Considering moving to Windsor/Santa Rosa area. Help! (Oakland, Napa: for sale, real estate)

[swedishmommy]

My husband has an opportunity to be transferred to Oakland for work. Currently we live in Nashville, TN, so this will be a big move. We have three small children (6, 5, and 2), and I would like to move to a family friendly area within about an hour and a half from Oakland. He'll only have to commute once a week, so a longer commute is okay. We've talked to several people and they have mentioned Windsor and Santa Rosa. I'm concerned about gangs, crime, school systems, etc. Can anyone give me a few great family friendly areas to raise children? We should be able to afford a house around $675 or so.

[kiwilover70]

I grew up in Windsor and back then it was a couple of roads and the local mexican market. Now there is a Walmart and movie theater,amazing. Anyway my mom still lives in Santa Rosa and I think that both of these towns are nice for families and with the economy the way it is you should be able to get a decent home for the price(a couple of years ago you would have been amazed at what little you could have gotten.)The commute though to Oakland is rough.I had a college friend who commuted from Rohnert park which is one town closer to the "Bay" and it took her close to 1 1/2 hours(on a good day). So yes I would highly recommend these towns but I would really think about what this distance would mean for your husband.

[grapico]

Yeah distance is a little too far... you'll probably be fine on the way IN... on the way out you are going to be screwed! <--as far as traffic goes... closest I'd live and still commute in would probably be san rafael. If you are north of Marin county though...commuting up there from city to city is no prob, once u get into the greater SF/Oakland area is when u have problems in rush hour.

[santarosamom]

NE santa rosa (rincon valley) has great schools. It is really pretty and family friendly. Good luck!

[Stacy From Cali]

Have you looked at Petaluma? Its closer to Oakland than Windsor or SR and extremely family friendly.

[swedishmommy]

Thanks for the input. Does anyone out there know anything about Petaluma? I've had a real estate agent push me towards Petaluma, and another steered us away. Any particular reasoning for either suggestion? Any info is appreciated!

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by swedishmommy

Thanks for the input. Does anyone out there know anything about Petaluma? I've had a real estate agent push me towards Petaluma, and another steered us away. Any particular reasoning for either suggestion? Any info is appreciated!

I live in Petaluma, I am not a realtor, but I know a bunch of them...if you had a realtor steer you away, i'm going to guess it's because they don't know P-town very well...a Petaluma realtor is the only way to go, as there are so many here, and they all live here too...
I can give you a recommendation if you'd like.
And I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about petaluma and
Sonoma County in general...

It is great for families, schools overall are great, you can get to Oakland in the time frame you mentioned, and it's not as far from SF as Santa Rosa and Windsor...(also not as hot)...

[kiwilover70]

Petaluma is even more expensive (housing prices wise) than Sonoma County.At one point I know it was one of the most expensive places to live in the US. It really is a great family town but does not have family friendly prices!

[Stacy From Cali]

Originally Posted by kiwilover70

Petaluma is even more expensive (housing prices wise) than Sonoma County.At one point I know it was one of the most expensive places to live in the US. It really is a great family town but does not have family friendly prices!

Sorry but you are on crackrock. First of all Petaluma is in Sonoma County, so can't be more expensive than Sonoma County. Its prices are about the same as the surrounding communities (Sonoma, Napa, Novato). I wonder if you are thinking of Marin County when you say "its one of the most expensive places to live in the US"?

Petaluma is a really cool town composed primarily of families. Its probably a bit more expensive to buy in Petaluma than in Santa Rosa, but then it depends on neighborhood and such. Your best bet is to go online and start looking at places. Westside Petaluma costs more than Eastside because it has more historical neighborhoods. You can start to get a sense of this by looking at listings. Try Petaluma Real Estate, Sonoma County Homes for Sale California CA MLS for a start (not my fave realestate place in town but they have the best website).

[torma]

If you move to Santa Rosa, I would not put my kids in a public school here. Lots has changed in the years we have been here. There is a large contingency of English as a second language in the schools. Most people I know have taken their kids out of the schools and put them in private ones, even though these are not affluent families. Graffiti is a growing problem here. If I were moving to this area today, Santa Rosa, much as I love the Sonoma County area, would not be my choice. And I doubt if you are going to find a rental home for the amt. you indicate, even with the housing market as it is. Sorry to sound discouraging, but you could be in for a rude awakening. With a commute to Oakland, I would try to find something closer...Novato? Mill Valley? Good luck - hope everything works out.