Oakland Residential Security Map

The Beginning of the Mortgage Industry : HOLC Confidential Residential Security Maps for all U.S. major cities were prepared by the Home Owners Loan Corporation [HOLC] , with special assistance from competent local real estate brokers and mortgage lenders, believed to represent a fair and composite opinion of the best 1 qualified local people.

The Home Owners Loan Corporation was created in 1933 and introduced the long-term mortage in practice today

Date: 1937 City: Oakland State: California County: Alameda

Source: T-RACES
1. Quote from HOLC Division of Research and Statistics with Cooperation of the Appraisal Department, San Diego, 1936

Red Zone
Red Zones are areas those neighborhoods in which the things that are now taking place in the Yellow neighborhoods, have already happened. They are characterized by detrimental influences in a pronounced degree, undesirable population or infiltration of it. Low percentage of home ownership, very poor maintenance are present. Unstable incomes of the people and difficult collections are usually prevalent. The areas are broader than the so-called slum districts. Some mortgage lenders may refuse to make loans in these neighborhoods and others will lend only on a consertative basis. Detrimental Influences: Mixed [ heterogeneous] age and type of homes. Cheap older homes predominate. Odors from factories; infiltration of Orientals and Colored Favorable Influences: Convenience to local and San Francisco transporataion, local, shopping centers and schools; priority to industries [walking distance for employees] Inhabitants: Type: Wage earners, shopkeepers, and clerical Ethnicity: Latin,Oriental, and Black Estimated annual family income: $1-2,000 Structures: Average Age: 28 years Repair: Fair to Poor Sales Values: $1500-2750 Investment: Home Owners: %50 Sales Demand/Activity: Poor Rent Demand/ Activity: Fair Availability of Mortgage: Home Building: Very Limited Home Purchasing: Limited Date: 1937 Source: T-RACES

Yellow Zone
Yellow Zones are characterized by age, obsolescence, and change of style; expiring restrictions or the lack of them;infiltration of a lower grade population; the presence of influenceswhich increase sales resistance such as inadequate transportation, insufficient utilities perhaps heavy tax burdens, poor maintenance of homes,etc. Jerry built areas are included, as well as neighborhoods lacking homogeneity. Generally , these areas have reached the transition period. Good mortgage lenders are more conservative in the yellow zones and hold committments under the lending ration for the Green and Blue Areas. Detrimental Influences: Inadequate transportation; distance to local shopping centers

Favorable Influences: Equitable Climates; Convenience to educational facilities. Zoned for one family residential development

Inhabitants: Type: Clerical, white-collar employees, shopkeepers Ethnicity: Latin and Other-5% Estimated annual family income: $12002200 Structures: Average Age: 10-25 years Repair: Fair Sales Values: $2-4,000 Investment: Home Owners: %80 Sales Demand/Activity: Good Rent Demand/ Activity: Fair Availability of Mortgage: Home Building: Fair Home Purchasing: Good Date: 1937 Source: T-RACES

Blue Zone
Blue Zones, as a rule, are completely developed, while holding good market value. They are neighborhood where mortgage lenders will have a tendency to hold loan committments 10-15% under the limit. Detrimental Influences: Some damp climates Favorable Influences: Homogeneous area of attractive homes; convenient to local and San Francisco transportation, educational facilities, and shopping centers. Excellent Climate and zoned for single-family residential use.

Inhabitants: Type: Minor Executives, office workers, artisans, and storekeepers. Ethnicity: no concentration Estimated annual family income: $2-4,500 Structures: Average Age: new to 18 years Repair: Good Sales Values: $3,750-8,000 Investment: Home Owners: %85 Sales Demand/Activity: Good Rent Demand/ Activity: Good Availability of Mortgage: Home Building: Ample Home Purchasing: Ample Date: 1937 Source: T-RACES

Green Zone
Green Zones are zones of high value and are not fully developed. In nearly all instances they are the new well planned sections of the city, and almost synonymous with the zones mortgage lenders with available funds were willing to make maximum loans to be amortized over at 10-15 year period, perhaps up to 75-80% of the appraisal. They are homogenous; in demand as residential locations in good time or bad; hence on the upgrade. Detrimental Influences: Distance to local and San Francisco transportation and shopping centers

Favorable Influences: Characterized by steep slopes and rolling hills, which lend themselves to view home locations and landscapes. Mansions set on large, park-like, tree and shrub covered homesites. Zone to single-family residences. Restricted to Caucasians. One of the best residential districts of the East Bay Area.

Inhabitants: Type: professional and business executives Ethnicity: no concentration Estimated annual family income: $550,000 Structures: Average Age: new to 25 years Repair: Very good Sales Values: $7,500-30,000 Investment: Home Owners: %95 Sales Demand/Activity: Good Rent Demand/ Activity: Fair/ Little Availability of Mortgage: Home Purchasing: Ample Home Building: Ample Date: 1937 Source: T-RACES

Undeveloped Zone
These zones are sparsely developed parcels of the city of Oakland Date: 1937 Source: T-RACES