1538 Russell St

$1,549,888 1,929 SQ FT
$803 SQ/FT

1538 Russell St

@ California St - South Berkeley, Berkeley

Map direct
  • 3 Bed
  • 2 Bath
  • 0 Park
  • 1,929 sqft
  • Berkeley
  • Payment calculator
DTCH
  • Favorite
  • Hide
Message Real Estate Refined
  • Sat Jul 11, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    Rarely does a home like this come to market. This iconic 1903 A-frame blends timeless architecture with thoughtfully curated updates, soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and flexible living spaces. Features include a finished bonus attic ideal as a potential 4th bedroom, detached office, spacious deck, pergola, and beautifully landscaped yard. Only two owners in 120+ years. A true Berkeley legacy property.

  • Sun Jul 12, 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

    Rarely does a home like this come to market. This iconic 1903 A-frame blends timeless architecture with thoughtfully curated updates, soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and flexible living spaces. Features include a finished bonus attic ideal as a potential 4th bedroom, detached office, spacious deck, pergola, and beautifully landscaped yard. Only two owners in 120+ years. A true Berkeley legacy property.

Some homes simply provide a place to live. Others create a feeling the moment you walk through the door. This exceptional A-frame is one of those rare homes. Blending timeless architecture with beautifully curated updates, it offers warm, light-filled interiors, soaring ceilings, and inviting gathering spaces designed for both everyday living and unforgettable entertaining. Beyond its beautiful living areas, the home offers remarkable flexibility with a finished bonus attic that is ideal as a potential 4th bedroom, media room, creative studio, playroom, or additional workspace, as well as a detached office perfect for today's work-from-home lifestyle, a private gym, or an inspiring artist's retreat. Step outside and discover a backyard that feels like your own private sanctuary, complete with a spacious deck, pergola, mature landscaping, and multiple outdoor spaces designed for relaxing, entertaining, and creating lasting memories. Lovingly maintained and thoughtfully improved over the years, this home reflects decades of pride of ownership, with meaningful updates that preserve its character while embracing modern comfort. Even more remarkable, this home has had only two owners since it was built in 1903—a rare testament to how deeply cherished this property has been for more than a century. Whether you're hosting friends beneath the pergola, working from the detached office, or enjoying quiet evenings beneath the dramatic rooflines that define this iconic A-frame, every space has been thoughtfully designed to inspire connection, creativity, and comfort .Homes that offer this level of architectural distinction, versatility, rich history, and indoor-outdoor living rarely come to market. This is more than a home: it's a legacy property that captures the timeless charm of Berkeley while offering the space, flexibility, and lifestyle today's buyers have been searching for. Home Energy Score of 2. Open House: Sat. 7/11, 12-2 PM & Sun. 7/12, 2-4:30 PM.

Current Status
New
Original Price
$1,549,888
List Price
$1,549,888
On Market Date
Jul 9, 2026
Property Type
Detached
D/N/S
South Berkeley
Zip Code
94703
MLS ID
41140985
APN
53161028
Year Built
1903
Stories in Building
2
Possession
Close Of Escrow
Data Source
MAXEBRDI
Origin MLS System
CONTRA COSTA
Bed
3
Bath
2
Parking
0
Carport, Drive Through, Parking Spaces, RV/Boat Parking, Side Yard Access, Tandem, Other, Parking Lot
SQ FT
1,929
SQ FT Source
Measured
Lot SQ FT
4,480.0
Lot Acres
0.1 Acres
Pool Info
None
Kitchen
Dishwasher, Free-Standing Range, Tankless Water Heater, Stone Counters, Range/Oven Free Standing, Updated Kitchen, Other
Cooling
Ceiling Fan(s)
Disclosures
Nat Hazard Disclosure, Other - Call/See Agent
Entry Level
Exterior Details
Garden, Back Yard, Front Yard, Garden/Play, Side Yard, Sprinklers Automatic, Storage, Other, Landscape Back, Landscape Front
Flooring
Hardwood, Tile, Carpet, Other
Foundation
Fire Place
Living Room
Heating
Gravity
Laundry
Hookups Only, Other, Inside
Upper Level
3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, Other
Main Level
1 Bath, Laundry Facility, Other, Main Entry
Views
Partial, Other
Possession
Close Of Escrow
Basement
Crawl Space
Architectural Style
A-Frame
Non-Master Bathroom Includes
Stall Shower, Tile, Updated Baths
Construction Status
Existing
Additional Miscellaneous Features
Garden, Back Yard, Front Yard, Garden/Play, Side Yard, Sprinklers Automatic, Storage, Other, Landscape Back, Landscape Front
Location
Premium Lot, Other, Front Yard, Landscaped
Roof
Composition Shingles
Water and Sewer
Public
Fee
Unavailable

MLS and other Information regarding properties for sale as shown in Theo have been obtained from various sources such as sellers, public records, agents and other third parties. This information may relate to the condition of the property, permitted or unpermitted uses, zoning, square footage, lot size/acreage or other matters affecting value or desirability. Unless otherwise indicated in writing, neither brokers, agents nor Theo have verified, or will verify, such information. If any such information is important to buyer in determining whether to buy, the price to pay or intended use of the property, buyer is urged to conduct their own investigation with qualified professionals, satisfy themselves with respect to that information, and to rely solely on the results of that investigation.

School data provided by GreatSchools. School service boundaries are intended to be used as reference only. To verify enrollment eligibility for a property, contact the school directly.

Listings © 2026 Paragon MLS

Copyright © 2026 Theo Inc. All Rights Reserved