Some families find their home after a long search. The Palmas found theirs almost by accident, and they couldn’t be happier about it. Oksana and Justin Palma, along with their daughters Esmeralda (10) and Jasmine (6), brand-new baby Amadeo, and their beloved chihuahua Neshki, are the kind of neighbors who go all out for Halloween, wave hello from the driveway, and somehow make the whole street feel a little more like a community.
Their path to Blackhawk winds through New York, Ukraine, Key West, and even Bali—a journey as colorful as the family itself. But it was a simple favor for a friend that changed everything. “A friend asked us to watch his dog in Piedmont while he traveled,” the couple recalls, “and we just fell in love with the area.” They first settled in Walnut Creek, but as their family grew, they needed more space, better schools, and a neighborhood that felt like somewhere to really put down roots. Blackhawk checked every box.
A Love Story Written in Tattoos
Oksana and Justin’s story reads like a movie. They met in Ukraine—at a nightclub—and from the very first conversation, they knew. “From the very first ‘hi,’ we just clicked—perfectly,” they say. So sure were they about each other that just a few months into dating, they got tattoos of each other’s names. And their wedding? A true fairy tale was held at Disney World, with their rings delivered inside Cinderella’s glass slipper by a butler. It’s the kind of detail that makes you smile and think, “Of course they did.”
Busy Little Bees and Big Dreams
With two active girls and a newborn, the Palma household is cheerfully chaotic. Esmeralda and Jasmine are enrolled in ballet, acting, coding, piano, art, and tennis. “Honestly, they’d love to add even more,” their parents laugh, “but there just aren’t enough days in the week.” To keep the family grounded amid all that activity, Sundays are sacred. “Sunday Funday” is a standing family tradition—zoo trips, museum visits, movie days—a weekly reminder to end each week with laughter and togetherness.
And then there’s Neshki, their chihuahua and self proclaimed first baby. Justin and Oksana used to drive three hours every weekend just to visit him before he was old enough to come home. “Even now,” they admit with a grin, “we always argue in the car over who gets the first kiss from him when we walk through the door.”
Innovation Runs in the Family
Justin’s professional life mirrors his family’s blend of old-world legacy and forward-thinking ambition. With a computer science degree and a Harvard Business School specialization in innovation and disruptive theory, he’s a tech startup founder with two successful acquisitions behind him. His latest venture, Rentonomy.ai, uses empathetic AI and machine learning to reimagine the tenant-landlord relationship—with plans to launch in over 40 countries.
He’s also restoring a charming 10-unit historic building in upstate New York—in the very region where HBO’s The Gilded Age is filmed—using AI and 3D printing to preserve its original details. It will be the first property fully managed by Rentonomy. His grandfather built for permanence. Justin is building for the future. Oksana brings her own intellectual depth to the family, holding a master’s degree in sociology.
Home for the Holidays—and Then Some
If you’ve driven past the Palma home during Halloween or Christmas, you already know: these people commit. “We always go all out,” they say, “turning our home into a festive wonderland that our kids and neighbors love.” They’ve come to treasure the Blackhawk HOA’s decoration awards. “It’s always so exciting to wake up and see the signs placed in our front yard”—and they’re grateful to live in a community that celebrates that spirit.
After 15 countries, a cross-country RV road trip from New York to California, and a lifetime of adventures still ahead, the Palmas have found something rare: a place that feels as big as their dreams and as warm as their family. Right here in Blackhawk.
By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010
Photos provided by Palma Family