Best Cities and Towns on the Outskirts of the Bay Area? (San Jose: condos, house)

[ssmaster]

Originally Posted by Masterful_Man

I think I want to stick to the South or North, instead of way out east.
I'll check out Palo Alto and Sunnyvale areas, and Los Gatos as the other guy after you recommended.

From what I've read online, much of the north west bay area towns are good but people say to avoid Marin City, which seems odd since the entire area seems like it's mostly affluent or upper middle class.

Petaluma is one city that I really like, at least going by the info I've read online and pictures.
I might also consider looking at areas within San Francisco like Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Marina, etc.
Although the population density would be much more than I am use to, those neighborhoods look very attractive and I'd be able to walk or bike to a bunch of different places. The only major thing that would concern me is big city crime. I'm not yet enlightened on what areas of San Francisco are safest and which should be avoided. Maybe you guys can chime in on that?

Normally I'd want to avoid living right near a big city, but San Francisco looks so inviting in pictures -- I'll definitely get a good on-the-ground perspective when I visit there during the summer.

It takes 25 minutes to get to San Francisco from Orinda. Petaluma is about an hour.
You are trying to choose between Petaluma where a 1200 sq foot home runs around $500,000 and Palo Alto where a 1200 sq foot home will cost $2 million?
Most people interested in buying a home have a price point,desired amenities and distance from downtown that they are considering. Posting after you have figured these thing out will give you better responses

[Masterful_Man]

Originally Posted by ssmaster

It takes 25 minutes to get to San Francisco from Orinda. Petaluma is about an hour.
You are trying to choose between Petaluma where a 1200 sq foot home runs around $500,000 and Palo Alto where a 1200 sq foot home will cost $2 million?
Most people interested in buying a home have a price point,desired amenities and distance from downtown that they are considering. Posting after you have figured these thing out will give you better responses

My price point would be no greater than $8 million for a home, so that gives me plenty of options. I have no need for more than 3,000 sq. feet, so I'd like to keep it around there or slightly under that. My main requirement is that the area be pretty safe and have quick access to decent shopping, restaurants, grocery, etc, and also be within an hour's drive of good places for hiking and other nature acitivities.

I could probably afford to live in almost any locale in the Bay area, I'm just trying to grapple with whether I'd want to experience living in the big city or stick to what I'm use to (suburbs and small towns). With the impressive golden gate park, numerous restaurants and shopping, San Francisco actually has a lot of appeal to me. From what I've been reading, the west side area near Golden Gate Park is very safe (Richmond district) and also the areas adjacent to the presidio.

[xenxes]

Sausalito without question, you can view the city, get to the city, get to Napa/Sonoma without going through the city, but if feels like a small beach town, safe & affluent, boutique shops and restaurants, and a lot more sunny days. That's where I'd retire to with an $8m budget. Second would be Carmel if I didn't want to be close to a big city.

https://www.redfin.com/city/17978/CA...085:-122.51638

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by Masterful_Man

My price point would be no greater than $8 million for a home, so that gives me plenty of options. I have no need for more than 3,000 sq. feet, so I'd like to keep it around there or slightly under that. My main requirement is that the area be pretty safe and have quick access to decent shopping, restaurants, grocery, etc, and also be within an hour's drive of good places for hiking and other nature acitivities.

I could probably afford to live in almost any locale in the Bay area, I'm just trying to grapple with whether I'd want to experience living in the big city or stick to what I'm use to (suburbs and small towns). With the impressive golden gate park, numerous restaurants and shopping, San Francisco actually has a lot of appeal to me. From what I've been reading, the west side area near Golden Gate Park is very safe (Richmond district) and also the areas adjacent to the presidio.

With 8 million to spend, you have options anywhere in the City. Pacific Heights, the Marina District, Presidio Heights, Sea Cliff, St. Francis Woods, and Forest Hill are some really nice neighborhoods that come to mind.

Hell, with that much money, you could afford a City house and a country house somewhere else in the region (pretty much anywhere)...


It's really hard to recommend just one place as there are many nice and safe areas in the Bay Area (if money is no object). Take a visit and check out the entire region. See what areas you like best, and look for a house in those areas.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by xenxes

Sausalito without question, you can view the city, get to the city, get to Napa/Sonoma without going through the city, but if feels like a small beach town, safe & affluent, boutique shops and restaurants, and a lot more sunny days.

Sausalito would be the LAST place in California that I would relocate to! Bridge traffic jams everyday and especially on the weekends!

Traffic Nightmare - Marin Magazine - June 2016 - Marin County, California

Despite efforts, Golden Gate Bridge traffic may be unsolvable - by j_rodriguez - The San Francisco Examiner

Welcome To 'Traffic Jam,' ... Err, Tamalpais Valley - Mill Valley, CA Patch

[sav858]

OP isn't really concerned about traffic and you can take the ferry from Sausalito.

[Chuck5000]

and the OP has no money issues, and can enjoy an uber, lyft, or taxi back home at his leisure. Sausalito is probably at worst 10 or 15 minutes longer drive from SF than compared to Palo Alto

but at the 8 million level, and wanting the city, screw it, just get a view home in Pacific Heights.

Originally Posted by sav858

OP is really concerned about traffic and you can take the ferry from Sausalito.

[joejerryronnie]

With $8 million to spend, I'd look at Atherton. You'll be a little above the median home price for the area ($7.2 million according to Forbes), but it's easily the nicest "suburb" in the bay area. Right next to Palo Alto for local night life and Stanford for a little culture, and just a short trip up 280 to San Francisco if you want to go big.

San Francisco is an incredible city to visit and much of it is breathtakingly beautiful. But I think you would find some aspects of the City a bit overwhelming if you lived there:
- glut of millennial hipsters all trying to get rich off tech but who, ironically, actually hate people that are already rich
- really difficult homeless problems and way more human feces than should be on any city streets
- extreme left wing politics and wanton government waste ($9 billion budget for a city of 840,000 people - that's slightly higher than LA's budget with 3 million less people)

[chessgeek]

Also consider the Monterey Peninsula region. Pacific Grove may be a good option. The beautiful Asilomar beach trail is there. Monterey is adjacent with additional restaurants and nightlife (Pacific Grove rolls up the sidewalks early, but Monterey does not. Lol). With your budget, you could also afford Carmel or Pebble Beach, which are also both near Monterey. All are safe areas. There are famous car shows, the Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey Bay Aquarium, great golf courses, and many parks and trails. Big Sur is a short drive south and nearby Salinas has a nice air show in September.

[Masterful_Man]

Originally Posted by capoeira

Sausalito would be the LAST place in California that I would relocate to! Bridge traffic jams everyday and especially on the weekends!

Traffic Nightmare - Marin Magazine - June 2016 - Marin County, California

Despite efforts, Golden Gate Bridge traffic may be unsolvable - by j_rodriguez - The San Francisco Examiner

Welcome To 'Traffic Jam,' ... Err, Tamalpais Valley - Mill Valley, CA Patch

If I lived in Sausalito I'd probably bike to SF.
Are there bicycle lanes or a bike trail that leads to the golden gate bridge from Sausalito?