Best places to live in Alameda (San Jose, Oakland: real estate market, 2009, foreclosures)

[alice2w]

Hello,

I live in the peninsula and only recently discovered pretty Alameda. I see in this forum that there are many people enthusiastic about living there and I have a couple of questions, please:

- is there anyone who does NOT think Alameda is a nice place to live in? if so, why?

- of all the neighborhoods in Alameda, which are the prettiest? My husband and I are young, have no kids, and love to live at walking distance to streets full of small shopping stores and restaurants (kinda like Palo Alto downtown or Mountain View downtown or Santana Row in San Jose...). We love the beaches too. We really don't care much about shopping malls, though.

Thanks so much in advance for all the advices

Alice

[daepro]

Visit areas near Park Street. Check out Grand Ave and of course take a bike ride down Shoreline Drive. As the expression "it's all good". Alameda is very walkable, bikeable and yes you can drive too.

[alice2w]

Thank you!
I am planning a weekend trip to discover Alameda...is there any part I should stay away from? (I have been told some parts of the nearby Oakland can be pretty scary for a girl...)

[fizbin]

There is no part of Alameda I would call scary. I personally like big old homes, and Alameda has tons of them. Lots of Victorians and other homes built in the late 19th/early 20th century. The nicest neighborhood in my opinion is called the Gold Coast (San Antonio Ave area west of Grand). Grand is excellent too. Closer to Park St, where you would find all the small shops and restaurants and such that you want to walk to, pretty much anything east of Grand to Broadway and beyond, south of Santa Clara is good. Personally I do not like anything between Otis and the water - almost all 60-70s era ranch homes. Also lots of nice homes around Gibbons Dr.

Just drive all over - it is not that big of a town. Or if you ride bicycles bring those over - it is a very pleasant and easy town to take in by bike - perfectly flat.

[daepro]

I agree for some reason there are no scary parts of Alameda. Unlike other parts of the Bay Area where a nieve person might stumble into a bad neighborhood you will have no concerns about that in Alameda. Check out the wind surfers on Crown Beach or the dog Park.
There are some nice rental apts right on the Bay on Shoreline Drive.

[alice2w]

No scary parts at all?!!
WOW, looks like Alameda is going to pleasantly surprise me!
Thank you all, I am really excited about my weekend trip to the island. I am really grateful about your tips about which neighborhoods to visit, please keep them coming!

[Taboo2]

Personally I think off High Street around Lincoln Park, Fernside, Marine. We have friends on pond isle with the paddle boats. The victorians on Santa Clara etc...

I love Alameda.

[AllHisBlessings]

Our family will be moving to Alameda. I was wondering if I could get some information regarding the middle and high schools. I have two daughters, one going into 6th and one going into 8th. They both do extremely well in school. Any suggestions for places to look for homes for rent in Alameda or possible foreclosures? Should be moving to area end of June, 2009. Thanks in advance for any advice

[daepro]

I think the only negative part of Alameda for buyers or renters is that the cost of housing remains high. Unlike other parts of the country it appears that the real estate market has not tanked. I guess you get what you pay for and in this case it is easy living that makes it all worthwhile. Livin is easy on Alameda.

[apt. hunter2]

Not to hijack the thread but could anyone recommend specific apt. complexes in Alemeda?