Want to move to SF-lite. Where do you suggest?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by DayLag

This may sound strange but which towns/'burbs are most like SF in the bay area? I want to move out of SF but my job is here (downtown) and I'm willing to commute an hour each way (bad I know, but I'm ok with it).
I guess what I'm looking for is SF-lite with a reasonable commute to SF. And I want a big backyard, no compromise on that lol. Ideas?

Parts of Berkeley are very walkable and near commuter transit to SF (buses or BART), but it's pricier. The south side of El Cerrito bordering on Berkeley--also walkable, might be a little more affordable, same for Albany.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by HappyinCali

Agree with everyone on Transportation. I think Alameda probably comes closest to fitting the requirements.

- Detached houses
- Very walkable
- Very good # of things to do along the main street. Excellent restaurants
- access to BART via a short drive/bus
- don't know about schools
- 5-6 bedroom house will be definitely over a million. Have no idea, but our relative has a really nice house with 3 or 4 bedrooms and he bought it post 2007 bubble for like $800k. Definitely worth more now

Some areas in Oakland might fit the bill, too, but I don't know the nice areas well enough.

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Parts of Berkeley are very walkable and near commuter transit to SF (buses or BART), but it's pricier. The south side of El Cerrito bordering on Berkeley--also walkable, might be a little more affordable, same for Albany.

OPs number one problem is home size. Most areas in the inner east bay that would fit the bill for walkability do not really have big homes. The areas that tend to have big homes in abundance do not tend to be very walkable. For example, Crocker Highland or Trestle Glen in Oakland are lovely, but there is no inventory of 5 bedrooms. The only type of home that has lots of bedrooms that is sort of common in the Bay Area, are Victorians. Oakland has lots, but most are in West Oakland, so they do not meet is walkability requirement (no amenities, and lots of the Victorian blocks are OK or marginal).

Albany? No Victorians. Berkeley? There are some larger homes, but many aren't well located for walkability. Living by Tilden Park isn't going to help your cause for walkability.

OP is looking for a unicorn, unless he has $1M to spend (either list price or list + renos)

[NorCal Dude]

Mooodesto

[PhegisRilbin]

Originally Posted by eastmemphisguy

You want a single house with a big yard, but you want to be able to walk everywhere. Those two points are diametrically opposed. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Exactly. Choose one or the other, OP.