Moving to SF bay area. Help!

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

There was a thread about Brentwood not long ago. You should be able to find it using the search feature. What I came away from that thread remembering, was a post by a person who had grown up there and she begged people not to raise their kids there - as I recall she said something about a high rate of teen pregnancy? Read it to be sure. Can't always trust my memory :-) It sounded too small town-ish for me, at any rate, is what I recall.

I also remember people saying the commute is difficult because of the roads involved.

Get some feedback about the Pittsburgh and Antioch BART stations. My knowledge of Pittsburgh is that there is a lot of violent crime there, and apparently this has bled into Antioch, too, from what I've been hearing. Just be sure you'll be safe, if you have to go into these towns.

[reeve99]

Thanks that explains a lot. I did see the sign for a couple iod those.

[jade408]

A friend of mine lives in Brentwood and used to work in SF. It took her 2 hours each way. I don't know how she did it.

She now works in walnut creek, but she did that commute for like 5 years.

There is no BART station in Antioch, it is a separate train thing that connects to the BART station. The Pittsburg BART station is ok, but I imagine the waiting list for a parking space is very long, considering most stations have waiting lists. It took my friend 2 years to get a parking permit in walnut creek.

Being perfectly frank, if you have to have new construction, and a budget under $700k the Bay Area is not for you. Places with new construction tend to be very far out. You quality of life would decrease significantly. Places closer in rarely have new construction.

Livermore is closer than Brentwood, and Dublin/Pleasanton have 2 BART stations. Probably a better choice.

[Jasmine658]

Pacifica, in Linda Mar or Park Pacifica neighborhoods. I drive to & from city all the time, easy peasy. The Walnut Creek commute I found painful myself - too long. My tolerance limit is 20 minutes on commutes though. I used to live Union Square area, take Bart to Walnut Creek (one of offices there). Took 45 just for the train, not counting door to door, or train delays. Just too much for me. If the train were more pleasant, guess would help - but it's loud and often someone jumps in front on Fridays causing major delays.

Pacifica has great schools & no bridges or tunnels to and from San Francisco. We live in 3Br house near Beaches, fresh air, hiking trails, deer, etc...15 min to SF. I take 280 all the way in for financial district or up great highway past Sutro baths, then take Geary or Bush on in. Avoid all parts of 101 at all times. I never listen to my GPS that seems to love 101.

I'm so glad I moved here, back when had no idea how I would afford it. You adapt! Visit first though, get a feel for it. I was sold age 8 on bay area, though, but did not get moved out here until late 20s. No other place in USA that I like better and I've travelled around a lot.

Can get a nice house here for about 600k.