Trees, good schools, low crime $800k 3 BR house?

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

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.

So true, at least in my experience... the high performing Oakland Public Schools I mentioned have phenomenal parent participation...

A friend of mine who teaches in the OUSD and sends her kids to Oakland Public Schools said it truly is like being in a different world.

Anything she would ask for in terms of extra school supplies and parent volunteers was provided through the PTA... She even had to rotate parents on yard duty and classroom assisting so that everyone would have a chance... and about a third of the involved parents comprised Fathers.

Also, the parents are demographically older and the kids have two parent families.

Education to excel needs parental involvement!

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

But they are indeed in Oakland and very much part of Oakland. You think people in Rockridge arent involved in Oakland culturally and politically? Sorry but such thinking would be incorrect. Oakland's upper class for the most part is very proud to live there-trust me.

Its like your saying Sea Cliff is practically another planet from the mission, but you wouldnt ever do that cause that diversity makes SF great, right? The same courtesy is not afforded to Oakland cause there is a huge double standard applied to Oakland by outsiders really will never understand.

That's not quite the right comparison. You can't compare the Mission to Ghostown or Murder Dubbs. More like Hunter's Point - and that too is ostracized by most San Franciscans. They might go to Monster Park for a game, and then they get the hell out of there ASAP. Do Bayview/HP, the Fillmore, and the Western Addition reflect badly on the nicer areas like the Marina or North Beach, the way that those bad parts of Oakland reflect on the rest of the city? To some extent, yes, they do.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Brent85

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

Detroit, MI : Indian Village photo

Hey, I'm not knocking Michigan... but if the original poster wanted to move there, he would've asked on the MI forum! Those are some beautiful houses in that picture - though I bet they cost more than $30,000.

[fizbin]

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?

Move to Alameda and take the ferry.

[prairie guy]

I used to live in north bay (Sonoma and Solano counties). I second Benicia--attractive community, schools top notch, but not too far from SF.

I share concerns about living in a nice part of a big city (ie Montclair/Rockridge) and relying on the public schools...the local K-5 might be okay, but a very dodgy choice at the middle or high school levels (sorry if I offend some of you).

Napa Valley school district also is weak, you'd need to go "up valley" to St. Helena/Calistoga for solid public schools. But housing there might not be in your desired range, it's farther to SF, and Napa Valley traffic is a bear in summer tourist season.

Novato I personally find a bland suburb and not too attractive--the schools are okay, but I think you can find something better for what you can afford. West side Petaluma, as a previous poster noted, is very attractive. Schools fairly good, by California standards. Sonoma (town) is smaller than Petaluma, extremely attractive with "small town" feel but still accessible to big cities. Lovely homes especially on the south and east sides. School system is doable, but as anywhere, check it out thoroughly. Again, north bay cities are more accessible to the mountains, etc.

Agree with a previous poster, you might try Orinda (fantastic schools), though I think it would be difficult to find what you want in your price range...ditto Piedmont (near Montclair, but with its own school district.) Perhaps Piedmont is outside your price range, but who knows with the sudden housing slump, you might get lucky.

Overall, I suggest Benicia as the top candidate for what you are looking for. All the best on your search.

[tennis368fan]

"Vancouver Canada", see your other post: http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-f...hborhhood.html

[KRISTINsf]

My Mother lives in a 3 bedroom house in Redwood City, with trees, mountains, and the whole sha-bang. But she paid $1.2 million dollars for the house! I really do not know where you're going to get a place for $800,000. I think maybe you should try 2-bedrooms.