Pleasanton forced to have 2524 low income housing units (Fremont, Livermore: transplants, new home)
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New here and all I can say about this posting is ... wow. I've been searching different communities in the area and had considered Pleasanton (among others) as a possible fit for my family. Now I'm a little scared. We are in that working middle class category - mom, dad, 2 kids - looking to relocate to the area this summer. Income is going to be @ $80 k. If we had made different life choices, this might have been more. But since I chose to leave college to raise our kids (felt this was a higher calling than the call of money and material things), we are content to live the rest of our lives in the middle class (maybe this is lower class in Pleasanton).
What bothers me is the underlying tone of snobbery and elitism I find in these posts. We don't care about the latest gadgets or luxuries. We care about family. We've encountered prejudices like this before and do not wish to subject our children to this type of cruelty (and I'm not talking about race, we are white; but the prejudice of money and possessions. That type of prejudice knows no color).
I don't really know what kind of housing we would be in. We are considering renting first to get our bearings, and when we buy, spending between 350 - 400 k. We really are just looking for a nice area with low crime, good schools, and friendly people. We will know no one when we move, and I had hoped my children, 6th and 10th grade, would be welcomed and not feel like outsiders. However, after reading these posts, I keep getting images in my mind of that movie "Mean Girls".
There are very nice communities all over this country with a variety of housing costs and the lower priced housing in these areas are not necessarily drug-ridden slums. If we move into this area and buy a house in this price range, will we be looked down on for it? My husband works, but if I choose not to work 60 hours a week but only part time so I can be home for my kids, will I be seen as a lazy person? Seems like my priorities are not the same as some who post here.
So, where can I find a safe, family friendly area with good schools. Btw, my husband will be working in Fremont (he's leaving for there next week - the kids and I will follow after school lets out). I've looked at Fremont, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin. Where can a midwestern family fit in out there?
You won't get much for those prices in Pleasanton or Dublin. Livermore and Fremont possibly could have some mid sized houses. I would also suggest Castro Valley for those prices and good schools. I think you wouldn't like Pleasanton If you are not into keeping up.
We will know no one when we move, and I had hoped my children, 6th and 10th grade, would be welcomed and not feel like outsiders. However, after reading these posts, I keep getting images in my mind of that movie "Mean Girls".
Your kids won't have a problem. This is a political issue. If the job is in Fremont then look there, and in Newark. Adding a long commute to your life is never a positive. If you insist on being farther away from the job you can find places for under $400K in Livermore and Dublin but they will be older, smallish condo's and fixers. Probably not much in Pleasanton. Renting first is a must so don't even consider anything else.
interesting discussion.
here is my question : the schools in pleasanton are very good. should only the wealthy be able to send their children to good schools ?
how much of a meritocracy is the USA when poor kids often go to substandard schools and most can never catch up to kids in places like pleasanton.
not really an even playing field.
New here and all I can say about this posting is ... wow. I've been searching different communities in the area and had considered Pleasanton (among others) as a possible fit for my family. Now I'm a little scared. We are in that working middle class category - mom, dad, 2 kids - looking to relocate to the area this summer. Income is going to be @ $80 k. If we had made different life choices, this might have been more. But since I chose to leave college to raise our kids (felt this was a higher calling than the call of money and material things), we are content to live the rest of our lives in the middle class (maybe this is lower class in Pleasanton).
What bothers me is the underlying tone of snobbery and elitism I find in these posts. We don't care about the latest gadgets or luxuries. We care about family. We've encountered prejudices like this before and do not wish to subject our children to this type of cruelty (and I'm not talking about race, we are white; but the prejudice of money and possessions. That type of prejudice knows no color).
I don't really know what kind of housing we would be in. We are considering renting first to get our bearings, and when we buy, spending between 350 - 400 k. We really are just looking for a nice area with low crime, good schools, and friendly people. We will know no one when we move, and I had hoped my children, 6th and 10th grade, would be welcomed and not feel like outsiders. However, after reading these posts, I keep getting images in my mind of that movie "Mean Girls".
There are very nice communities all over this country with a variety of housing costs and the lower priced housing in these areas are not necessarily drug-ridden slums. If we move into this area and buy a house in this price range, will we be looked down on for it? My husband works, but if I choose not to work 60 hours a week but only part time so I can be home for my kids, will I be seen as a lazy person? Seems like my priorities are not the same as some who post here.
