Silicon Valley?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
It makes you wonder why we we all live in places like DC and Silicon Valley. It does not have to be this expensive, this stressful, this competitive. What a dumb way to live a life when there are so many easier places to live!
|
Anonymous
This is the elephant in the room that as more time passes since 9/11, many no longer worry about. 9/11 had a relatively small effect on DC compared to what is possible using much more easier methods. |
Anonymous
| I knew a tech guy who in the mid 90's lived in Stockton and commuted to Cupertino for Apple! Too bad he burned out from the commute and Silicon Valley as he would have been a billionaire when APPL was over $800. |
Anonymous
|
OP, I've posted before, and I'm posting again because I forgot about Cupertino:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Cupertino/22156-Rae-Ln-95014/home/712401 This is 1.098, and it's the cheapest SFH there right now. It's worth it to keep an eye on Cupertino, though, because you may hit on something under $1M. The location and schools are great. |
Anonymous
I actually like it here in the DC area. Would be bored in other places. Silicon Valley is great obviously, but I wouldn't want to trade. |
Anonymous
|
I worked in MV as well, and commuted from Northern San Mateo area. 6 or 7 years ago it would take me 30min. 3 yrs ago, it was taking me 45 min. Today, my friend there told me it was worse than 3 yrs ago. So, if your DH wants to be able to see his kid more than just an hour a day, I would stay close to MV.
Transportation: There is only one major freeway to MV, that is the 101 fwy. It sucks. Most of the big high tech companies are along the 101...yahoo, ebay, Cisco, Google, and Facebook just expanded their campus in Menlo Park, right off the 101 so it made the congestion worse. also, depending on where in MV your DH will be working, Caltrain does go from SF, down from Peninsula, to MV, and also from San Jose. But if the company is not walking distance to the train station, then he might want to cycle or something. Weather is generally nice, so a lot of people cycle from the train station...actually a lot of people just cycle around there anyway so be careful when driving If DH's new company offers a shuttle, maybe you can look into that and live where you want. Otherwise, stick close to MV. That said, here are the pros/cons of cities close to MV. I won't go further east than San Jose, because personally, those areas aren't that great. But you might find that is your only option. Valley: 1. cupertino - medium to high cost - high rated schools, but in some schools, it's like 90% asian, and yes, they are super competitive. Another reason we didn't want to live there. Not being racist, I'm Asian, too 
2. Sunnyvale - cheaper than Cupertino, and schools are not rated as high, but I think there's slightly more ethnic variety there 3. Santa Clara - schools aren't good, but housing is cheaper 4. San Jose - this is one of the biggest cities there, and you can go from cheaper to more expensive. - Generally, West San Jose is the more expensive areas, and the schools are ok. If you are not concerned with High School, then it's fine. The high schools in San Jose aren't that great. - Willow Glen area - very cute area, a bit more expensive, but schools aren't great. A co-worker left there because of the schools - campbell and san Jose east of 17 fwy, south of 85 fwy - schools are ok, not great, but housing prices a bit more affordable - Almaden Valley - it's kind of far, but schools are rated higher, and you could probably get a better value. Obviously, further you are away from the center the Valley, the cheaper it is. I think there's a large Asian population here, too, in case you are looking for diversity. 5. Los Gatos/Saratoga - cute downtown, but it's pricey unless you start going up into the hills, but then the commute gets longer. Also, from LG, there's only one major hwy getting up to MV. Pretty decent schools There's also Milpitas, but I don't really know much about that place or schools. Peninsula: most of the homes in Peninsula are old, like pre 1950's but the construction is more sturdy and I love the Spanish style homes. In order of moving north from MV: 6. Menlo Park - this is a nice area too, but getting very pricey due to aforementioned Facebook expansion 7. Palo alto/Los Altos- very nice, but you can forget about these areas if you only have $800k, unless you can find a condo 8. Redwood City - schools aren't as good, but they are decent. by far, the cheapest city on the peninsula 9. San Carlos/Belmont - good schools, but hilly. Most of the homes have hardly a yard. but it's pretty with all the trees in the hills 10. Foster City - home to Visa, it's built mostly on landfill, but people don't seem to mind. It's pricey and schools are pretty good. Very cookie-cutter though 11. San Mateo - Very cute downtown. Try to stay west of El Camino. east of El Camino is not as nice. Not bad like E. Palo Alto, just not as nice, ergo , the homes are cheaper and schools not as good. West San Mateo schools are OK. North San Mateo is more expensive than S San Mateo 12. Burlingame - very very cute downtown. Closest nice city to SF. They have Caltrain that will go up to SF. BUT, this area is super pricey. Elementary schools are good. Most of 13. Millbrae - not as nice as Burlingame, but it's also probably more affordable. Still pricey, though and good schools. 14. South SF/Colma /Daly city - it's foggy, cold, and hilly. And schools aren't as great. I won't bother with reviewing SF. Honestly, 800K around Silicon Valley will not get you much. Even a small 1200sf house with 2br in a good school district will run you in the high 800's. Might want to look at condo or townhouse. We moved from Bay Area a couple of years ago because of the insane cost of housing for what you get for that insane price: tiny house (compared to most of the homes around where we live now) and mediocre schools. The schools there are not as good as here due to budget cuts. I know people complain about schools here, but it's worse there. Yes, the scores in some of the schools are high, but it's just the test scores. They don't have the variety of programs like some of the schools here. We were making close to $500K and lived in a 1600 sqft house with 2 br in the Peninsula area. when we started looking for 3br and saw what we got for the money in a good school district and close commute to MV, we decided it was time to leave. we didn't like the thought of having a mortgage ball and chain around our necks or a hellish commute. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| I'm PP..forgot to mention..you can expect a bidding war. That's pretty standard even for cheaper homes...cheaper meaning $800K. Our house sold for $100K above asking price. This was 3 yrs ago. It's worse now. |
Anonymous
Indeed. A friend bid $1.2M on a house for sale at $900K.... and didnt get it....! |
Anonymous
Jobs. |
Anonymous
| I would consider East Palo Alto. its not that bad. DCUM people live in Hyattsvillle and such which are no better. |
Anonymous
| Thanks everyone! 21:15, that is incredibly helpful. |
Anonymous
| East Palo Alto has one of the highest murder rates in the country. Don't compare it to PG, compare it to Barry Farms or South Chicago. |
Anonymous
That is misleading. My brother lives there (HHI over 300k) with his family, it's walkable to a small park, grocery store and (weirdly) IKEA. Palo Alto is a five minute drive. The school is not good, but everything else is fine, I have been there many times, beats all the "up and coming neihgbourhoods" I have been hearing about on this forum. Their house is worth under a million. |
Anonymous
most people live here because they have to due to jobs. If we could move, I'd be gone tomorrow to either Colorado or Southern California. |
Anonymous
| Your options will be limited. |