Trees, good schools, low crime $800k 3 BR house? (Oakland, Redwood City: rental, housing)

[fizbin]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Who are you going to believe... the media hype or the people that live there?

Of the two options (since I made the comments about the school system) I can tell you that I did not make it based on media hype.

[Brent85]

Move to Detroit, you can get a nice house for $30,000

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Brent85

Move to Detroit, you can get a nice house for $30,000

Yeah. but then you're in DETROIT... LOL.

[Don Vito]

dont move to the pennisula youll wind up in a cracker jack box

[Brent85]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Yeah. but then you're in DETROIT... LOL.

This doesn't look TOO bad.....

Detroit, MI : Indian Village photo

[bellalunatic]

Petaluma has what you are looking for.... plus an afternoon coastal breeze that cools everyone down on the odd 10 days or so of high 80 mid 90's temp. 25 minute gorgeous drive to Dillon Beach! (Topographically gifted unlike Novato too hot and doesn't have the winds we get...and Napa is way too inland and HOT) 800k can do you a 3 bedroom here...
West side of Petaluma specifically, a touch pricier avg than the Eastside, but: West is best schools plus larger lots, historic homes, lots of parks & walkable and safe neighborhoods...SF is 45-60 drive time for nice dinners out. Totally family friendly...and according to the many park signs in the area apparently we are "tree city USA" huh. who knew?!

[wenzit420]

I thought about moving to Oakland, but alas i was scared by the hype. It would be great to move there as opposed to San Fran due to obvious expenses. Does going over the bridge all the time get really old after awhile?

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by wenzit420

I thought about moving to Oakland, but alas i was scared by the hype. It would be great to move there as opposed to San Fran due to obvious expenses. Does going over the bridge all the time get really old after awhile?

no, never gets "old". Maybe it gets frustrating during times of heavy traffic but coming into the city on the bay bridge is one of the world's great city entrances.

When I worked 5-days a week in The City from Oakland, I took BART(subway) because it runs under the bay and under Market Street(the heart of downtown SF)

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by fizbin

That may be true but generally they send their kids to private schools, particularly high school. Not knocking Oakland - I love the place - but the Oakland public school system sucks.

generally speaking most people in SF who can afford it sent their kids to privates too(at least in my experience).

that said,
as a product of the OUSD who went to I guess alright schools and from there went on to UCLA and then Cal, I can say that much of OUSDs problems stem from what the kids and their families arent doing when students arent in the classroom.

I mean,
My niece in Orinda is basically being taught the same thing as my nephew in East Oakland but because of factors beyond the classroom, the results are much different.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by wenzit420

I thought about moving to Oakland, but alas i was scared by the hype. It would be great to move there as opposed to San Fran due to obvious expenses. Does going over the bridge all the time get really old after awhile?

Many people take public transportation... either BART, AC Transit (Bus), or the Ferry System...

Some also carpool or ride share and thus avoid paying Bridge Toll during rush hour traffic as well as getting to use the express lane...