Pinole, California

Pinole is a small community that offers younger families some entry point pricing for purchasing a home. The town is mostly 2 bed/1 bath or 3 bed/2 bath ranch style homes that were built in the 60’s and 70’s with a median home price of $684k. If the homes have been renovated since they were built they’ll be above that $700k mark and if they haven’t then you can find them in the $500k’s and low $600k's. For the Bay Area these prices are amazing and offer younger families or retirees a way to own their home. It’s also nice for younger families because other than property crime in the big box areas, Pinole is a safe community and neighbors look out for each other in ways locals in other bigger cities do not.

Pinole does not have a BART stop which means if you’re commuting to work you will have to wrestle the bear that is the 80 freeway. That’s a fate you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. The local economy is mostly service jobs at big box stores and professional jobs serving neighbors. Our recommendation if you’re considering Pinole is to be a work-from-homer all or most of the time, or have a job in a nearby community where you can stick to side streets.

Pinole is a bedroom community with little going on in town. Locals spend the majority of their time raising their children, getting them to school, helping them with sports and extracurriculars and hanging out in the local parks and trails. They also take advantage of the close proximity to the amenities of Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco, which are all just 20 or 30 minutes away (outside rush hour). There are some amazing trails for hiking running above the coast and of course Pinole sits along the San Pablo Bay so you have access to water lifestyle via Bayfront Park and Pinole Shores Park. Pinole Shores is a 2,432-acre parkland that offers amazing views of Mt. Tam, the Marin shoreline and the bay. While there may not be a great commercial district in Pinole, there is amazing access to an outdoor lifestyle.

It is good to know that Old Town Pinole has several restaurants, pubs and cafes so you can get a drink and a meal without leaving town. There are plans for more development, which would be most welcome.