Living near Rodeo (Oakland, Concord, Berkeley: real estate, to rent, condominium)

[Oildog]

I may get transferred and Rodeo is an option. I'm trying to brace myself for housing sticker shock (but its better than unemployment). Are there areas a single guy in late 30s can afford to live, and be walking distance to some restaurants and pubs...and...ill go for it...have less than 30 min commute? I travel a fair amount so home security is important as well. I'd like to target $300k or less for starters...

[kng_sunny]

well rodeo is a small city nothing much going on there. few of restaurant there. but with in 15 to 30 mins drive you can able to dine , clubbing what ever you desire. for the house there r still some houses near your budget. check zipreality.com

[mayorhaggar]

Where would you be working, in Rodeo? We'd need to know so we know where your commute would be taking you exactly.

I don't really know the area well but it seems like the Solano County area is cheaper than south of the Carquine Bridge for real estate.

[llowllevellowll]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Where would you be working, in Rodeo? We'd need to know so we know where your commute would be taking you exactly.

I don't really know the area well but it seems like the Solano County area is cheaper than south of the Carquine Bridge for real estate.

It's cheaper but it's an annoying $5 a day to cross the Carquinez - depending on ones work schedule, you might find yourself with $150 per month in bridge tolls that helps to negate a cheaper mortgage payment. There's some good home stock in Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, Concord, Martinez, etc, that I'd check out in addition to Solano County.

[tanglenet]

I personally would not live near the oil refineries due to the high level of emissions. However, since your moniker is Oildog, you probably don't share that concern and I can probably guess your industry occupation and employer. My rec is not to buy, but to rent and to look around the Walnut Creek area. It will be a little longer than a 20 minute commute, but you could be in an apt or condominium complex which would satisfy your security concerns when you travel and be able to walk downtown for restaurants and shopping.

[18Montclair]

To the east of 80 is a lovely subdivision that is sort of the antithesis of the other side of 80. LOL

East of the freeway is newer, seems a little more upscale. West of 80 is the old town area and sort of looks the part. Kind of dead actually. But not necessarily bad.

Sadly the closer you get to the bay the less desirable it seems imo and there's a rather large public housing project in that area too that you might not like.

As far as walking to pubs, your not going to find that in Rodeo the way you would say in Berkeley or Oakland as Rodeo and the surrounding towns are pretty standard suburban areas. You will be driving everywhere.

For a single guy who doesnt mind driving 10-20 minutes each way, then Id suggest Albany, which meets the 'walking to the pub' desire but in Albany you'll see some baby strollers too.

Also, 80 is very difficult to gage trafficwise. Sometimes its light as a feather and other times its the worst freeway in the whole country(no, I mean that seriously)-when its good its great, but when its bad its the worst.

So personally I would bite the bullet and live in Rodeo, or Hercules, or Pinole. Close to work and still lots of options as far as things to do and things nearby.

Well, anyway, good luck.

[stateofgreen]

The person posted this in 2008....don't think he moved. I wouldn't want to live near any of the refineries either....looked around El Sobrante today and it seems pretty near the Rodeo refinery enough to get air with emissions from it right?

[BayAreaGuy87]

Originally Posted by stateofgreen

The person posted this in 2008....don't think he moved. I wouldn't want to live near any of the refineries either....looked around El Sobrante today and it seems pretty near the Rodeo refinery enough to get air with emissions from it right?

Not at all. The emissions from the Rodeo refinery blow east for the most part. I would say that Rodeo is the most affected by the emissions, and Crockett to an extent. When there was an emissions mishap years ago I remember that the towns of Rodeo and parts of Crockett were the only ones affected by it. El Sobrante, Pinole, and even Hercules are south and far away from the Refinery and besides, like I said before, the emissions blow northeast.