Advice: moving from Berkeley to Lafayette/WC? (Walnut Creek, Walnut: real estate, apartments)

[rs913]

Hi all. I could use a little Bay Area relocation advice (and this seems like the place to get it!) I'm a grad student at Berkeley, 29 and single, and I've just about had it with life in downtown Berkeley after 4 years. I'm looking to buy a car and move this summer.

I was originally thinking Rockridge, but I'm not happy with what I'm finding in terms of apartments and rents. I never considered Walnut Creek or Lafayette before but now I'm wondering if they might be good alternatives. Pros as I see it are:
* Rent dollars go further, fewer issues with parking and amenities (A/C should be standard over there right?)
* Great areas, more restaurants/shops/activity than your typical suburbs (I've always liked downtown WC)
Cons:
* Further from Berkeley campus
* Further from SF and airports
* Triple-digit temperatures in summer...whoa.

Anyone have any thoughts on the pros/cons of moving out there for someone whose "job" is in Berkeley? Any advice about apartments near the WC or Lafayette BART stops? Thanks in advance.

[Ultrarunner]

It really comes down to the commute. Berkeley and Walnut Creek are as different as night and day, just compare the demographics.

You should do just fine if you are looking to trade urban living for a slower suburban pace... and still work in Berkeley.

And yes it does get hot in the summer, but summer evenings are great!

[CrazyDaisy]

Take BART. I love the Diablo Valley area. Traffic is bad anywhere, but it's worth it to live out here.

[City Boy]

Depends what you like, what about Berkeley are you tired of. Once you enter the caldecott tunnel things are drastically different. It reminds me of going back into the 1950s.

[BerkeleyCali]

Lafayette and WC are nice suburban towns that can cost as much, if not more, than Berkeley depending on what neighborhood you are in. I frequent both places. I know what you mean about the sunnier weather & love it in the summer evenings especially, while we freeze in the fog on the other side of the tunnel!

While they both get sunshine and contain a BART station, I do feel that there is quite a distinction between these 2 towns. WC is seeing changes with real estate developers (and commercial developers to match) throwing up condos, townhouses, and model homes. While the lower cost in housing can be a temptation, some people find this sort of living very unappealing ... why not scoot over to the tri-cities where it is even cheaper?

If you appreciate the older communities, and trees that actually stand taller than 3 ft, well you will pay more for those as well.

Lafayette is a different town entirely. The downtown is wonderful and composed primarily of small businesses. A great town to raise children ... until they are 16 and demand a BMW like all the other kids! (jk)... The houses are more unique and charming, no cookie-cutter communities, with a hefty price tag to match.

I would love to raise my family in any of the Lamorinda towns and they are all very family friendly & safe ... however, your dollar will actually stretch a lot further in North Berkeley.