Commute To Palo Alto, Ca? (San Jose, San Francisco: to rent, condos, house)

[ahsager]

I'm hoping someone can answer a couple questions for me. I'm considering relocating to the Bay Area and I'd be working in Palo Alto. From what I can tell, Livermore is the only area I'd be able to afford to buy a house at. Mappoint and Google maps say it's roughly 40 miles. What times would I need to leave to keep the comute within an hour? Is 5:30AM Livermore to Palo Alto, and 3:00 - 3:30PM Palo Alto to Livermore a good bet? Or is it a pipe dream all together? I would probably take the route around the bottom of the bay. I appreciate your input. Thank you!!!!

[humboldtrat]

That would be an ugly and horrible commute especially if you went around the south end of the bay. And gas costs about $3.75/gal and is suppose to get up to $4 this summer (a bit more than you pay in NJ !). Live some place closer to Palo Alto.

[sonarrat]

You don't want to do that. 580 carries a ton of big-rig traffic between the Bay Area and the Central Valley, and actually starts to cram up with commuters BEFORE 6 am. And avoiding the bridge is not cost effective since it's so much farther (and slower) to go down 880 to 237 and back up 101.

See if you can swing Redwood City. It's cheap and getting cheaper by the day.

[Luke9686]

Especially since 880, 237 AND 101 are all gridlocked most of the time. That would be a terrible commute that will get old fast.

I'd move closer, even if it meant renting.

[Panks]

I bet that would take well over an hour, probably close to 90 mins and thats if there are no major accidents etc.

If Redwood city is too expensive, you could try going across the Dumbarton bridge to Newark or Fremont. The bridge gets congested but its definitely do-able.
Good luck with the new job

[ahsager]

Thanks to everyone that replied. Unfortunately $450,000 is topping out the budget. Is Vallecitos Rd. down to 680 and around the bay not an option? The site I'd be working out of is in Palo Alto but close to Mountain View. If not, I guess I'd have to take Luke9686's advice and rent. A 90 minute commute is not an option. I am married (spouse stays home with our pre-schooler) with three children and refuse to give the company 3 hours of my time "unpaid." I would also like to have a home that is at least 1400 Sqft. It's a sad world we live in when that's to much to ask...I guess. Maybe it's just me?? I guess I'd like at least a slice of the cake!!

[humboldtrat]

Check out condos in Fremont, Union City, Newark, Sunnyvale or Mountain View. Prices are coming down thanks to the housing slump and maybe you could find something in these areas that might be affordable.

[gizmo980]

Oy... that would be a horrendous commute, and I wouldn't recommend it for someone with a kid at home! I agree with the others - try to find something closer to PA, even if you have to rent. Look around Mtn. View, Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, Santa Clara, and maybe even San Jose. All will have some commute, but NOTHING compared to driving in from Livermore.

On a personal note, I currently commute from San Francisco to Napa 4x/week... luckily I have a late schedule (12-9pm or 11am-8pm) so traffic isn't an issue, but even then it takes an hour each way. I don't have kids or a spouse at home, and it's still becoming a major stress in my life. Luckily I'm starting a new job closer to home next month, otherwise I'd be considering a move or resignation. So in my personal opinion, renting is a better option than driving that far (especially if you're sitting in traffic) every day.

[sonarrat]

You can get a -house- in Redwood City for $350K these days, and it's not a bad town at all. Admittedly $450K will barely get you 1000 sf though.

[ahsager]

It looks like $450 might get you 1200-1400sf in the Newark-Hayward area. Is that an OK area? And on that note, what are the areas both West and East of the bay to avoid? Again, I'm married with three little ones.