Want to move to SF-lite. Where do you suggest? (Oakland: real estate, renting)

[DayLag]

This may sound strange but which towns/'burbs are most like SF in the bay area? I want to move out of SF but my job is here (downtown) and I'm willing to commute an hour each way (bad I know, but I'm ok with it).
I guess what I'm looking for is SF-lite with a reasonable commute to SF. And I want a big backyard, no compromise on that lol. Ideas?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by DayLag

This may sound strange but which towns/'burbs are most like SF in the bay area? I want to move out of SF but my job is here (downtown) and I'm willing to commute an hour each way (bad I know, but I'm ok with it).
I guess what I'm looking for is SF-lite with a reasonable commute to SF. And I want a big backyard, no compromise on that lol. Ideas?

What?? What is SF-lite? What qualities is it about SF that you want, and don't want? OK, you want a big yard, but I'm not getting the rest of your concept. And are you renting, buying? What's your budget for whichever?

[DayLag]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What?? What is SF-lite? What qualities is it about SF that you want, and don't want? OK, you want a big yard, but I'm not getting the rest of your concept. And are you renting, buying? What's your budget for whichever?

want:
plenty of things to do for adults and kids (so we don't have to drive into sf, sj, etc. for everything)
no need to drive everywhere/good public transportation
good restaurants
good public schools
detached houses
a house with 5-6 bedrooms
a large backyard

don't want:
high crime
boondocks
a long commute (by car or public transit) to SF

I can't think of anything else right now.

[mayorhaggar]

a) only SF has really good public transit, and it sure doesn't have backyards or good schools.
b) Albany and Alameda are kind of like more suburban versions of certain outer SF neighborhoods.
c) even in a cheapish town like Alameda, a 5-6 bedroom house would be like a million bucks probably.

Sounds like a fantasy unless you're a zillionaire.

[DayLag]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

a) only SF has really good public transit, and it sure doesn't have backyards or good schools.
b) Albany and Alameda are kind of like more suburban versions of certain outer SF neighborhoods.
c) even in a cheapish town like Alameda, a 5-6 bedroom house would be like a million bucks probably.

Sounds like a fantasy unless you're a zillionaire.

I'm not a zillionaire, I'm just tired of the city, you know.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by DayLag

I'm not a zillionaire, I'm just tired of the city, you know.

How do you plan to pay for a place with 5-6 bedrooms in the Bay Area? A place that includes city amenities, at that? Unless you make really a lot of money, you'd be looking at places in the "outer" Bay Area, like Pleasanton, Danville, etc. Places near the Bart line. Walnut Creek, if you could afford it.

[Ceece]

Seattle?

[eastmemphisguy]

You want a single house with a big yard, but you want to be able to walk everywhere. Those two points are diametrically opposed. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by eastmemphisguy

You want a single house with a big yard, but you want to be able to walk everywhere. Those two points are diametrically opposed. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Basically. Are you prepared to pony up $800k for a super fixer in Alameda? You might find a Victorian in Alameda that works. The whole island is walkable/bikeable. But maybe not completely transitable (unless you want to walk about .75 mile on either end).

Real Estate Search | Redfin

*** lots of those are likely duplexes or triplexes that need work, with mini victorian bedrooms. Do you have $100k to renovate into what you want?

[HappyinCali]

Agree with everyone on Transportation. I think Alameda probably comes closest to fitting the requirements.

- Detached houses
- Very walkable
- Very good # of things to do along the main street. Excellent restaurants
- access to BART via a short drive/bus
- don't know about schools
- 5-6 bedroom house will be definitely over a million. Have no idea, but our relative has a really nice house with 3 or 4 bedrooms and he bought it post 2007 bubble for like $800k. Definitely worth more now

Some areas in Oakland might fit the bill, too, but I don't know the nice areas well enough.