Northern California is an excellent place to live and work. San Ramon real estate is on the pricey side, but if you can afford it, homes in the San Ramon Valley are in a beautiful location with top of the line schools.

San Ramon Real Estate

San Ramon is a wealthy suburb of San Francisco and Oakland . It is located in Contra Costa County , California . As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 44,722 and a growth rate of 3% per year.

The average age of a San Ramon resident is 37 years old, with an annual household income well above the national average at approximately $98,000 per year. Home prices reflect the desirability of the area, and San Ramon real estate has continued to steadily appreciate. The median value of a home in San Ramon, as listed on the 2000 Census, was $428,700.

The majority of residents work in professional services, technology, or the sciences. The manufacturing sector follows as a close second, with retail trade rounding out the top employment opportunities in San Ramon. It serves as the headquarters for SBC, formerly known as Pacific Bell, headquarters for ChevronTexaco, and is the co-headquarters, with Oak Ridge , of IPIX. Famous football coach and commentator John Madden is a native of the city and his production company is headquartered there. It is also the home of the cartoon character Dilbert.

San Ramon schools are some of the top in California . Iron Horse Middle School , Pine Valley , and Country Club are all Blue Ribbon Winners. There is a low student-to-teacher ratio in the classrooms, providing students with an excellent learning environment. The schools available include:

Iron Horse Middle School

Country Club Elementary

Goldenview Elementary

Coyote Creek Elementary

Pine Valley Middle School

Cal High High School

In addition to these schools, San Ramon is also home to Chaffey College , a two-year community college, and a satellite campus of the University of LaVerne and University of Redlands .

History: From a Village to a City

The designation " San Ramon Village " first appeared in the 1970 Census with a count of 4,084 people, part of the San Ramon Valley population of 25,899. Developers Ken Volk and Bob McClain built the first San Ramon real estate suburban homes close to the county line. A special district, the Valley Community Services District (VCSD) provided the water, parks, sewer, fire protection, and garbage collection for the new homes.

Before San Ramon incorporated homeowner groups such as the South San Ramon Homeowners and the Homeowners Association of Twin Creeks represented San Ramon real estate residents' interests before the county. They joined service clubs and others in providing a local voice as developments replaced orchards. In 1983, San Ramon voters decided overwhelmingly to incorporate as a separate city and took control over development, police, parks, and other services.

San Ramon is a part of the scenic Tri-Valley area of California . Situated amidst lush valleys, the Tri-Valley refers collectively to the valleys of Amador, Livermore, and San Ramon. The region is renowned for its wineries and rolling hills. San Ramon real estate is an ideal location for outdoorsmen, with easy access to public and private golf courses, horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking trails. The climate remains mild throughout the year. Should you desire, the bustling city of San Francisco is a mere 35 miles away, via the beautiful San Francisco Bay Bridge .

By Greg Hitchcock

A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®