Thinking of moving to Brentwood from San Ramon...Q about commute to Richmond (Stockton: section 8)

[lunatone]

Hi.

Myself, husband and two kids currently live in San ramon. We are getting ready to buy finally but cannot afford a house here. Although we love San Ramon, we really don't want a condo!

We have looked around at Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, etc. and all are a bit too pricey for us.

We are now thinking about Brentwood. However, my husband works in Richmond and I know the commute on 4 is miserable (we used to live in Antioch).

I have a couple of questions. First, is there anyway to get to Richmond without taking HWY 4? My husband said he thinks he can take the Antioch bridge and hit 80 towards Richmond from there. Does anyone know if that would work? If so, is there traffic going that way? We are more worried about evening commute than mornings because he leaves at 4:45am so there's not alot of traffic at that time anyway.

Also, if you live in Brentwood, have you had trouble with alot of Section 8 renters in the new neighborhoods? We had that problem in Antioch and it was annoying because one or two bad seeds can really bring a property value down. I know Antioch has gone way downhill since we left 4 years ago and I am wondering if the same has happened to Brentwood.


And lastly, how are the schools in Brentwood? Schools are excellent here and I hate to move somewhere where the schools are lacking, especially since one of my kiddos has special needs.

Thanks!
Becky

[lunatone]

anyone?

[sonarrat]

I would not recommend taking the Antioch bridge.. it would add 60 miles and $8 in tolls per day. Just take Hwy 4 to the end and merge onto San Pablo Ave. 4 is miserable until you get to Concord but smooth sailing after that.

[lunatone]

Thanks!

If 4 is the only way, I don't think we'll do it. He would be OK in the morning because he leaves home at 4:30 am but evenings would be hellish!

[sonarrat]

4 isn't the only way but it would be the only acceptable way. 12 is considerably overburdened and dangerous to boot, locals call it "Blood Alley." I'd sooner commute from Davis than drive on 4 or 12 every day.

Mini-rant: all over the Bay Area, the north-south freeways are pretty decent but the options for going east-west SUCK.

[lunatone]

Thank you!

Now we're thinking maybe Livermore. It's not as pricey as I thought, if we buy something older. But I'm not sure about the school district. Anyone know? It sucks to leave a great school district for one not as great.

[sonarrat]

AFAIK Livermore schools are excellent, many people who work in Stockton will pay more to live there for the schools.

[18Montclair]

If your husband works in Richmond and you want great schools, how about Orinda? Those schools are among the very best in the whole state.

He wouldnt even have to take a freeway. Just drive up San Pablo Dam Road and he's there.

[lunatone]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

If your husband works in Richmond and you want great schools, how about Orinda? Those schools are among the very best in the whole state.

He wouldnt even have to take a freeway. Just drive up San Pablo Dam Road and he's there.

I would but it's WAY expensive out there!

[lastguy]

your area has several [url=http://www.greatschools.org] great schools, new house tends to have small yard now, and you can just enjoy public yard outside at free.
Sometimes schools are good not because schools themselves but the students, when they are come from well educated families the schools become better; when they come from those of special skills - like handyman who needs skills not from school and believe education is not that important - they may be right, the school score are not very high. An example is mission San Joe high who raised up after Chinese/India engineers are moved in.
Some schools may not have very high scores but special relations with people of influence, and students may have 'back door' to univ.