So, where can I find a safe, family friendly area with good schools. Btw, my husband will be working in Fremont (he's leaving for there next week - the kids and I will follow after school lets out). I've looked at Fremont, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin. Where can a midwestern family fit in out there?
Pleasanton has incentives for low-income households to buy in Pleasanton, and they have BMR programs. See here: City of Pleasanton - Affordable Housing It's an expensive town, but the prices have come down a lot, just like everywhere else in the area. There are a number of starter houses in the low $400's and dozens and dozens of nice townhouses which just aren't moving, which would be easy to negotiate on. You would have to make some adjustments, such as the commute over the Sunol Grade, but ultimately could be quite happy.
I don't really know what kind of housing we would be in. We are considering renting first to get our bearings, and when we buy, spending between 350 - 400 k. We really are just looking for a nice area with low crime, good schools, and friendly people. We will know no one when we move, and I had hoped my children, 6th and 10th grade, would be welcomed and not feel like outsiders. However, after reading these posts, I keep getting images in my mind of that movie "Mean Girls".
There are very nice communities all over this country with a variety of housing costs and the lower priced housing in these areas are not necessarily drug-ridden slums. If we move into this area and buy a house in this price range, will we be looked down on for it? My husband works, but if I choose not to work 60 hours a week but only part time so I can be home for my kids, will I be seen as a lazy person? Seems like my priorities are not the same as some who post here.
I guess another way to look at it is that $350,000-$400,000 is the extreme upper end of the market almost anywhere else. In cities like Austin, Raleigh, Atlanta, Boise, Nashville, and so on half of that amount would get you a pretty nice house. We've been looking around for a few years and in any number of cities we could pick something up for $150,000 or less. We've been living here for 12 years. We've rented the entire time and have lived in 2 rather nice houses. The rent on these ranged from being 4 times to 2 times cheaper than buying. Buying has never crossed our minds. Not here anyway. The financial liability is too great. As a result we've saved up quite a bit of money. That will enable us to move out of the area and buy elsewhere. Otherwise we've done just fine renting here. There is now shame in renting.
New here and all I can say about this posting is ... wow. I've been searching different communities in the area and had considered Pleasanton (among others) as a possible fit for my family. Now I'm a little scared. We are in that working middle class category - mom, dad, 2 kids - looking to relocate to the area this summer. Income is going to be @ $80 k. If we had made different life choices, this might have been more. But since I chose to leave college to raise our kids (felt this was a higher calling than the call of money and material things), we are content to live the rest of our lives in the middle class (maybe this is lower class in Pleasanton).
What bothers me is the underlying tone of snobbery and elitism I find in these posts. We don't care about the latest gadgets or luxuries. We care about family. We've encountered prejudices like this before and do not wish to subject our children to this type of cruelty (and I'm not talking about race, we are white; but the prejudice of money and possessions. That type of prejudice knows no color).
I don't really know what kind of housing we would be in. We are considering renting first to get our bearings, and when we buy, spending between 350 - 400 k. We really are just looking for a nice area with low crime, good schools, and friendly people. We will know no one when we move, and I had hoped my children, 6th and 10th grade, would be welcomed and not feel like outsiders. However, after reading these posts, I keep getting images in my mind of that movie "Mean Girls".
There are very nice communities all over this country with a variety of housing costs and the lower priced housing in these areas are not necessarily drug-ridden slums. If we move into this area and buy a house in this price range, will we be looked down on for it? My husband works, but if I choose not to work 60 hours a week but only part time so I can be home for my kids, will I be seen as a lazy person? Seems like my priorities are not the same as some who post here.
So, where can I find a safe, family friendly area with good schools. Btw, my husband will be working in Fremont (he's leaving for there next week - the kids and I will follow after school lets out). I've looked at Fremont, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin. Where can a midwestern family fit in out there?
