Homeowners in El Cerrito’s Mira Vista neighborhood enjoy the same cachet as those who live in Berkeley’s upscale Claremont district — but for a fraction of the price. Tree-lined streets dotted with parks wind their way up the hill, leading to beautiful estates accompanied by impeccably manicured gardens and panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and Marin.
El Cerrito’s Mira Vista real estate includes celebrated homes and mansions that were originally built in the 1920s and ’30s to house wealthy executives of the Standard Oil Company. Many of the homes are still occupied by descendants of those original owners, including the Bechtel and Downer families. The architectural styles include English cottages, Prairie homes and shingled cottages. Custom-designed residences enjoy equal popularity, with numerous contemporary dwellings and magnificent Italian and Spanish period revivals to choose from.
Mira Vista is situated on the north end of El Cerrito and is home to the beautiful Mira Vista Country Club. Abutting the hills of Wildcat Canyon, with grand views of the bay and an 18-hole golf course, the country club hosts many weddings, community meetings and family events.
