYS the child's lunch. Every schoolRead More sells hot lunch every day. At the majority of our schools, more lunches are bought than given for free.
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 13, 2013 at 12:43 pm
The schools give us 2 options as parents. 1. Buying lunches on campus or 2. Send them with a lunch.Read More Clearly the author of this chose number 1 and the school was OUT leaving the child with NO 3rd option. Shame on that school.
Jason Morgan June 9, 2013 at 09:33 pm
A great issue! However, the rodeo is nothing but animal cruelty wrapped up as "tradition"Read More and "entertainment". Why would the animal's welfare become a concern now? Rodeo performers have been documented beating, kicking, and shocking normally docile cows and horses in chutes and holding pens. "Bucking broncos" and steers are provoked with electric prods, sharp sticks, caustic ointments, and the pinching "bucking" strap, which is what really makes them jump, they are not "wild" and "dangerous" . The cowboys earn points by spurring the bucking horse. I have seen them up close and many are bleeding. Calves, roped when running, have their necks snapped back by the lasso, often resulting in neck and back injuries, bruises, broken bones, and internal bleeding. After their short and painful "careers," animals in rodeos are sent to the slaughterhouse. Dr. C.G. Haber, a veterinarian who spent 30 years as a federal meat inspector, describes the animals discarded from rodeos for slaughter as being "so extensively bruised that the only areas in which the skin was attached [to the flesh] was the head, neck, leg, and belly. I have seen animals with six to eight ribs broken from the spine and, at times, puncturing the lungs. I have seen as much as 2 to 3 gallons of free blood accumulated under the detached skin." Every national animal protection organization opposes rodeos because of their inherent cruelty. Don't feel bad everyone, I used to love the rodeo too. Before I knew better...
Bonbrwneyes June 10, 2013 at 09:13 pm
Something to consider and not pushing it aside because I feel its unimportant, but what I'd love toRead More have access to is how the riders that were hurt are doing today. Two bull riders got gored, one in the back and he was down and out for a bit and then obviously not "okay" as he stumbled out of the arena and then another that got his leg hurt and he couldn't get himself over the gate on his own. Left saturday's Rodeo hoping they were okay and would love follow up if at all possible. Thanks!
Danielle Nabozny June 8, 2013 at 03:00 pm
Thank you! That is what we want to know too. We have had more power outages this week than in theRead More 20+ years total that we have lived in this house!
Lynn June 8, 2013 at 07:03 pm
It would be nice to know, indeed. When my husband called to report the outage the recording saidRead More there were no outages in our area, which was clearly incorrect.
AT June 9, 2013 at 06:00 pm
I got the same thing, no outages when I called. I requested to be contacted by PG&E to explainRead More the problem. No call for that but I did get a "survey" call about their automated system. We have also lived here for 20+ years and never had this many outages.
Kari Hulac (Editor) June 8, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Great photos, Kathie..was the horse being evacuated?
Kathie Seymour-Sindicic June 8, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Thank you!! Yes this lady was evacuating this horse. It was the only one a saw be evacuated.
Californicated1 June 8, 2013 at 11:45 am
Is it on the hill where the gun range is situated or in the flat land around Dagnino Road?
J June 8, 2013 at 11:51 am
not sure, just checked the traffic maps....just said that is was at North Vasco at the reservoir.Read More nothing on the cal fire website
J June 8, 2013 at 11:52 am
here is another article that has some infoRead More http://livermore.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/vegetation-fire-in-north-livermore
mike June 8, 2013 at 11:30 am
The gun range is in North Livermore in the low hills north of town.
Correen Carrera June 8, 2013 at 11:30 am
Gun range is over near Raymond Rd on the other side of 580.
Elizabeth Kelly June 8, 2013 at 10:33 pm
My grandson is in 4 H, and he keeps his three pigs up the hill from the Livermore gun range. TodayRead More he came close to losing the pigs. CALFIRE came in the nick of time and saved the pigs. The fire was very close, and the owners of the property were about to let them loose. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200491718590317&set=pcb.10200491724870474&type=1&theater