80K in the Bay area is at the lower end of the middle income bracket. The cost of living is very high here. These areas are all standard American suburbs, with slight differences in the income levels, and make up of the city. You'll do finr in either one, just do not expect your income to go very far. You are looking at about $1800 in rent for a 3+ bedroom place. Homes in the 300-400k range are townhomes and condos. And that is the low end of the scale. You'd find a 2 bedroom place for that amount typically. Livermore is the cheapest of those cities and towns since it is the furthest out of the immediate bay area. Livermore, Dublin and Fremont tend to be friendlier than Pleasanton and San Ramon, but there are pockets of elitism in Fremont.
I saw pick a place that fits in your budget and give it a try. But make sure you use the cost of living calculators. A family with an 80k income will absolutely need to budget around here.
interesting discussion.
here is my question : the schools in pleasanton are very good. should only the wealthy be able to send their children to good schools ?
how much of a meritocracy is the USA when poor kids often go to substandard schools and most can never catch up to kids in places like pleasanton.
not really an even playing field.
This is both true and untrue, and a catch 22 in some ways. Schools are good because of the values instilled in the kids that go there by their parents. These families place a very high value on a good education and do whatever it takes to ensure their kids are well educated, which in turn drives up home values because successful people also want to be in good school districts.
Typically, top schools are that way because of a family's values, cultural and historical emphasis on education, and parent involvement in the school...everything from volunteering in the classroom, PTA membership, fundraising, and working w administration and teachers to ensure their curriculum and afterschool activities will prepare them for college. On a sad note, many of these schools are pressure cookers, and if your kid can't hack it, they might need the more nurturing environment of a private school.
Bad or average schools are in that position because the kids who go there do not value or respect education. Ironically, poor schools tend to get the best teachers, who are still motivated to make a difference, ... who are unfortunately forced to spend the majority of their class time managing the 4 or 5 students who are being disruptive, or slow (have no reading comprehension or writing skill in 8th grade), maybe esl, leaving less time to challenge those kids with potential for high achievement. Parents are also typically not as involved in the school and many families do not place as great a value on education. Not too many middle school kids will voluntarily do their homework w/o their parents nudging. I believe if the student is motivated to learn and achieve, gets support and encouragement at home, he/she can succeed in average schools. It will just be more of a challenge due to all the disruptions and issues in the classroom.
I grew up in LA, and many families who couldn't afford to buy a home in a top school district (Beverly Hills HS), but still wanted their kid to get a top education, would rent an apartment within the district boundaries in order to attend that school. That is motivation. I know many families do this in the bay area as well in areas like Lamorinda, Palo Alto, Tiburon, Cupertino etc. As a matter of fact, we just moved from an average school district and rented a place in a top school district just in case we cant afford to buy here when my child is ready for kindergarten. Whats really surprising to me is how many families like mine do this around here. I'd say over 1/2 the families at my daughters preschool are renting in my neighborhood for the schools.
I grew up in LA, and many families who couldn't afford to buy a home in a top school district (Beverly Hills HS), but still wanted their kid to get a top education, would rent an apartment within the district boundaries in order to attend that school. That is motivation. I know many families do this in the bay area as well in areas like Lamorinda, Palo Alto, Tiburon, Cupertino etc.
it sounds as if pleasanton wanted nothing to do with this.
so who pays for schools in california ?
is it income tax ? lotto earnings ?
i thought it was property owners more so than renters.
in the form property tax.....
hey wait a minute...could that be why pleasanton fought low income?
it sounds as if pleasanton wanted nothing to do with this.
so who pays for schools in california ?
is it income tax ? lotto earnings ?
i thought it was property owners more so than renters.
in the form property tax.....
hey wait a minute...could that be why pleasanton fought low income?
The people who are involved with the schools make the schools excellent. It's not like an excellent school is built, or that low income folks are told they can't go there unless they can afford it. You don't know what you are talking about. Pleasanton didn't "fight low income", and there are plenty of empty rental units there. Some even for low income. But it's true, not everyone is going to be able to live everywhere...even if the schools are excellent. That's how life works. Places can actually BECOME expensive if the schools become good. And again, it's the people who make that happen.
You don't know what you are talking about. Pleasanton didn't "fight low income", and there are plenty of empty rental units there. Some even for low income. .
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Whats really surprising to me is how many families like mine do this around here. I'd say over 1/2 the families at my daughters preschool are renting in my neighborhood for the schools.
