Cheaper living near The City (San Francisco, Sacramento: to rent, houses, neighborhood)

[ThinkingThinking]

Long story short, my husband's company wants him to move to cover the Bay Area. They've been yanking our chain about moving to various places for a couple years now, but this time they are serious. He wont need to commute into San Francisco but he will need to be within reasonable (1-2 hour) driving distance in case has has to go on site.

Anyway, since they aren't offering much more in pay and we'd like a bit of space, what are some affordable rural-ish towns with good schools. Ideally we'd like a bit of space for the dogs and kids to roam, but affordability and schools are most important. We're liberal hippies, so colorful neighbors aren't an issue for us either.

Where should I begin our search?

[jaypee]

What's your budget?

[ThinkingThinking]

around 200k for a house, I suppose? Worst case scenario, If I don't get a job before relocating, aand he doesn't get offered a cost of living raise, 80k/year budget.

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by ThinkingThinking

around 200k for a house, I suppose? Worst case scenario, If I don't get a job before relocating, aand he doesn't get offered a cost of living raise, 80k/year budget.

You might look into Brentwood--very family friendly, schools are supposed to be very good also. Also check out the Green Valley area outside of Fairfield or possibly even Napa. Livermore might also be an option. All of these towns are semi-rural, safe, yet still have all the shopping options nearby.

200k (in terms of buying) won't get you anything nearer to San Francisco or in a safe or desirable place. You might consider renting first so you can get a better feel for the region.

[Meowen]

Start searching on the eastern outskirts, like Tracy/Manteca or the south bay like Morgan Hill or Gilroy. And maybe even up near Sacramento but not the city itself. Those places might get you near your budget if you are lucky but probably closer to 300k..and none of them are really havens for liberals. For 200k you may have to look for something further out in the central valley.

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by Meowen

Start searching on the eastern outskirts, like Tracy/Manteca or the south bay like Morgan Hill or Gilroy. And maybe even up near Sacramento but not the city itself. Those places might get you near your budget if you are lucky but probably closer to 300k..and none of them are really havens for liberals. For 200k you may have to look for something further out in the central valley.

They might indeed have to stretch the budget on housing costs a bit, but all of those towns are between 65-80% liberal/Democratic leaning--as are most cities/towns in/around the Bay Area.

Manteca and Tracy would be even less so--maybe half/half.

[mayorhaggar]

80k is kind of harsh for a family with kids having to move across the country. I think you'll have to be somewhere pretty far out like Brentwood or Tracy if you want good schools and a house around 200k. I'd definitely recommend renting at first, people here don't look down on it and it can be cheaper per month than buying sometimes.

[humboldtrat]

Fairfield or Vacaville, on I-80 halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento. Don't know what the schools are like. Tracy is also a good option.

[ThinkingThinking]

Thanks everyone!

We're moving from the Houston TX area (we are not Texans, I am originally from Portland OR) so our idea of "conservative leaning" might be a little bit harsher than yours. We can and have put up with a lot, lol. Currently we're in an upper-middle class suburb. We're not fans, although it does have good schools and is a decent place to be raising our boys (ages 7 and 13) We're just tired of living so close to other people that we can smell what they're having for breakfast, negotiating the bland suburban streets and tract houses, etc.

We would probably look into renting first but we are dog owners, and I know that it can be difficult finding a landlord who will rent to a family with 2 large dogs.

I'll check out those cities! thank you! Please think good thoughts for my husband as he attempts to negotiate a raise to make up for the cost of living!

[gone down south]

Don't accept anything less than a 30% cost of living increase, it really is that expensive here. Even then you're going to be falling far behind your usual standards in terms of housing, you're going to have to make some big sacrifices somewhere (location, size and/or condition of house, quality of neighborhood, proximity to anything interesting, etc), the question is what you willing to give up and what do you absolutely need.