Located on the Eastern edge of San Ramon, beyond The large Shapell development at The Bridges and Gale Ranch, and close to the Dublin border, Windemere is the most ambitious residential housing development in the San Francisco East Bay ever. Note the spelling. Windemere, not as you may expect, Windermere. There is only one "r". This mis-spelling of the name is quite common.

Work began here in 2001 with the first homes being available for sale in 2002 and early reactions were somewhat mixed. Comments heard from residents in other parts of San Ramon were typically critical of the overall appearance of the development and many likened it to a desert or "moonscape" due to the fact that the whole area was "scraped", providing the blank canvas necessary for the successful implementation of such a large of undertaking. There was also a suggestion that Windemere was "out on a limb" and that it unconscionable that such a large number of homes could be built without providing sufficient "support" such as neighborhood shopping centers, gas stations etc.

Of course those who took the trouble to do so could see that much in the way of additional non-residential development was planned and now, just a few years later, Windemere is becoming a very popular place to live. More than half the total area is dedicated as permanent open space and there are many miles of paved walkways and trails. There are 5 new top-rated schools, 18 neighborhood parks of varying sizes plus a Community Center with a Theater and Library. Diablo Valley Community College is here and there is a pre-school (Acorn Learning Center), a Fire Station and a Police Station. Windemere is truly a community in its own right.

Neither can Windemere be considered to be quite so much "out on a limb" as before. A new shopping center, The Plaza at Gale Ranch, pictured above, has just opened with one of the largest and most impressive Safeway stores in the country. There is also a gas station and a variety of other shops and restaurants.

Given all of the above, one might expect home prices to be above average here but in practice, the opposite is the case. Not only that, but in most cases, features that are generally considered as upgrades, like granite countertops in kitchens, recessed lighting and tile floors, are frequently included in the basic price. Comparing like with like, homes are among the most affordable in the area and homebuilders Lennar, Centex and Brookfield together offer an outstanding choice of home types and styles from 2 bedroom condominiums to 5 bedroom single family residences.

One criticism that is often leveled is that lot sizes are too small here with the homes being very close together and there is some justification for this. Nevertheless, this is not always the case, and those seeking larger lots will find them available. Prices for homes on large lots are higher of course - land is our most expensive commodity in California.

Although homes here are relatively affordable, it has to be pointed out that Property Taxes are rather higher than in other parts of San Ramon. Annual property taxes and assessments can come to as much as 1.7% of the purchase price, compared with 1.25% in other areas. After all, somebody has to pay for the new schools, parks and community facilities.

As in many parts of the country, San Ramon has seen a correction in home prices in recent times but homebuilders in Windemere have continued with their construction and the final phases are now under way. If the past is anything to go by, Windemere will continue to be a popular destination and most people agree that homes here will continue to be a good investment for the foreseeable future.

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