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Old 03-08-2009, 03:13 PM
 
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My husband and I will likely be moving to the Bay area from South Texas. He will be working in Pleasanton. Our kids are all gone so schools are not an issue. I am having a hard time trying to pick a place to live. Home prices are at least double out there compared to here so it is quite a sticker shock! Pleasanton sounds very nice but so do many other of the close by areas. We really don't want a new home. Would much rather have something older and quaint. Texan needs lots of advice. Thanks.
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Old 03-08-2009, 05:05 PM
 
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Pleasanton is in a part of the Bay Area (east of the hills) where there really are no bad areas to live in from Walnut Creek south. ('East of the Hills' meaning east of a ridge of hills that separate Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin, Alamo, etc. on the east from the west of the hills bayside cites such as Hayward, Fremont, Union City.) Some of the homes are on the valley floor, whereas there are (usually) more expensive homes on the hillsides. So it is generally the case that you can pick your pain-point home price-wise and/or commute length-wise and dive in.
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Old 03-08-2009, 06:54 PM
 
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Thanks so much. I know this is going to be quite a culture shock. We are leaning towards either Pleasanton or Livermore. Question....Is the weather warmer on the east side of this ridge of hills?
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Old 03-08-2009, 07:18 PM
 
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Originally Posted by walkermb View Post
Thanks so much. I know this is going to be quite a culture shock. We are leaning towards either Pleasanton or Livermore. Question....Is the weather warmer on the east side of this ridge of hills?
Yes, I spent a week outside of Corpus Christi last November and can confirm that there will be a bit of culture shock.

Somewhat paradoxically, it is warmer in the summer and colder in the winter east of the hills. The marine influence of the bay and ocean west of the hills moderates temperatures year round.
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Old 03-08-2009, 07:38 PM
 
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My son lives in San Francisco. Moved to the city after graduating from Santa Clara University. Therefore, we have visited the area many times. We never in a million years thought we would be moving out there. We will soon know for sure. Thanks for your help.
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Old 03-09-2009, 10:20 AM
 
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Originally Posted by walkermb View Post
Thanks so much. I know this is going to be quite a culture shock. We are leaning towards either Pleasanton or Livermore. Question....Is the weather warmer on the east side of this ridge of hills?
East of the hills, there will be somewhat of a culture shock...but definitely nowhere near as big of a culture shock if you were to live in the immediate Bay Area itself. Pleasanton/Livermore are very quiet, safe suburban cities.
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Old 03-09-2009, 11:13 AM
 
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Do you have a feel for the status of the real estate market? I only know what I hear on the news. The difference in housing costs are unbelievable compared to good old San Antonio. Probably 3 times the price. Wonder if now is the time to buy or maybe wait and rent.
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Old 03-09-2009, 05:22 PM
 
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Originally Posted by walkermb View Post
Wonder if now is the time to buy or maybe wait and rent.
It is a great time to buy if you can afford it. Every week in the Sunday real estate section of the local newspaper they show all of the real estate transactions for a previous week. It used to include just the current selling price, but about six months ago they added the previous sell date and price. Today’s winner in Oakland (where I live) was a home that sold for $450k in 2005 that sold for $92k now! Similar price drops (not necessarily percentage wise, but dollar wise) are happening all over. Lots of foreclosure sales.

And paradoxically, traditionally when home prices are dropping because of so many foreclosures, rents go up because the demand placed on rental occupancy rates by displaced ex-homeowners. I have not studied or seen any details as to whether that is happening right now.
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Old 03-09-2009, 07:20 PM
 
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You might enjoy this article about the current market out there. http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate...aOf.UamH.7YWsA
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Old 03-09-2009, 07:24 PM
 
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We have just put our home on the market here in San Antonio. We had already planned to downsize before the new job offer came about. We have a beautiful 2350 sq. ft. built in 1985 on a great lot in a well established neighborhood. We are selling it for 245k. From what I have seen our house in any of these areas would be at least 850k. Talk about sticker shock!!!
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