Moving to san jose in the summer 2012. I need help!! (Santa Cruz: rental, how much)

[Pavlovich13]

We are moving to SJ bay area, I have 2 boys 6 & 7 yrs, my husband will be working at Campbell and I am a massage therapist. I need to find an area for good schools, also close to spas so I can work. I am not crazy for the suburban life I want to be close to whole foods yoga studios something in the middle. I live in Scottsdale Az and work in a great upscale gym, so I am trying to find something good. Any help will be amazing ..thanks!,,,,

Patricia

[jaijai]

What is your rental budget?
Or will you be purchasing a home? and if so, what's your budget for that?
It may sound rude to ask but it's a key issue when deciding where to live.

Los Gatos may be a good fit for you if you can afford it.
the Los Gatos CA Official Site!
It's an upscale community that is right on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz mountains.
It will situate your husband nicely for his commute and you may be able to find your kind of work in Los Gatos (quite a few spas) or in Santa Cruz county (on the coast) which is roughly 30 minutes from down town Los Gatos.
There's a Whole Foods in Los Gatos.
I don't know about the schools but i imagine that they're good.

[gone down south]

JaiJai loves Los Gatos, but it's the most expensive town in an already expensive area - we'd need to know your budget before we can really comment.

[jaijai]

Originally Posted by gone down south

JaiJai loves Los Gatos, but it's the most expensive town in an already expensive area - we'd need to know your budget before we can really comment.

It's not that i love it but i do like it enough.
It's just that if i had to live on the San Jose side of the S.C. mountains because i worked over there, i'd choose Los Gatos because it's the closest that one can be to the coast while at the same time providing a sane commute to San Jose and vicinity.
Also, the o.p. indicated that she's not enthusiastic about living a suburban life. I'm not sure if that means that she wants a more urban scene or a more rural one.
Again, if she can afford it, living in one of the neighborhoods within walking distance of down town Los Gatos will spare her from what i think she wants to avoid in terms of living in a "bedroom" type community and if she wants a more rural situation, there are those opportunities in the mountains.
The other possibility is Scotts Valley. That's in Santa Cruz county Pavlovich and it's a very quick drive to Santa Cruz and other coastal communities in Santa Cruz county.
That would allow them to live on the ocean side of the S.C. mountains and though her husband would still have to commute over HWY17, Scotts Valley is much better situated for that commute than other towns in S.C. county.
She might prefer that over the suburban sprawl on the San Jose side.
Her husband however may not as he'll be the one driving over 17 every day.
Pavlovich, that commute though is worth it too many who want to be nearer to the coast and who don't want to live in the San Jose area and who don't want to live a suburban life.
It just depends on your financial capacity and your husbands commuting tolerance.

[Pavlovich13]

We are planning to rent aprox $3500 maybe $3,800, I dont know how much we can get with that!! .
But I agree I like more urban than rural, also I need to be where people love to have massages, So I want a happy middle point for my hubby me and kids ( basically good schools). Thanks for responding, I will go in March to look for areas, but I need to have an idea where to start. Its difficult to make a desicion when u dont live in the are.
I do appreciate all the info i can get.
PAtricia

[jaijai]

These links are to craigslist (South Bay).
Just to give you a sense of rental prices i narrowed the listings down and typed in Los Gatos and then Campbell.


SF bay area apts/housing for rent classifieds "los gatos " - craigslist


SF bay area apts/housing for rent classifieds "campbell " - craigslist

[Pavlovich13]

Thank you so much

[jaijai]

Originally Posted by Pavlovich13

Thank you so much

De nada.
If it looks affordable and being relatively close to the coast is a good thing for you and your family, do check out Los Gatos.
Good luck.

[ravt2012]

check out Almaden valley too, very good schools, my kids 6 and 5 yrs old study there. Check near the area of Graystone and Williams schools which are very good schools and they feed into BretHarte Middle school and Leland High. Don't know if you are planning on staying here till the kids go to high school but just letting you know! Campbell is easy commute from here on hwy85. We have Whole Foods on almaden expwy and few spas and good gyms (AVAC for one) out here. We love staying close to moutains and going hiking almost every weekend!

[Pavlovich13]

Thanks for all the info!!! I am ready for this new journey