3140 27th StreetOakland, CA 94601Price: $499,000

The Secret Garden. Set in Oakland's Patten neighborhood, 3140 E 27th Street sits behind a deep, terraced front garden. Succulents, nasturtiums, edible plants, mature trees, and a tall bamboo screen. Mulched paths wind past sunny spots and shady ones, and an old brick fireplace sits at the top of the garden. The house is a 1920s bungalow with updated floors and lots of light. Three bedrooms, two baths, and a split-level layout that keeps living and sleeping spaces apart. Up a few steps from the living room, a bedroom with its own corner of the house works as an office, a guest room, or a place to get away. The eat-in kitchen has granite counters, with a laundry and pantry area right off it. Out the side door, a private patio for morning coffee. Off the driveway, a garage with room for bikes, tools, or the next project. Pick herbs in the morning. Grab dinner in the Dimond at night. City living, with a garden to come back to.