Relocating to N CA--need advice about Sonoma County and San Francisco (Santa Rosa: real estate, rentals)

[mbgator]

My family is relocating from Orlando, FL to N California this fall. We chose N CA, because of the weather, low crime rates, and job opportunities for my husband. We know very little about the specific parts of N CA and are looking for all types of input regarding the best place to raise a family. My husband and I are both professionals in our mid 30's. He is in Real Estate and I was a Technical Recruiter, until I decided to stay at home with our 2 yr old. I am also expecting a baby in September. Our plans are to rent for a year and then after we know the area a little better, we will purchase a home. We are looking for a city that is family friendly, that has lots of parks and cultural events, and with a variety of shopping and dining venues. We are primarily focused on Sonoma County and would like more info on the cities within the county (i.e. Petaluma, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, ?). My husband is currently visiting a friend in San Francisco and he thought it might be neat to rent a home there (or near there) for our first year. So any suggestions about best areas in San Fran for families/rentals, would be helpful too. Any input that you have is truly appreciated!

[nmnita]

Wow, where did you say hubby would be working? What is your rental price range and do you want lots of people around or a little more relaxed and quiet type of life? I guess if he is in real estate it doesn't matter much where you live if he is in residentaul real estate..Has he gotten his CA license?

Yes, SFO would be a fun place to live for awhile, it is also very busy and extremely pricey. Sanoma County is beautiful. Petaluma and Santa Rosa would offer pretty much what you seem to be looking for and are family friendly. Sebastapole is awesome to visit, I am not the artsy type thus I am not sure I would want to live there.

Good luck with your move.

Nita

[cicerone]

I grew up in Sonoma County. The area used to be rural but now is primarily suburban single family homes. There are many wineries and beautiful landscapes nearby (redwood forest, oak foothills, rocky beaches, etc). San Francisco is about an hour away.

Culturally, the area has some influence from hippies like my parents (lots of natural food stores, liberal leaning, etc), but also is very family friendly (for the most part, very safe and decent schools. It's not "edgy" in the least.). If you're looking for movies, plays, galleries, etc, there is definitely some action, but nothing compared to the more urban parts of the Bay Area.

Most of the cities lie along the 101 corridor, which is NOT the same as Sonoma valley to the East (where all the wineries are).
1. Santa Rosa: the largest city, with a real, active downtown. Pleasant older neighborhoods, newer subdivisions and a few dumpy ones as well.
2. Petaluma: a charming historic city, also with a nice downtown with some great restaurants & antique shops. Has been featured in several movies.
3. Cotati & Rohnert Park: Mostly 60's styles sprawl subdivisions, although Cotati has a small downtown.
4. Sebastopol: Out to the west of the 101 in a scenic area surrounded by apple groves, oak trees and redwoods. Very popular with the hippy crowd.
5. Sonoma: The only major city in the Sonoma valley to the East. There's a historic mission, great wineries and Napa is over the hill further to the East.

I hope this gets you started. Where you live will depend on your taste and your budget, but it's a great place to live. The weather is near perfect (dry mild summers in the 80's followed by cool green winters in the 50s). I'm sure you know it's pricey, but cheap relative to areas closer to San Francisco (Marin, for example).

[Stacy From Cali]

Of all the options you have expressed interest in I would suggest you look at Petaluma first. It is a really family friendly town, beautiful, and costs way less than living in SF. Also moving to a big city like SF with two small children may prove to be a bit stressful in terms of cultural navigation (although, for the record I loved living there! However now that I am 8 months preggers...I'm not so eager to move back).

Petaluma has a great small town feel. An OK farmer's market. Good schools. Is very walkable. Plenty of shopping...and the culture of Sonoma County. What's not to love?

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by Stacy From Cali

Of all the options you have expressed interest in I would suggest you look at Petaluma first. It is a really family friendly town, beautiful, and costs way less than living in SF. Also moving to a big city like SF with two small children may prove to be a bit stressful in terms of cultural navigation (although, for the record I loved living there! However now that I am 8 months preggers...I'm not so eager to move back).

