Looking for San Fran temps, but lower cost of living (Richmond: houses, buy)

[lauralew813]

Can't afford the immediate San Fran area, but love the weather there. I like parts of Northern CA, but it seems there is much variation in temperature with some pockets of extreme heat in the summer : ) I loved the looks of Redding until I read that it gets scortching hot in the summer. Can anyone recommend some towns in Northern CA I might look into? Looking for an area with lower cost of living (can buy a decent a 3 bedroom for 250K), but not poor. Thanks!

[18Montclair]

Similar to another thread, if you want the Bay Area, the first places that come to mind are El Sobrante, Pinole and maybe Hercules. El Sobrante and Pinole are middle class towns, Hercules a little more upscale, but all 3 have homes in that range(prices are rising tho).

Also, the Fairmeade-Hilltop section of San Pablo and the East Richmond area are very middle class feeling, have the weather your looking for and the prices you want as well.

[Manzanita2012]

It depends on what part of SF for weather, but if you mean cool and foggy almost year around I'd look at Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville. High temps are 50's and 60's year round. Lows not under 40. They do get sunny days, but the ocean keeps it cool. There are houses available for that price. Also there are a lot of victorians in that area, I think old town Eureka looks like a tiny, miniature SF.

[lauralew813]

Thanks so much! It's the extreme hot weather I'm objecting to more than the cooler weather. Every time I have visited San Fran (12 or so times) it's been 60-65. Day starts a bit foggy then clears up and is beautiful. This is my ideal. Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out all those towns. Anyone else have ideas???

[511pf]

All of the Northern California coast (from Monterey north) has the same weather. You might look at both Monterey and Santa Cruz.