You've received some good info from the others. Desirability of area, however, is purely an individual thing. Some people like the neighborhood feel - a community with a HOA and some continuity of structures. Others like a more rural setting with very different homes and, perhaps, views and/or separation of homes. Also, new vs. older construction will vary from one person to the other.

Alamo has about 5,900 homes on about 20.6 square miles compared to Danville (inclusive of Blackhawk) with about 21,200 homes on 18.1 square miles. Both Alamo and Danville are considered to be excellent areas to live along the East Bay's 680 corridor.

Alamo's median selling price for a detached home (condos and townhomes are not included in these stats) throughout the first 9 months of 2009 was $1,200,000 (average of about $1,361,000) with a median square footage of 3,316, a median price per square foot of $378 and a median build year of 1979. Danville's median selling price for the same period was about $860,000 (average of about $965,000) with a median square footage of 2,686, a median selling price per square foot of $333 and a median build year of 1987.

Whomever you select to work with will be glad to go over the many areas. But, in order to answer your question of most desirable areas, one would have to know more about you and the type of home and area you like. Good luck to you in your search.

Gary Civello
Owner/Broker/Realtor
Ironhorse Real Estate Services
Tel #: 925-939-2743; Cell #: 925-984-3715
Email: gcivello@sbcglobal.net
Website: http://www.680corridor.com

Hello Ourregroup,

The realtors that have answered have fantastic information about the two communities. Most of us are up to date on the inventory and characteristics of the county as a whole. I would advise you to interview a few agents to find the one that best suits your personality and style. Like any relationship, it should be built on trust that the realtor is honest, hard working and knowlegable.
Good luck to you,
Suzanne Looker

Ourregroup,

Here is the link to my Buyer Resources page on my web site. There you will find community brochures for both Danville and Alamo that are free to download in PDF format.

Happy house hunting!

Arturo C.Shivers, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
760 Camino Ramon, Suite 200
Danville, CA 94526

Ourregroup,

Danville and Alamo have very different characters and what people consider desireable is a function of taste. Both areas are very affluent.

Alamo is more mature and is governed by the country (for the time being) and Danville is its own town. This matters in a general way when it comes to civic functions such as police and construction/development. This can be seen by simply doing a drive through the areas. A majority of Alamo are larger mature custom and semi-custom homes with some newer upscale development. Danville is more uniform thorugh the neighborhoods in the town. The two towns share a school district that is relatively uniform in terms of test score, though mamagement of individual schools will vary. I advise you check state test sites for more details.

Out in the McGee Ranch and Blackhawk areas you are offered many amenitites at the cusp of the high end of the real estate market. Alamo nd more specifically Roundhill, Whitegate (Bryan Ranch), and Stonegate provide an equal alternative in price and amenitiy. Both have higher priced homes (exclusive of Diablo C.C.) in pockets throughout the community though the prepoderance of the 1.5+ market is more evenly distributed through Alamo.

The gem of both areas (consideing the price point) are the "Westside" neighborhoods up on the hills. Many of these homes have stunning views of Mt. Diablo from backyards, decks, living space, or kitchens. The price commanded by these homes, aside from typical home characteristics, are a function of flat lot, age, condition and elevation on the hill. Properly designed and updated homes have and do command premium prices.

I have lived in the San Rmaon Valley and Danvill since 1989 and would love to help. If you would like to have a discussion over coffee, It would be my pleasure.

Bob 'Love' Georgiou
RE/MAX Accord
Broker, ABR, e-Pro, GRI, CRS
Lic #01270522
http://www.bob2sell.com
925 980 3248

Buy and sell homes like an investment and make every dollar work!

LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobgeorgiou

Hello Ourregroup,

You'll find the monthly real estate market updates posted at http://vickiesellshomes.com/category/danville-ca/danville-ca… including archives going back a year.

This site at http://www.VickieSellsHomes.com is chock full of city and neighborhood reports.

Kindest Regards,
Vickie Nagy
925.407.7987
Keller Williams Realty
CA DRE#01363932

For question #1, there are only four active listings in Magee Ranch at present. Prices range from $999,900 to $1,429,000.

For question #2, you have to decide what you are looking for. Would you like an older charming home with a larger lot that has been updated or a newer home built to today's standards? On the west side of I680, Danville and Alamo, you will find more custom, semi-custom and older ranch style homes. On the east side of I680, you will find more master-planned communities. One benefit to the west side is proximity to downtown. A benefit to the east side is more newer homes and new schools to choose from but the sacrifice is a farther commute to anywhere out of town.

If you are considering Magee Ranch, I would be happy to help get you into your next home.

Arturo C. Shivers, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty

Good evening ... First welcome to the East Bay. You are now residents of at least one of the best places in the country to live. McGee Ranch contains both semi-custom and full custom homes. And the range of prices is large running from $1 million to over $2.1 million for a couple of recent sales. It is a delightful community with a great sense of being way out in the country and yet reasonably accessible to almost everything.

There are literally no undesirable areas of either Danville or Alamo (I know that sounds like a Realtor talking). We do have a wide variety ranging from post World War II bungalows to long, low ranchers on big flat lots to very upscale mansions on several acres for several million dollars.

The averages in Danville are apx $1,050,000 list price and $919,000 sale price, while Alamo is at $1,135,000 list and $1,028,000 sale price.

We can find new, old, view homes, big yards, small yards, isolated and downtown. Let me know what your ideal home is and we'll go find it.

Contact me at your convenience at 925-408-0037 or email at: Steve@SteveCurtisHome.com .

SteveCurtis
Broker / Owner
Windermere