Bay area - where to live.

[Anonymous]

I was recently offered a job in Dublin, in San Fransisco / Bay area. Everything about it seems great (the job, compensation, relocation). I am scared of moving! what is wrong with me? I will be the initiator of the move for the family...I guess I wonder if it doesn't work out...This will be in Dublin area (east and south of San Fransisco and Oakland).

Any advice for places to live? Have elementary school children. We would look for public schools.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

What area do you live in here? And what is your budget - rent or mortgage?

[Anonymous]

Lafayette. Grew up there. Great schools!

[Anonymous]

I live in SF proper, and wouldn't really want to live in Dublin. Why don't you look at a Bart map, and look at the towns along the Dublin/Pleasonton line to get an idea of what's nearby. Maybe Walnut Creek? Do you have kids?

[Anonymous]

Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, Walnut Creek - all have schools that rated high (per greatschools). Where are you moving from? If moving from DC proper, then you may not like it as these are basically planned communities - nice, but nothing like city living. I know people that live out that way, and they seem to like it ok.

That area gets pretty hot, so you may want a house with a/c. Also, though that area is not in SV or SF, home prices there are still pretty high.

Schools in SF city are a crap shoot, so I wouldn't do that, and then add to your commute, though it's going against most of the commute.

Pros: weather, weather, weather... outdoor activities year round; Tahoe - great skiing in the winter, water activities in the summer; fall is also pretty there

Cons: water is expensive; CA school budget sucks big time.

[Anonymous]

Love that area but it's so expensive and full of cars...

[Anonymous]

OP here: moving from N. Bethesda area (along Rockville pike).

[Anonymous]

I think we need to hear your housing budget before giving locations other wise just move to Black Hawk. If your budget is under $500,000 your looking at living in Tracy or even worse. You couldn't pay me enough to live out there! Plus the commute is a killer on I580. Lots of nice places to live around Dublin, you just need to be able to afford it.

Do your home work before moving out here.

[Anonymous]

Native Bay Area resident. Yes to pps. I'm not a big fan of Dublin itself. It's really on the edge of what the Bay Area and is pretty suburban. There are areas to live semi close to there but the traffic is awful. I have friends who love Pleasanton and it is very close (I think across the 580?).

[Anonymous]

NP. I am also considering this move but I'm not sure we can afford it. Can anyone guide me to a safe community with houses or townhouses under $800k, great schools, and reasonable commuting to SF (preferably via mass transit)? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I am also considering this move but I'm not sure we can afford it. Can anyone guide me to a safe community with houses or townhouses under $800k, great schools, and reasonable commuting to SF (preferably via mass transit)? Thank you.

Look on redfin or trulia, with the show school option checked. BART doesn't go north of SF, but they do have ferries. BART does go to the East Bay, but it depends where.

South of SF, there is Caltrain along the peninsula, but it stops in SJ.

What is "reasonable" commute? 1 hour, 30min?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I am also considering this move but I'm not sure we can afford it. Can anyone guide me to a safe community with houses or townhouses under $800k, great schools, and reasonable commuting to SF (preferably via mass transit)? Thank you.

Look on redfin or trulia, with the show school option checked. BART doesn't go north of SF, but they do have ferries. BART does go to the East Bay, but it depends where.

South of SF, there is Caltrain along the peninsula, but it stops in SJ.

What is "reasonable" commute? 1 hour, 30min?

Thanks, PP. I'm looking at the Caltrain and BART stops. I would rather have a townhouse closer to SF (and thus shorter commute) than a house two hours east. I would like the train commute to be 30-40 minutes because we will have to add time for door to door. Thank you so much for your help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I am also considering this move but I'm not sure we can afford it. Can anyone guide me to a safe community with houses or townhouses under $800k, great schools, and reasonable commuting to SF (preferably via mass transit)? Thank you.

Look on redfin or trulia, with the show school option checked. BART doesn't go north of SF, but they do have ferries. BART does go to the East Bay, but it depends where.

South of SF, there is Caltrain along the peninsula, but it stops in SJ.

What is "reasonable" commute? 1 hour, 30min?

Thanks, PP. I'm looking at the Caltrain and BART stops. I would rather have a townhouse closer to SF (and thus shorter commute) than a house two hours east. I would like the train commute to be 30-40 minutes because we will have to add time for door to door. Thank you so much for your help.

Unfortunately, that's a tall order. Your best bet is Walnut Creek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I am also considering this move but I'm not sure we can afford it. Can anyone guide me to a safe community with houses or townhouses under $800k, great schools, and reasonable commuting to SF (preferably via mass transit)? Thank you.

Look on redfin or trulia, with the show school option checked. BART doesn't go north of SF, but they do have ferries. BART does go to the East Bay, but it depends where.

South of SF, there is Caltrain along the peninsula, but it stops in SJ.

What is "reasonable" commute? 1 hour, 30min?

Thanks, PP. I'm looking at the Caltrain and BART stops. I would rather have a townhouse closer to SF (and thus shorter commute) than a house two hours east. I would like the train commute to be 30-40 minutes because we will have to add time for door to door. Thank you so much for your help.

Unfortunately, that's a tall order. Your best bet is Walnut Creek.

I grew up in walnut creek. Great schools, great community, I'd move back there in a heartbeat. My dad commuted to the financial district for 20 years on Bart. Commute was 40 min ish. It's gotten pretty expensive but it's a lovely place to live and the schools are good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I am also considering this move but I'm not sure we can afford it. Can anyone guide me to a safe community with houses or townhouses under $800k, great schools, and reasonable commuting to SF (preferably via mass transit)? Thank you.

East of Dublin, CA