Moving to CA - Looking for small town lesbian friendly (San Jose: real estate, foreclosure)

[clt2alt]

Hello -

My family is looking to relocate to Northern CA within the next 8 months, we are a lesbian copule with 2 small children. We would like to live near public transportation, yet small town (walkable) area that would be safe for our family. We do understand that SF area is out of our price range (~$300K) for a home.

Any advices to where to live and gay friendly city/town around the bay area that we should consider.

[tkindred]

Originally Posted by clt2alt

Hello -

My family is looking to relocate to Northern CA within the next 8 months, we are a lesbian copule with 2 small children. We would like to live near public transportation, yet small town (walkable) area that would be safe for our family. We do understand that SF area is out of our price range (~$300K) for a home.

Any advices to where to live and gay friendly city/town around the bay area that we should consider.

Oakland/Clairmont area

[gizmo980]

Most of the surrounding Bay Area is very gay-friendly, and I don't see you having a problem in just about any town... Marin County is known to be a bit conservative, and when you get south of San Jose or in the extreme East Bay (more or less), they will also have a slightly more conservative environment. But even in those areas, I doubt anyone would raise a huge stink about your family being there.

I think Oakland is a good suggestion, although housing prices there are still pretty expensive... Berkeley would be terrific if your budget was higher, and Emeryville & El Cerrito/Albany could be possibilities too. You should also look around the North Peninsula (Pacifica, Daly City, SSF, San Bruno, etc), as you might get lucky with a foreclosure, considering the real estate slump we're entering. How big of a place are you looking for, and would you consider a condo/townhouse? Also, where (if) will you be working, and do you need to be within a certain distance of San Francisco? Good luck, and I'll give more suggestions when you answer those questions.

[artemis78]

Another vote for Oakland, if you're okay with somewhat urban. (There's a bit of a conflict in the Bay Area between small town and walkable/transit-accessible, as anything in the latter category has outgrown the former category.) But if you just mean small-town feel as in you can walk to the butcher, schools, and libraries and you run into lots of people you know in your travels--then Oakland could be for you. (I read somewhere once that there are more LGBT families with kids in Oakland than in any other city in the country, including SF!) The whole city is relatively LGBT-friendly, but neighborhoods that have lots of young gay and especially lesbian families right now include Temescal, Adams Point, parts of North Oakland, Dimond, and Laurel. There are more, I'm sure, that others can name. Dimond and Laurel in particular have good neighborhood elementary schools, too.

Not sure what you're hoping for sizewise, but you're right that $300K doesn't go very far around here. They do exist in most of the neighborhoods listed above (except Temescal, I think), but they're probably small bungalows that need a lot of work (or else are very near the freeway). You may luck out if you're willing to deal with a fixer upper, but you might also think seriously about renting a house as you get to know the Bay Area--the same monthly payment will buy you a much better neighborhood, and I think it will be a few years yet before prices start rising again, so you have some time.

[sonarrat]

The area around Mills College in Oakland is known as a lesbian enclave since it's a female-only institution... and $300K will get you a nicely kept little house there.

[clt2alt]

I am a telecommuter, therefore would not require to be anywhere. Is West Oakland a good place to look since they have very affortable housing there. How about San Jose?

[tkindred]

Originally Posted by tkindred

Oakland/Clairmont area

I suggested Oakland because it has a high lesbian population and there are nice neighborhoods that are very walkable. If you are lucky you may be able to find a spot close to the BART.

I think you mentioned West Oakland. I don't suggest that area.

[artemis78]

If you're telecommuting, I'd take a serious look at some East Oakland neighborhoods above the 580 but below the 13/24--Mills as someone mentioned might be good (less familiar with it but have one friend who lives there and enjoys it), Dimond, or Laurel might get you a place in your price range. You mention having young kids, so I would steer clear of West Oakland as the elementary schools are not so hot there. (Also, the plus to living in a neighborhood with lots of gay/lesbian families and a good neighborhood school is that there's a good chance that your kids will be in a class with classmates from a same-sex home....this doesn't work in neighborhoods like Temescal, where many families don't go to the neighborhood school.)

[csupan]

Originally Posted by clt2alt

Hello -

My family is looking to relocate to Northern CA within the next 8 months, we are a lesbian copule with 2 small children. We would like to live near public transportation, yet small town (walkable) area that would be safe for our family. We do understand that SF area is out of our price range (~$300K) for a home.

Any advices to where to live and gay friendly city/town around the bay area that we should consider.

San Carlos is nice, small, and gay-friendly. San Mateo is a little less expensive, and a little bigger.

[Bijoux]

If you don't mind living 1 to 2 hours noth ofrom San Francisco, think about Sabastopole or around Healdsburg. Dorothy Allison the celebrated author lives in the Russian River area.
Otherwise, most areas in the north, especially Berkeley is very gay friendly; however, these are not small towns.