Commute times Novato - San Rafael (San Jose, Sunnyvale: house, place to live, prices)

[tony P6361]

Hi All. Newbie here.

Possibly relocating to the Bay Area and are trying to determine the best place to live to maximze home value without creating a massive commute issue. One area we're looking at is Novato.

Can anyone advise the morning commute times to San Rafael from the Novato area and reverse at night?

Any additional insights are appreciated.

Thanks!

Tony

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by tony P6361

Hi All. Newbie here.

Possibly relocating to the Bay Area and are trying to determine the best place to live to maximze home value without creating a massive commute issue. One area we're looking at is Novato.

Can anyone advise the morning commute times to San Rafael from the Novato area and reverse at night?

Any additional insights are appreciated.

Thanks!

Tony

Are you thinking the southern most part of Novato like Loma Verde or further north? Actually neither one would be that bad, but it is hard to judge unless we know what you consider not a bad commute. To some that is less than an hour, to others it means 15 minutes.

Nita

[tony P6361]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Are you thinking the southern most part of Novato like Loma Verde or further north? Actually neither one would be that bad, but it is hard to judge unless we know what you consider not a bad commute. To some that is less than an hour, to others it means 15 minutes.

Nita

Thanks for the response.

Not sure yet which part of Novato but the destination is Central San Rafael. As for a "bad" commute, I'd like to keep around 30 minutes (leaving Novato around 7:00am). This may be a pipe dream .

Tony.

[sonarrat]

The Redwood Highway is a major pain and flows at less than 20 mph during rush hour in that stretch.. sometimes stop and go. This will seem counterintuitive, but have you considered looking at the El Cerrito, Albany, Richmond Hills kind of area? It might not look like it, but the commute will be much better and you'll get more for the money.

[tony P6361]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

The Redwood Highway is a major pain and flows at less than 20 mph during rush hour in that stretch.. sometimes stop and go. This will seem counterintuitive, but have you considered looking at the El Cerrito, Albany, Richmond Hills kind of area? It might not look like it, but the commute will be much better and you'll get more for the money.

Thanks!

Those look like East Bay which we frankly know nothing about. But it also looks like it would be against the main traffic flow, probably both morning and evening.

Anyone have ideas about those commutes and/or communities?

T.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by tony P6361

Thanks!

Those look like East Bay which we frankly know nothing about. But it also looks like it would be against the main traffic flow, probably both morning and evening.

Anyone have ideas about those commutes and/or communities?

T.

I think I would take that last suggestion with a grain of salt or let's say it this way, check it out with more people...BTW, Novato is a good family community.

Nita

[ecvMatt]

I have lived in Novato, and in the East Bay, commuting to Larkspur. The commute from Novato wasn't TOO bad but very slow in the morning, from the East Bay, traffic was less, but the ride was a lot longer because of distance, unless you are looking at point Richmond, there is always backup at the bridge and there is a toll. Neither is a great commute. Have you considered San Rafael itself, Marinwood, San Anselmo or Fairfax?

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by ecvMatt

I have lived in Novato, and in the East Bay, commuting to Larkspur. The commute from Novato wasn't TOO bad but very slow in the morning, from the East Bay, traffic was less, but the ride was a lot longer because of distance, unless you are looking at point Richmond, there is always backup at the bridge and there is a toll. Neither is a great commute. Have you considered San Rafael itself, Marinwood, San Anselmo or Fairfax?

I think there's probably a good chance s/he has checked those cities out, but was turned off by the very high prices. For someone who is just moving to the Bay Area, most of Marin County is not going to be affordable unless they just sold their house in Martha's Vineyard.

10 miles of stop and go is annoying, but that's life here. I live on the south side of San Jose and commute to the north side, which is 10 miles. It takes me 15-20 to get onto 101 (because of the timing lights - fortunately not an issue in Marin County) and an additional 15-25 to get to my exit. Do I like it? No.. but if I wanted to live closer to work, in Santa Clara or Sunnyvale, I would have to sacrifice a lot more of my hard-earned dollars to cut down on the commute.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

The Redwood Highway is a major pain and flows at less than 20 mph during rush hour in that stretch.. sometimes stop and go. This will seem counterintuitive, but have you considered looking at the El Cerrito, Albany, Richmond Hills kind of area? It might not look like it, but the commute will be much better and you'll get more for the money.

No, sorry sonarrat, you are totally wrong now.
Ever since they added lanes in Central San Rafael that is simply not the case at all.
I now sail through Central San Rafael from Petaluma...the slowing in Novato is now at about 45 mph. not 20 which means that you could easily get from Novato to Central San Rafael in under 30 minutes easy.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

I think there's probably a good chance s/he has checked those cities out, but was turned off by the very high prices. For someone who is just moving to the Bay Area, most of Marin County is not going to be affordable unless they just sold their house in Martha's Vineyard.

10 miles of stop and go is annoying, but that's life here. I live on the south side of San Jose and commute to the north side, which is 10 miles. It takes me 15-20 to get onto 101 (because of the timing lights - fortunately not an issue in Marin County) and an additional 15-25 to get to my exit. Do I like it? No.. but if I wanted to live closer to work, in Santa Clara or Sunnyvale, I would have to sacrifice a lot more of my hard-earned dollars to cut down on the commute.

It is not 10 miles of stop and go in Marin between Novato and San Rafael anymore .
When was the last time you drove up around here San Jose's own Sonarrat?