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Old 05-28-2007, 05:34 PM
 
1 posts, read 33,809 times
Reputation: 15

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Hi,

Could you please share with me your thoughts about the best place to raise a family in Sonoma County? We are so ready to leave the desert and move back to the green hills. We miss the water, the redwoods, the flowers and trees. We want to find a low crime area with good schools for our young children. We also want to be near arts/entertainment/restaurants/culture/shopping/business, etc. and not be totally isolated. We also want to surround ourselves with friendly, open-minded people.

Thank you for your suggestions!

Last edited by get me out of the desert; 05-28-2007 at 05:43 PM..
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Old 02-28-2009, 06:51 PM
 
2 posts, read 40,463 times
Reputation: 12
Default You must be moving from where I am!

I am moving from Phoenix, AZ to Sonoma County. I don't have any suggestions as where to live as I am looking for some myself. I have gotten used to the desert, but I guess I don't really know any better having never lived in CA. Good luck in your search!
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Old 02-28-2009, 08:10 PM
 
1,312 posts, read 6,254,666 times
Reputation: 2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by get me out of the desert View Post
Hi,

We want to find a low crime area with good schools for our young children. We also want to be near arts/entertainment/restaurants/culture/shopping/business, etc. and not be totally isolated. We also want to surround ourselves with friendly, open-minded people.

Thank you for your suggestions!
In other words...you want what everybody else wants! And that puts you in the high demand/low supply end of the real estate market. That means you might find what you're looking for, but it will cost you. Petaluma, Sebastopol, Healdsburg...there are lots of places that offer what you want, but you'll need at least $300k in transferable equity to get in. Sonoma County is one of the least affordable real estate markets in the country. If you also need to find employment, well then your troubles are tripled.
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Old 03-01-2009, 03:52 PM
 
Location: Mendocino County, California
12 posts, read 61,257 times
Reputation: 26
Cool Spot on as usual Steve!

Yes, Steve does hit the finish nail right on the head, with his ten pound finishing hammer!
When others ask - what he likes most about his work, he may reply spuriously: "The Smiles I leave around my Nails!"
Superior Knowledge alone without humility, caring & respect - destroys the working material and the learning/apprenticeship process towards quality craftsmanship. When people are asking for help - openly - trying find a better way/place can we not help them in a more mature way?

"In other words...you want what everybody else wants!"
"the least affordable real estate markets in the country"
"well then your troubles are tripled"

_These are all _ego_ Smiles_
Thank God, Im not his HS student living in Brooking!


So on a more helpful note:
When you start out, most jobs are going to be in or around Santa Rosa. Stay away from living in the south part.
OMHO, I would be looking around Cotati (good Montessori school & College Town) & Sebastopol (entertainment, art, culture & awareness) - then expand out to around the Forestville area +/- say just north up into the Russian River by Mirabel Park - then the Fitch Mt. areas of Healdsburg. Then lastly the west side of Petaluma (the schools there from my childhood - were just so so, including the teachers!!!)

Pricey, yes - hard to find, yes. But I found many a place(s) in the out lying countryside, for a dog and good enough for my kids too. So Like anywhere, If your a good person, live there for a little while, look & work hard, & you will find it! Vision your life - & then Build towards a good foundation for your dreams.

Coming from Phoenix, Sonoma County will be like a breath of fresh Air.
But - I did leave Sonoma County, Why?
Because I wanted better - less sprawl, and even more fresh air. I worked, saved, built, learned, and now have an occupation that I can live most anywhere. So yes, onward to our new dreams!
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Old 04-21-2012, 10:23 AM
 
1 posts, read 25,336 times
Reputation: 12
Default Thread Bump

Giving this thread a bump.

I have browsed the forums to see what has already been said.

My wife and I have lived in many different parts of the U.S. and have decided Marin/Sonoma County is where we want to live--we love it there.

We are looking for:
-smaller town with a real downtown with shopping/dining (not interested in the strip/shopping mall)
-reasonable access to SF.
-like to stay 45 min or less to Santa Rosa for commuting

We know we love Healdsburg, Napa and Sonoma. Unfortunately, Napa is too far from the job I am negotiating (Santa Rosa area) and Healdsburg is too far from SF.

What other towns besides Sonoma should we be looking at? Petaluma?

Appreciate any feedback!
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Old 04-22-2012, 06:06 AM
 
Location: Quimper Peninsula
1,981 posts, read 2,956,824 times
Reputation: 1766
Sometimes best to start a new thread....

If Healdsburg is too far from SF for you, then look in the Santa Rosa, Petaluma area.... I personally like Petaluma more than Santa Rosa... Much more... It is not as "wine country" down there, and summer high temps are lower.
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Old 09-25-2012, 11:58 AM
 
5 posts, read 29,269 times
Reputation: 12
My honey and I are just beginning to look at this area. We're first off thinking of Sebastopol. We'd like to buy in at about $500,000 for a small home for two off the beaten path. Is it possible?
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Old 07-02-2014, 02:00 AM
 
1 posts, read 13,062 times
Reputation: 11
Another good place to look is Humboldt county. Around Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Trinidad. There plenty of redwoods and fresh air and coastal ocean. Take a drive north and you will like College of the redwoods, Humboldt State University. You might really like it compare to sonoma county.
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Old 07-02-2014, 05:08 PM
 
1,148 posts, read 1,472,377 times
Reputation: 1308
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve97415 View Post
In other words...you want what everybody else wants! And that puts you in the high demand/low supply end of the real estate market. That means you might find what you're looking for, but it will cost you. Petaluma, Sebastopol, Healdsburg...there are lots of places that offer what you want, but you'll need at least $300k in transferable equity to get in. Sonoma County is one of the least affordable real estate markets in the country. If you also need to find employment, well then your troubles are tripled.
$300k of transferable equity?? Lol you have no clue what you are talking about. My parents have a nice 2 BR house in Sonoma County and I believe it's worth mid 300's. Good friend bought in a nice area of Petaluma for high 300's in 2011 and now It's climbed to low 400's.

"In other words you want what everybody wants". Not everyone wants to live in Sonoma County dude.
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Old 07-02-2014, 05:13 PM
 
1,148 posts, read 1,472,377 times
Reputation: 1308
Petaluma is a great option for you. It has a laid back, artistic feel with a newly developed "theatre district" along the river. It is about a 45 minute drive to SF in non-peak time, and you basically have a straight shot to Stinson Beach or Pt Reyes. It also has a harbor along the Petaluma river, with over 100 boats docked (my guess). You can take tours from the River up to SF, with wine and food included for $100-150. You should take a trip or YouTube some videos of it. Sounds like it could be a good fit for you.
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