Advice on moving near Sonoma (San Francisco, Santa Rosa: rentals, daycare, houses)

[herewegoagain]

Hi All,

i've been reading similar threads on the topic and wanted to ask specifically:

We currently live in Scottsdale and are considering a move. My husband would be working in Sonoma. We would like to find a home that keeps his commute to about 30 minutes. I work froma home office so that's no issue. The difference is that we are looking to rent. We don't want to buy until we are sure we know where we want to live, and with housing prices continuing to fall - we're just not prepared to buy at this time.

So that being said, here are the details:

-We have two small children - the oldest starting kindergarten in the fall. Schools are important. Neighbourhoods are important.
-The youngest will be in daycare,so it has to be somewhere where there are choices (my concern with a really rural location is this may be limited - I don't know).
-We are hoping to rent around $2k per month but we want a nice place/nice neighbourhood etc. Is this realistic? We would like to live in a house that is our home - not something that feels temporary and shoddy. What's the rental market like? We come with pets. Is that a problem generally?
-Santa Rosa, Sebastapol and Petaluma all sound like possibilites. In our position, what would be your recommendation. What other communities do I not know about.

What do you think?

[Twiddle]

We are looking to move to Sonoma too. We have one in K this year and one in preschool so we have many similar concerns.

The best areas in Santa Rosa are north and east of Highways 101 and 12.

Sebastopol is a cute, upscale, hippyish town with a great sense of community and astronomical housing prices.

Petaluma is nearer to San Francisco, and is also cute and upscale.

Rhonert Park/Cotati are good areas too, sort of bedroom communities for both SF and santa rosa. Not such a cute "town" feeling but nice suburban area, and in the newer areas some good schools.

I think your best resource for checking out schools is greatschools.net. Good luck!

[icebluejanuary]

I live in Petaluma and really love our town. I love our small town feel, our sense of history and it has a great sense of community. I also like how close we are to the city, without being to close.

I have two daughters and my oldest is already in elementary school. We had her in the local public school and recently moved her to a private school. The public schools for the most part are very good. We really liked the public school she was in, great community and we had good teachers up till second grade (rumor is she is retiring-I think she was ready when our daughter was in her class). We moved her to the private school because it was just what we felt was right for her and she is doing great there! I'm sure in your research that you've checked out greatschool.net. That really gives you a good basic look at the local schools.

There are many preschools in town...I know families that have gone to Happy Day Presbyterian Preschool, Adobe Christian Preschool, Pepper Preschool, Learning to Learn, and Community Preschool of Petaluma. I know there are more, but those are the ones I've heard friends and aquaintances mention. I've not heard anything bad about any of them.

As for home rentals...check out craigslist. I think you can get something nice for $2000.

As for the other towns you mention, I like Sebastapol. It's a great town, just to far out of the way for our family. I can't give you much other advice about the town. As for Santa Rosa, I'm sure there are nice parts of the town, but I'm personally not that fond of it. Rohnert Park/Cotati are ok too. You'll probably want to stick closer to the newer parts of town. Rohnert Park also houses Sonoma State college, so that somewhat influences the atmosphere of a town too, in my opinion.

Hope I've been at least a little helpful. We are relocating (to Washington)ourselves because my husband got a job. How did people do it before the internet?

Good luck finding your spot!

~January

[herewegoagain]

Thank you both so much - you've confirmed what I've been hearing. We should know in a couple of weeks whether we are going to make me this move. We are going to try to find something in Sonoma itself (have been speaking with a property manager) and second choice would be petaluma based on what I've been told.

Again - thanks for your input.

[icebluejanuary]

I've not spent to much time in Sonoma but it is a good little town. I know we used to go there for field trips in elementary school to see the Mission and General Vallejo's home. I love the plaza there and they have a great 4th of july celebration. They used to have great fireworks...I think a few of my friends still go to Sonoma for them. And my other memory being in Sonoma is the Sonoma Cheese Company. Love the Sonoma Jack cheese!

Good Luck again. This is a beautiful place to live!

~January