Berkeley Place, Fort Worth

Berkeley Place is a central Fort Worth neighborhood in ZIP 76110, bounded by Park Place to the north, the railroad tracks to the east, Ward Parkway to the south and Rockridge Terrace to the west. The land was once part of the Peters Colony and later a grain and dairy farm, and the old farmhouse at 2230 Warner Road still stands. Today it is mostly one and two story brick and stucco homes on streets with sidewalks, ornamental lights and mature trees, many with detached garages and guest quarters, close to TCU, downtown and the Fort Worth Zoo.

The lesson here is that the back of the lot can be worth real money. Many Berkeley Place homes have garage apartments or guest cottages, and buyers will pay for a legal, updated second living space, while an unpermitted or tired one can become a negotiation point. If you are selling, I document what the guest space is and how it was built. If you are buying, I check permits and condition so you know whether that cottage is an asset or a project.