Petaluma has a great small town feel. An OK farmer's market. Good schools. Is very walkable. Plenty of shopping...and the culture of Sonoma County. What's not to love?

I second Stacy !

and the just for the record the Farmer's Market in Petaluma has expanded to Wednesday night during the summer months (so it's Sat. afternoons and Wed. nights now)and it has become THE place for local families to blow off making dinner on Wed. because there are quite a few vendors making gourmet dinners on site...farm fresh pizza baked in a clay pizza fire oven that travels anyone? farm fresh crepes? oui!
YUM!
freshly made kettle corn? oh yeah!
jumpy houses for the kids? live music geared toward families (acoustic/mellow and jazz)? pony rides too? you betcha!

[uptown_urbanist]

San Francisco is great for families - we're living in the central Richmond district (north of Golden Gate Park) with a toddler, and there are kids everywhere! It's been very easy to meet fellow parents, and we live within two blocks of two playgrounds, a YMCA, and a recreation center. It's about as good as it gets with children, but - and here's the big but - it's expensive. I love San Francisco, but we're planning on returning to our native Minnesota where family lives (can't even afford a babysitter for a night out in SF) and where we won't be living quite so close to the financial edge. Still, even if you end up buying somewhere else in the Bay Area, I think your husband is right that it could be a lot of fun to live in the city for at least a little time, if you can afford it. Check out the Golden Gate Mothers Group website for more details about life in the city with kids; they have a great email group, too, although you have to be a member to get on it. We spend our days (well, my son and I do) walking to Golden Gate Park, China Beach, visiting the Zoo, the Academy of Sciences, and just wandering up and down Clement and Geary checking out the sights. I really like the inner and central Richmond district (safe, affordable, within walking distance of tons of stuff) but there are many other nice family neighborhoods, too; Noe Valley is also extremely popular with families, although when we were looking it was a bit pricier. Cole Valley, too, but also more expensive.

[DKasell]

I appreciate reading the posts up here.

I have been given a huge opportunity by my law firm to move out to SF office on Clifornia St. I am a New Yorker even though I went to school in Vermont and have lived in Allentown PA and Baltimore, MD, as well as Boston. city boy even though I can drive, I don't driveand my wife does our driving with our 17 month old.

CRITICALLY, MY WIFE WANTS A PhD or PsyD and we don't know the picture of APA accredited schools out in SF (she is brilliant and hard working-and has been working with some high powered folks in NYC) so the move wonk work unless she can do her thing, too!

We are thinking about taking the chance and moving out to SF. I am told I can live pretty well for the same $1950 we pay now, but I have no clue as to where to look that will be good for our family and not too rough in commuting for me and will stillallow for her to pursue her degree.

Of course, we appreciate the convenoences NYC has offered (stores open all hours, wildly diverse food and people) but we think the move could offer us, (our family and the dog too)things NYC does not-- like a backyard in exchange for some of those conveniences.

MYQUETION IS-- CAN YOU SUGGEST SOME PLACES TO LOOK TO LIVE? AND WHERE MY GAL CAN STILL COMPLETE HER DOCTORATE?

[Roccaluma]

I recently moved from Gainesville to Sonoma county. What you will find different is that you will go outside and it will never be uncomfortable. You will be amazed at how much more you go outside and linger because there is no humidity. No bugs either. And you do not need ac in your car or home, at times a good fan though.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by DKasell

I appreciate reading the posts up here.

MYQUETION IS-- CAN YOU SUGGEST SOME PLACES TO LOOK TO LIVE? AND WHERE MY GAL CAN STILL COMPLETE HER DOCTORATE?

You ought to start your own thread. You would have more success here since hijacking other people's threads is not terribly nice and also technically a forum no-no.

[sfpycroft]

In SF I would recommend the Outer Richmond or Outer Sunset areas as its quieter and you usually get more space for your money. And there is normally no problem with parking!