Before 1900, the quiet, heavily-wooded Oakland hills used to be considered a rural escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. While no longer the rural escape it once was, the hills have still retained the heart of its rural past. The air is fragrant with Eucalyptus and Pine trees, deer families and rabbits often saunter through yards, and stunning bay area views make homes in the Oakland hills some of the most sought-after real estate around.

Located in the hills east of Piedmont, Montclair is a unique blend of small-secluded-mountain town and bustling urban village. Narrow steep residential streets wind and curve up through dense groves to spacious hillside homes with stunning views. Montclair Village, down at the bottom of the hill next to Highway 13, is a bustling retail district with plenty of shops, restaurants and a popular park with a pond, play structure, tennis courts and a baseball diamond. Excellent schools have brought a recent influx of families to the area, but long time residents continue to add stability.

Learn more in local newspapers: The Oakland Tribune, The Montclarion, East Bay Express.