4.3 out of 10

Homeview

37.5214047142667 -122.271761437985
Great for
  • Schools
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Cost of Living
Not great for
  • Childcare
  • Eating Out
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Parking
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Beach Lovers
  •  

Reviews

2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"Ugly Old Houses But Good Schools"

Homeview is a bit of an ugly strip of a residential neighborhood that straddles the southern end of Ralston between El
Camino and the Bayshore Freeway. The homes here day way back to the post WWII era and a fair number of the residents here are still the original owners. This was clearly the kind of middle class neighborhood that the GI Bill helped to build. The homes are small, barely 1200 sq. ft. many of them and they are a bit cramped in any way that you view them. Also because they are built on a fat grid, they feel more than a little bit generic.

Of course, this combination also means that prices drop lower than in other neighborhoods, with the median home here going for about $500K. These are the kind of homes where half the driveway I is taken by asphalt.

Overall, however, this is a nice neighborhood with very low crime and good schools. I’m still not sure the high sticker price is justifiable in the neighborhood like this, but I can understand why some would go with it anyway.
Pros
  • Great Schools
  • Safe Neigbhorhood
  • Close To CalTrains
Cons
  • Old Home Problems
  • Homes are Too Small
  • Kind of an Ugly Neighborhood
Recommended for
  • Singles
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
2yrs+

"Bland, uninteresting neighborhood"

While not known for much, Homeview is a bland, relatively uninteresting Belmont community. Its flat and very skinny slice of land lies between El Camino Real and US Route 101. In fact, the neighborhood’s quarters only spans about 0.2 square miles with a total population less than 400. But the district is a lot more affordable than other such Belmont communities and offers a top notch school system in Ralston Middle School and Carlmont High School. Demographically speaking, it is a largely white community with a small hispanic and asian minority.

For the perspective resident, the community is relatively safe with some modest and some surprisingly attractive residential aesthetics. Homes are fairly small (one-story in size) and typically in the style of some early 1950’s ranchers. They are usually situated on block-like properties and squeezed tightly along the roadside. As a result, front yards are pretty shallow, but can afford a well-groomed front yard with a single car garage. And there have been a couple new and/or remodeled homes popping up in the last couple years. On average, homes tend to circle around $650,000, which is a drastic drop from the city’s median house price. Moreover, most residents rake in around $90,000/year to afford such accommodations. If you’re looking to rent, you’ll pay upwards of $1,300/month, but you’ll only be paying for a couple eye sore apartment complexes that line Old County Road.

For your commercial needs, you might have to look elsewhere than the district’s main commercial hub that runs along Ralston Avenue. This shopping zone only affords dilapidated options with a few restaurants, coffee shops and anonymous outlets. However, the US 101 is very convenient while Belmont Caltrain anchors the western corner of the neighborhood. Both transit options are great for long distance commuters traveling down to San Jose or up to San Francisco.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Beach Lovers

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