Bay Area resident for over a decade here. Just moved to DC last year. Wow. I hope to go back some day permanently.

I think price of housing is comparable to DC and even cheaper now after the housing crash.

While people in DC will ask you what you do for a living, those in California will as what you are doing this weekend. Big difference.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. What about San Jose? What area is best to live in - schools, etc.?

My impression of San Jose is very superficial - I have pretty much seen the district where the museums are and the trail near Guadalupe river - it is flooded with all sorts of (apparently) homeless people and these not very clean young people with large backpacks and dogs...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anything outside of SF is truly walkable, or rather, accessible without a car (I am a PP from SF Bay area). I am not a great driver so it upsets me. Yes, there is Caltrain (about once an hour except rush hours), and some buses but it's challenging.
Taxi is expensive outside of SF since everything is pretty spread out.

This is not exactly true. We live in the East Bay. My DH walks to BART to commute to work in the city. Our neighborhood is very walkable and has pretty much all needed amenities. It is true that most people have cars to commute around the East Bay.

you may be right. I don't know East Bay, but what I saw in South Bay...compared to DC area...makes me sad in this regard (but great weather!)

Anonymous wrote:Op here. What about San Jose? What area is best to live in - schools, etc.?

I'd stay away from the South Bay, esp San Jose, if I were you. Affordability is a foreign word there, esp since the FB IPO. According to a realtor friend, everything is going for waaaay above asking price now [think hundreds of thousands over] because of the new millionaires.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. What about San Jose? What area is best to live in - schools, etc.?

Hmmm. I live in the East Bay, don't know San Jose at all. What makes you want to live there? Proximity to Silicon Valley? I ask because some of the qualities (liberal, artsy, walkable) that you previously mentioned won't apply as much in this area.

Are you going to work for Facebook?

PP, any investment advisor worth their weight will tell you to avoid buying a vineyard. Didn't you consult with anyone?

Anonymous wrote:Where can I get a vineyard or farm property? Not OP.

Central Valley, the region between Sacramento and Bakersfield on Highway 99, the most productive agricultural area in the world.

Op here. What about San Jose? What area is best to live in - schools, etc.?

Anonymous wrote:Lots to like about California, but what people are saying about budget cuts is true. For instance, most students attending state schools (whether UC, Cal State or community college) are not graduating on time because required classes are full to the brim and only offered once a year. There's a term called "swirling" which means a college student is enrolled at multiple state universities at one time to get required classes. Tuition and fees rise every year. I would never encourage anyone to attend a UC school.

That's sad to hear. I grew up in CA (orange county) and started out college at UC Davis, but it wasn't for me so I ended up graduating from Long Beach State in So. Cal. For the most part, I had a great college experience. Even though Davis wasn't for me, I still thought it was a great school.

Here are some older posts on relocating to the Bay Area - neighborhoods and schools are discussed.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/197110.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/175248.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/160462.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/160462.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/222817.page

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anything outside of SF is truly walkable, or rather, accessible without a car (I am a PP from SF Bay area). I am not a great driver so it upsets me. Yes, there is Caltrain (about once an hour except rush hours), and some buses but it's challenging.
Taxi is expensive outside of SF since everything is pretty spread out.

This is not exactly true. We live in the East Bay. My DH walks to BART to commute to work in the city. Our neighborhood is very walkable and has pretty much all needed amenities. It is true that most people have cars to commute around the East Bay.

The high jackers need to start their own threads, dearie!

Anonymous wrote:I just moved there from DC. Sacramento to be exact. Also lived in Pacifica and San Diego. PP above is correct in that it is sooooo much better! People are happier and therefore friendlier. I noticed this instantly after returning each trip. I disagree that it's crazy expensive. I was always complaining about how expensive everything was in the DC area, so if you're used to those prices, you'll find it's quite affordable here. Any specific questions?

I think they're happier because they don't know what's going on in the world. California native here. Really, it's all about tech, and hiking, and yoga, and arguing about immigration. Very few of my HS friends have traveled or can talk about anything besides what's going on in their little world. It's beautiful and has great weather (though not necessarily Sacramento). My MIL is from Sacramento and on a recent trip here she remarked how friendly the people were here. I love being from the Bay Area, and had a wonderful childhood. But I'm happy being in DC now and raising my kids here.

Where can I get a vineyard or farm property? Not OP.