Los Gatos or Santa Rosa Area (San Jose, Oakland: to rent, house, live in)

[Zaney]

Hello,

My husband and I are looking to make a move to Northern Calif.
Currently we live in Santa Barbara, Southern Calif.

After much searching we have chosen to stay in state (for now) and narrowed things down the Los Gatos area or Santa Rosa area. All we know about them is what you could tell by driving around.
Loved Los Gatos but $$$$? What about the people? I heard that can have that "I'm better than you attitude".

We are 30's, no kids yet. Looking for a place with commuting distance of high tech work. House with a yard would be nice. Bookstore, cafe something fun to do on the weekends without horrific crowds.

Our current area is filling up with 'affordable' housing, graffiti and gangs.
I know everywhere has it problems but those are some things we'd really like to get away from. I hear both San Jose and Santa Rosa have some areas you need to stay out of.

Sebastopol looked cute? thoughts? Petaluma? Occidental?

We looked at Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill...seemed to be a bit to cookie cutter. Looked like somebody opened up a "build a city" kit... and so crowded.

Just looking to rent right now until we decided on a permanent landing place.

If you have more questions about our situation that helps make the advice more precise.

Thanks is advance for your help.

[St.Patrick]

Los Gatos is a bit too close to South San Jose for comfort. For that area and price range I would look at Saratoga instead.

[youngmoney]

How about Monterey area? Yeah, there will be some elitists but it's very safe and clean.

Sebastopol seems pretty good as far as not being "Ghetto" however, it's a lot more "Hippy" than SB. Are you ready or interested in those types of people?

Also, what about Marin County? Is that too crowded for you?

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by St.Patrick

Los Gatos is a bit too close to South San Jose for comfort. For that area and price range I would look at Saratoga instead.

Did I miss something? Since when does south SJ have a reputation of that nature?

[Zaney]

Thanks for your replies.

I love Monterey & Carmel (Pacific Grove too)...love love love...we have actually looked there, but I think the commute into a high-tech area for work would be beastly, yes?

We looked at Marin County- loved Mill Valley- but not much to rent there and it's kind of packed in. Is it New Agey or is it my imagination. Not really into the whole crystals and feng shui bit.

Novato seemed..well..not for us anyway.
Larkspur? Corte Madera?
I heard San Rafael can be rough. True?

Hippy people: they smoke pot, dont shave or bathe, and let their kids run around w/o a diaper in the stores? or 'wanna be hippy': green people, solar powered homes, community garden, recycling, self sufficient? Wanna Be's I'm okay with.

What's in South San Jose? Ghetto & Gangs?
How about Mountain View area or SunnyVale? Milipitas?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Los Gatos is an affluent contiguous suburb of the general Bay Area sprawl (sprawl that is in a U shape from the Golden Gate down to Coyote Valley then back up in multiple tendrils through the East and North(east) Bay, check out a satellite image).

Santa Rosa is actually (barely) separated from the contiguous sprawl and is less expensive overall than Los Gatos for comparable properties in comparable demographics. Santa Rosa also spans a wider set of economic strata than Los Gatos.

Long, long term Santa Rosa may appreciate more.

Los Gatos is going to be an older demographic with more empty nesters (although more and more folks are retiring in Santa Rosa, but I still view it as a "family town").

Los Gatos is closer to and more influenced by the "Santa Cruz vibe" (just over the hill) whereas Santa Rosa is more influenced by the "wine country vibe."

Los Gatos sort of pretends SF does not exist (except for the more special nights out) whereas Santa Rosa tends to still cling somewhat to commuting (50 miles!) into The City.

[Zaney]

Thank You BayArea HillBilly.
I'll have to check that out on a sat. map.

Why does Los Gatos pretend SF doesn't exist?

I guess Santa Cruz vibe is more lively and wine country vibe is more laid back?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Zaney

Thank You BayArea HillBilly.
Why does Los Gatos pretend SF doesn't exist?

Really my own turn of phrase. Los Gatos people are not commuters to the City and rarely seek it out for nightlife, cultural events, etc. Whereas, to pick another comparable place further up the Peninsula, Woodside people may well commute to the City and even if they don't will go to the Opera, etc. Los Gatos is firmly esconced in South Bay / San Jose separateness.

I guess Santa Cruz vibe is more lively and wine country vibe is more laid back?

More like, surf and granola versus faux Euro / Provence.

[18Montclair]

Zaney,
I suggest looking at Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.(In between Oakland and Walnut Creek) Its an area also known as Lamorinda. It costs about the same if not a little less than Los Gatos but I think it has everything you are looking for.

Another huge plus is that Orinda and Lafayette each have their own BART stations.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Zaney,
I suggest looking at Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.(In between Oakland and Walnut Creek) Its an area also known as Lamorinda. It costs about the same if not a little less than Los Gatos but I think it has everything you are looking for.

Another huge plus is that Orinda and Lafayette each have their own BART stations.

Excellent point. There you have the oak studded hill sides and a more mellow version of the genteel vibe that one also tends to find in Los Gatos (not to mention SB / Montecito, but obviously no beach). And as you note very convenient to the inner East Bay and the City.