2day scouting trip help for San Mateo/Foster City/RWS/Belmont (San Jose: apartment complexes, rentals)

[gordita]

so I have my better half leaving on a full 2 day scouting trip to San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont / Redwood Shores tonight and I thought I would ask for some advice here.

Background:
We're looking for a minimum 2 bd/2 Bath apt. unit or a Single family home rental unit.
Since only 1 of us has a job (@ RWS), we were thinking of signing up for a short 3-5 month rental.
If I luck out and get a job around West bay, then maybe we stay put for a whole yr (and then move, if we choose).
Our kid is 3 yrs old and since both of us would be working, family oriented neighborhood would be a big help.

Budget: Up to $2500 for apt unit or stretch up to $2700 if it's a town home rental...obviously, lower the better..

Questions:
1) Main question is, which specific apt. rental communities should he visit in the next 2 days in Foster City, San Mateo and Belmont?

2) Specific list of daycare to visit or known good ones (and ones to avoid?)? I think I can get a list of certified centers from the San Mateo county website.

3) Areas to look out for and avoid within those 3 towns? area between El camino and 101 is one to avoid? any others?

4) aside from regularly checking padmapper, housingmaps and craigslist, any other sites to visit?

anything else he can accomplish in his 2 days out there?
Apologize for the late notice since he reached tonight.

I must say, we're incredibly excited to relocate to CA and the Bay Area, in general.....

Thanks!

[humboldtrat]

Also check out San Carlos. Lots of apt. buildings in the downtown area which is walkable. Close to the train station, parks, stores, restaurants and a library. A 2 bed apt for $2500 or maybe a little less is doable. It's about 15 minutes to Redwood Shores. I've noticed several day-care places in the area including some run by churches (I don't use them!).

You can look at the websites for the San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo Times or San Jose Mercury News for apt ads.

[jaypee]

Can't help you with daycare referral but you should check out these:

Beautiful Spanish Mediterranean Style Home--Must See! (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/apa/2677291111.html - broken link) ($2700 but it's a cute SFH in a good neighborhood, walk to shops and Twin Pines Lake Park, straight shot to RWS -- no freeways needed).

Quite a few RWS condos in your price range too.

beautiful 2br-2baths twon house (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/apa/2681311919.html - broken link) ($2100, real quiet area in the San Carlos hills but not a walking around neighborhood, lots or deers and other wildlife)

Foster City has tons of apartment/condo complexes and it's hard to distinguish one from another.

[mayorhaggar]

Focus on ads you see on Craigslist, I wouldn't really focus as much on trying to find branded apartment complexes by name. Rentals are always in demand here so apartment rentals are often doled out one by one, you won't really see brand new buildings that have tons of vacancies like in younger cities--though you do see some here and there with several vacancies (though this can be a sign of trouble). Look up ads, set up appointments, and go see the places. Open house viewings are very common here.