where to relocate to in california with children (San Francisco, Alameda: for sale, real estate)

[miss72ski]

We are looking to relocate to USA next summer from UK and are looking at chicago and california...also looked at vancouver but weather puts me off slightly...I have 3 children..2 in High school and 1 in elementary school. Can anyone tell me the good neighbourhoods to look at for good schooling and safe. My husband will be looking for employment in the financial district so we also want to be less than 30 minutes from the main area...either by car or train.
House price we are looking at is upto $1million so i do not know which area we would be able to afford a property in. Any advice grately appreciated

[twins4lynn]

How about Millbrae? They have excellent schools at all levels - elementary, middle & high school. You can take the train or BART into SF.

[cmow]

We live in the Bay Area now and looked to relocate to Chicago and decided against it. We loved the city and the people but the weather has a little to be desired - very windy, cold, long winters. There aren't a lot of areas that are 30 min by car from San Francisco. If you haven't heard the traffic is miserable here. But you can take BART (train system). I am not too familiar with the public schools outside of where we live but know that A LOT of people send their children to private schools. We live in the East Bay in a beautiful area and the towns you would look at are Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, Pleasanton. All have very good schools and a wonderful place to raise a family. It is about a 30-45 min train ride depending on where you live. $1 will get you a very nice home here. The closer you get to San Francsico the more expensive the homes are. Some local real estate commpanies are Keller Williams, Intero, Coldwell Banker and ReMax.

This would be a great time to move since the dollar is so weak against the EURO and the inventory of homes for sale is high. Good luck!

[Crazykasim]

The options are endless for you, there are so many great cities with great schools in CA especially in the Bay area. I would recommend any where in the south bay (Silicon Valley) as a whole or the East bay (anywhere along the current BART line). House prices are pretty low right now, so a million will go along way.

My recomendation would be Walnut Creek, very upscale, with great schools and is a strong financial heart type city. A lot of good shopping and activities for families. Very family oriented with low crime. Give it a look. Moraga would be a quieter city which revolves around Saint Mary's College. Really there are to many options with to many good things about a lot of cities in the Bay Area. Good Luck, it's a hard decision, do you have any other wants you would like in a city which could help narrow down the areas?

[AJ Cohen]

Wow what a broad spectrum. I am a realtor that lives in San Ramon with my family. Thinking along the lines of children and needing to be within close proximity to Bart I would definately consider San Ramon's school district which has API scores that are off the charts. My wife is the science teacher at Quail Run Elementary and suggests that you go to srvusd.net to check out the surrounding schools. I would also be happy to send you information on some of the surrounding homes if you would like. You can email me directly at ajcohen@apr.com. Thanks and good luck, AJ Cohen

[oaktownchris]

ALameda is a good family town with excellent public schools and its a short ferry ride to the SF Financial District. Orinda and Lafayette in Contra Costa County are both on the Bart line to SF and are very desirable small towns with excellent schools.

San Ramon is a fine place but probably too long of a commute.

[Striped Kramer]

Walnut Creek and Pleasanton, while it may take a bit longer to get to the SF financial district by train, are great areas for families and also have sizable British ex-pat populations.

[tennis368fan]

Originally Posted by oaktownchris

ALameda is a good family town with excellent public schools and its a short ferry ride to the SF Financial District. Orinda and Lafayette in Contra Costa County are both on the Bart line to SF and are very desirable small towns with excellent schools.

San Ramon is a fine place but probably too long of a commute.

As for Alameda, keep your search to the east of Park Street. Residential areas there are zoned to some of the most highly-ranked comprehensive schools in that city. If you look elsewhere in Alameda (West End), expect to enroll your middle school and high school-aged children in public charter schools such as Alameda Community Learning Center (Grade levels 6-12) and Alameda Science and Technology Institute (Grade levels 9-12). The former is sought after, but has a lottery system as a result of many qualified candidates. The latter requires an interview and screening process of prospective pupils.

In Central Alameda between Union Street and Park Street, Wood Middle School, a comprehensive middle school, is an okay middle school and an alternative if your children are unable to enter Alameda Community Learning Center.

Alameda also as two ferry terminals located at both ends of the city, both of which can take your husband to the ferry terminal in San Francisco near financial district. One is located near the West End at Alameda Point, the other on Bay Farm Island.

The city also has a lot of character, with its many Victorian-Era homes and a bustling downtown. Historic buildings include the historic Alameda High School, ranked at #483 by Newsweek Magazine: America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com, the Alameda Theater, currently being expanded and renovated; and the City Hall. The newer homes are located on Bay Farm Island and the West End, with the former being a better choice as the West End is in the process of being redeveloped as a result of the Naval Air Station closure.

The Lamorinda area (Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga) is a good choice as well. It is accesible to the BART subway/commuter train service that allows for a direct commute into San Francisco's financial district. It is much more suburban in nature, with newer homes set on larger homesites upon hills and valleys. Because of microclimates in the Bay Area, this area is considerably warmer than Alameda during the summer months, and cooler in the winter. However, neither regions receive snowfall.

One disadvantage of living in the Lamorinda area is Highway 24, which can become quite congested during the commuting hours. However, Highway 880 from Alameda can also be congested.

[tennis368fan]

1512 UNION ST

ALAMEDA, CA 94501

MLS ID# 40327725

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1420 FOUNTAIN ST

ALAMEDA, CA 94501

MLS ID# 40321737

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1254 PARK AVE

ALAMEDA, CA 94501

MLS ID# 40330338

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14 Shannon Circle

ALAMEDA, CA 94502

MLS ID# 40294433

[tennis368fan]

358 EL TOYONAL

ORINDA, CA 94563

MLS ID# 40259218



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MORAGA, CA 94556

MLS ID# 40329090


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501 AUGUSTA DR

MORAGA, CA 94556

MLS ID# 40327149



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376 Tharp Drive

MORAGA, CA 94556

MLS ID# 40330130

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3097 Hedaro Ct

LAFAYETTE, CA 94549

MLS ID# 40328657


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330 DENISE LN

LAFAYETTE, CA 94549

MLS ID# 40302080