Downtown San Francisco commute out (Modesto, Concord: rental, house, neighborhoods)

[mcharley1]

My husband has been offered $197k annual to work downtown San Francisco. I was born and raised in Modesto and would love to live there again, but times have changed (because even when I was a kid in the 80's people were doing that drive). My husband said he's willing to deal with an hour and a half commute door to door, so I've been mainly focused on Dublin, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, but then I saw Half Moon Bay and can't find anything talking about what a commute is like from there. If we found a perfect home (4 bedroom and a backyard, sq ft is less relevant) we could go as high as $4,500. So much has changed in recent years I'd really like the most accurate local help on this. Here's the kicker, we have 6 kids. I really don't care about the schools because we can happily homeschool if the home is comfortable for us to be home altogether that much, but the neighborhoods HAVE to be safe. My preference is being as close to the job as possible, but that is not a requirement because the right home and neighborhood is more important. We will simply be renting, and the contract work is likely to be a full job offer at the end, but it is a contract so we are just looking at a year somewhere. I don't think either of us are looking at this right now as setting down roots.

[SFBayBoomer]

Originally Posted by mcharley1

My husband has been offered $197k annual to work downtown San Francisco. I was born and raised in Modesto and would love to live there again, but times have changed (because even when I was a kid in the 80's people were doing that drive). My husband said he's willing to deal with an hour and a half commute door to door, so I've been mainly focused on Dublin, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, but then I saw Half Moon Bay and can't find anything talking about what a commute is like from there. If we found a perfect home (4 bedroom and a backyard, sq ft is less relevant) we could go as high as $4,500. So much has changed in recent years I'd really like the most accurate local help on this. Here's the kicker, we have 6 kids. I really don't care about the schools because we can happily homeschool if the home is comfortable for us to be home altogether that much, but the neighborhoods HAVE to be safe. My preference is being as close to the job as possible, but that is not a requirement because the right home and neighborhood is more important. We will simply be renting, and the contract work is likely to be a full job offer at the end, but it is a contract so we are just looking at a year somewhere. I don't think either of us are looking at this right now as setting down roots.

An hour and a half door-to-door commute one way is unfair to your husband. It's very draining and he won't be happy. Having said that, if he takes BART from the East Bay, he will be there in about an hour, perhaps less if you find something in or near Walnut Creek. You could also take a look at Castro Valley, which is closer to San Francisco than Dublin/Pleasanton.

I don't know much about living in Half Moon Bay except that he would absolutely have to drive. There would be no good option of public transit.

Modesto is really out of the question.

[mcharley1]

We aren't strangers to a commute. We used to live in Southern California and we lived in Virginia for 8 years where his commute was one hour driving if there weren't any problems. Even now in Chicago I drop him at the train and the train is 40 minutes and he walks about 15 minutes to his office. An hour and a half for one year is doable. It won't be permanent. Thanks for the info. I'll look in to Castro Valley, though I plan to go over to Modesto often enough to see friends and family that living East Bay probably makes much more sense than being over on the West side.

[ketch89]

Yeah, if I was the father of six kids, I might choose an absurd commute over being at home, too. Why not just live in rural Idaho and have your husband come back to the homestead on weekends?

[botticelli]

Can I say for someone who makes $200k, it would be a stupid and insane choice to waste 3 hours on commute every single week day in this life? Even for San Francisco.

Having 6 kids and wanting a good neighbourhood is hardly a reasonable justification to endure that kind of commute. Your husband's stress level, quality of life and possible health will be greatly affected, and I don't think that's worth it, and this is especially true when his salary is sufficient for you to afford somewhere closer.

I honestly don't know if one has to commute for 3 hours everyday, what's the point of making $200 grand when your quality of life remains so low. I'd rather make $60 and walk to work than making $200k and drive 3 hours.

[likealady]

If I were you, I would look into Walnut Creek/Pleasant Hill/Concord area because the BART ride would make the commute easier. Even if your husband is "willing" to do a 3 hr commute, doesn't mean he should be subjected to it. I used to commute 1-1.5 each way and it was dreadful, I was constantly stressed and exhausted. This is coming from someone a lot younger than your husband.

[peninsular]

If you truly mean that square footage doesn't matter, I would also look in SF proper. These are fairly difficult, but not impossible to find. Here's a 4br 1900 sq ft house in Richmond neighborhood in your price range.

4 bedroom, 1.5 bath house, 1900 sq ft

You will need to do solid research on the neighborhoods, public transportation options, etc.

[ccm123]

In the past few years, the traffic has gotten pretty bad in the Bay Area (due partly to the fact that more people are working and moving here). Vehicular traffic in San Francisco during rush hour is literally inch for inch, at a speeds of 5 mph on the freeways. It is that bad.

Commuting in on BART from Walnut Creek, Pleasanton or Dublin would be much more tolerable.

[smashystyle]

Unless you have needs/preferences that aren't articulated in the original post, there's no reason to look farther out than Walnut Creek which is still a long-enough commute (35 minutes on BART, plus whatever other driving/walking you need). Dublin/Pleasanton is 10 minutes longer each way, which doesn't seem like much, but I don't know why you would prefer them over Walnut Creek if you are commuting to downtown SF. Other options where you might be able to find a house in your price range are El Cerrito, Alameda (commute by ferry or bus), San Rafael (same), or even parts of San Francisco. I would consider which cities among these meet your lifestyle preferences, but I don't think you need to look any farther afield than Walnut Creek. There are other good choices, but I don't you will find a rental in your price range, such as Lafayette/Orinda/Moraga, Berkeley, Southern Marin, or northern San Mateo County.

[twins4lynn]

You should check the housing on craigslist. You mentioned Half Moon Bay, there is currently a home in Montara (between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay) that is 4 br and within your budget. Elegant Coastal View Home (Montara) You have a lot of options once you narrow down east bay, peninsula or SF.