naturey, family friendly, and affordable?!?! (San Jose, San Francisco: homes, neighborhood, to buy)

[Zooramey]

My family is looking to relocate to the Sacramento area with our two young children, and would love to buy a place with at least .20 acres, good schools and within reasonable commuting distance to San Francisco. Our budget is around $400k or less. My ideal place would be surrounded with nature and mature trees, close to water would be an even bigger plus.. We we looking into Carmichael, fair oaks, rocklin, granite bay, and el dorado hills. Any in put would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

[Adriatica]

Define "reasonable commuting distance." Those areas you mention would be a horrible commute to SF. Would it be a daily commute?

[Zooramey]

It wouldn't be daily, probably twice a week to commute to SF and back

[xenxes]

Why not Fairfield or Vacaville? Walnut Creek? Martinez? That commute is not fun...

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by xenxes

Why not Fairfield or Vacaville? Walnut Creek? Martinez? That commute is not fun...

on .20 acre for 400k? Probably not going to happen in any of those places.

[Zooramey]

Originally Posted by xenxes

Why not Fairfield or Vacaville? Walnut Creek? Martinez? That commute is not fun...

We can't afford walnut creek or Martinez (and not crazy about the refineries in Martinez), and the places in Fairfield and Vacaville we can afford are not great areas and pretty lack luster. Less than .2 acres is fine, just hoping there is something out there with at least a bigger yard, in a nice neighborhood

[b.hughes]

Clarksburg is pretty and is a more rural city located about 10 to 15 minutes to the south west of Sacramento. It also has some good wineries...

https://www.redfin.com/CA/Clarksburg.../home/19462316

[xenxes]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

on .20 acre for 400k? Probably not going to happen in any of those places.

Vallejo:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Vallejo/16...0/home/2204457
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Vallejo/50...1/home/2284043

Fairfield:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Fairfield/...3/home/2548695
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Fairfield/...3/home/2556293

Upside is better commute, downside is you probably have to send kids to private.

--

If you're set on doing Sac, commute is about 3 hours if you leave at 4-5 am from those Sac areas to SF, more if there's a holdup, lots of accidents on the 3 to 4 to 3 lane merge areas. Capitol Corridor would be another less stressful option, also a 2-3 hour ride (http://www.capitolcorridor.org/wp-co...le_Aug2016.pdf) + your drive time to Sac station downtown. Most people don't even like commuting in from GB, EDH, all depends on your traffic tolerance. 1mil+ people commute in and out of the city each day, traffic here is bad also, but not as bad as San Jose.

Carmichael and Fair Oaks are closest to the city / retail, the local roads there are very trafficky. Fair Oaks is pricier. Smaller <1 acre lots are usually found here.

Granite Bay is a little farther up, expensive, more 2-5 acre+ lots with little ranchettes and mini mansions (classier than Elk Grove's tacky McMansions, most homes here at least have symmetry).

EDH is popular with SF expats 55+ due to Prop 60/90, also 2-5 acres+. It's higher elevation and the view of Folsom is beautiful. Caveat is parts of this region has naturally formed asbestos, so consult a GIS map first.

Rocklin is more rural and farther out, it's like Granite Bay but better value, more naturey.

There are highly rated public schools in all these areas, i.e. 8-10. All are within distance to Lake Natoma / Folsom.

For 400k, tons of options for >0.2 acre 3/2+ https://www.redfin.com/city/16409/CA...923,no-outline

[Zooramey]

Originally Posted by xenxes

Vallejo:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Vallejo/16...0/home/2204457
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Vallejo/50...1/home/2284043

Fairfield:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Fairfield/...3/home/2548695
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Fairfield/...3/home/2556293

Upside is better commute, downside is you probably have to send kids to private.

--

If you're set on doing Sac, commute is about 3 hours if you leave at 4-5 am from those Sac areas to SF, more if there's a holdup, lots of accidents on the 3 to 4 to 3 lane merge areas. Capitol Corridor would be another less stressful option, also a 2-3 hour ride (http://www.capitolcorridor.org/wp-co...le_Aug2016.pdf) + your drive time to Sac station downtown. Most people don't even like commuting in from GB, EDH, all depends on your traffic tolerance. 1mil+ people commute in and out of the city each day, traffic here is bad also, but not as bad as San Jose.

Carmichael and Fair Oaks are closest to the city / retail, the local roads there are very trafficky. Fair Oaks is pricier. Smaller <1 acre lots are usually found here.

Granite Bay is a little farther up, expensive, more 2-5 acre+ lots with little ranchettes and mini mansions (classier than Elk Grove's tacky McMansions, most homes here at least have symmetry).

EDH is popular with SF expats 55+ due to Prop 60/90, also 2-5 acres+. It's higher elevation and the view of Folsom is beautiful. Caveat is parts of this region has naturally formed asbestos, so consult a GIS map first.

Rocklin is more rural and farther out, it's like Granite Bay but better value, more naturey.

There are highly rated public schools in all these areas, i.e. 8-10. All are within distance to Lake Natoma / Folsom.

For 400k, tons of options for >0.2 acre 3/2+ https://www.redfin.com/city/16409/CA...923,no-outline

Thank you, very much for the information, it gives us a better idea of the pros and cons of the situation

[FamilyCompound]

If you are concerned about school ratings, as some areas are as bad a 3-4, then you are best in GB, Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle, and east Lincoln.

For 400k you will still get over an acre with a 3/2, just a bit older or not remodeled. I have been shopping the area for over a year, looking at 3+ ac, pool, 4+ bed, etc and they are as low as 600.. You will do well.