Best place to live in Sonoma County? (Santa Rosa, Petaluma: real estate market, low crime)

[get me out of the desert]

Hi,

Could you please share with me your thoughts about the best place to raise a family in Sonoma County? We are so ready to leave the desert and move back to the green hills. We miss the water, the redwoods, the flowers and trees. We want to find a low crime area with good schools for our young children. We also want to be near arts/entertainment/restaurants/culture/shopping/business, etc. and not be totally isolated. We also want to surround ourselves with friendly, open-minded people.

Thank you for your suggestions!

[grlnxtdoor]

I am moving from Phoenix, AZ to Sonoma County. I don't have any suggestions as where to live as I am looking for some myself. I have gotten used to the desert, but I guess I don't really know any better having never lived in CA. Good luck in your search!

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by get me out of the desert

Hi,

We want to find a low crime area with good schools for our young children. We also want to be near arts/entertainment/restaurants/culture/shopping/business, etc. and not be totally isolated. We also want to surround ourselves with friendly, open-minded people.

Thank you for your suggestions!

In other words...you want what everybody else wants! And that puts you in the high demand/low supply end of the real estate market. That means you might find what you're looking for, but it will cost you. Petaluma, Sebastopol, Healdsburg...there are lots of places that offer what you want, but you'll need at least $300k in transferable equity to get in. Sonoma County is one of the least affordable real estate markets in the country. If you also need to find employment, well then your troubles are tripled.

[Kitebird]

Yes, Steve does hit the finish nail right on the head, with his ten pound finishing hammer!
When others ask - what he likes most about his work, he may reply spuriously: "The Smiles I leave around my Nails!"
Superior Knowledge alone without humility, caring & respect - destroys the working material and the learning/apprenticeship process towards quality craftsmanship. When people are asking for help - openly - trying find a better way/place can we not help them in a more mature way?

"In other words...you want what everybody else wants!"
"the least affordable real estate markets in the country"
"well then your troubles are tripled"

_These are all _ego_ Smiles_
Thank God, Im not his HS student living in Brooking!


So on a more helpful note:
When you start out, most jobs are going to be in or around Santa Rosa. Stay away from living in the south part.
OMHO, I would be looking around Cotati (good Montessori school & College Town) & Sebastopol (entertainment, art, culture & awareness) - then expand out to around the Forestville area +/- say just north up into the Russian River by Mirabel Park - then the Fitch Mt. areas of Healdsburg. Then lastly the west side of Petaluma (the schools there from my childhood - were just so so, including the teachers!!!)

Pricey, yes - hard to find, yes. But I found many a place(s) in the out lying countryside, for a dog and good enough for my kids too. So Like anywhere, If your a good person, live there for a little while, look & work hard, & you will find it! Vision your life - & then Build towards a good foundation for your dreams.

Coming from Phoenix, Sonoma County will be like a breath of fresh Air.
But - I did leave Sonoma County, Why?
Because I wanted better - less sprawl, and even more fresh air. I worked, saved, built, learned, and now have an occupation that I can live most anywhere. So yes, onward to our new dreams!