Lincoln Highlands

Glad that you are considering Lincoln Highlands. We have lived here for 5 years and we love it. Our neighbors are all very nice, most of our neighbors have young children and are very friendly. We have an awesome view of the Bay and at night it's so quiet you can hear the owls hooting away!  We get our fair share of wildlife in our backyard...raccoons, skunks, hawks, deer, turkeys, etc.  It's freeway close to either the 580 or 13. The homes are decently sized with at least 3 bedrooms. There are a few downsides, though.  We live close to the Mormon Temple and because the area is hilly, we have to drive to places to safely ride bikes and scooters and our daughter doesn't like to take walks with the dog because she complains the hills are too much for her.  Lincoln Highlands also has its share of crime, just like other areas of Oakland. You have to stay vigilant. I have found our street to be safe (it's a dead end and there isn't a lot of car or foot traffic). We are also very close to the Hayward fault, but so is most of Oakland hills.  It's not a neighborhood with restaurants or shops like in SF.  You'd have to drive to them in Montclair, or Lakeshore, or on Park Blvd. Our daughter goes to a private school but the neighborhood elementary school is Sequoia which I hear is good.  Hope this helps in your home search. 

I have lived in this neighborhood for years--long enough to watch it gentrify. I loved it then and and love it now too though I did enjoy more diversity in the past. The neighborhood is urban and now has many problems as poverty and desperation is all around us. It is still full of wonderful people who are trying their best in a tough time. I walk every day but do not carry a big purse or a computer on my travels. There are parks and schools and a library and pool (in better times),  The houses are lovely and so are the gardens and trees. The views are amazing. I understand why SF families are coming here and I wish them all luck.
There is a lot of wildlife as we have a lot of food gardens and other lovely things to attract them.  I have struggled with skunks and roof rats at time--urban interface living for sure. Come and take a look!!

I don't think Lincoln Highlands is a very walkable neighborhood. We have friends who live next to the Mormon Temple and we seriously looked for a house around there. We didn't get lucky as we wanted a house with an easy access to a nice sized flat backyard and there weren't many houses that offered that. It's very hilly when you get close to the temple. The shopping area down on Fruitvale feels a bit transitional and I don't feel as safe as I do in Rockridge, Piedmont Ave., or even on Grand/Lakeshore. The view is amazing though. 

Glenview is mostly flat and walkable but it's gotten so pricey around there. :( We put in 5 bids in Glenview and got priced out but my dream house, which I really wish I could have bought is in Glenview. I still dream that someday I can buy that house. A spacious 3+ bed/2 bath with a large flat yard and a separate garage/cottage and mature trees that surrounded the property offering privacy and enclosed feel. Glenview feeds into a very good elementary and middle school. 

Areas zoned for Hilcrest is excellent for schools in Oakland. It's pricey but there are many houses that are not on a steep hill. 

Some areas of Montclair are also not too hilly. Surprising but the houses that are walkable to Montclair village are very nice.

We were adament that we had to keep commute to SF under 45 - 50 min. door to door. So, we didn't want to go south of Lincoln Highlands. But honestly, during the pandemic, we wish we had gone out further to San Leandro or Walnut Creek. For the same amount, we could have had a larger house with a pool or hot tub or both and have money left over to afford private school, if we wanted to. 

If you can afford Berkeley, look north to Berkeley. Much better school options.