Planning on Moving to Bay Area - Need Real Estate Advice (San Jose: condo, houses)

[MrHoover]

Originally Posted by NorCalMan

You make 1%er money and want to move TO California, not AWAY? What in the actual hell? I keep thinking about advice to offer you and then I get sidetracked by the fact that you are willingly of your own free will choosing to move to this burning, crap stained, high tax, needle strewn, homeless filled, over populated, sanctuary state that has terrible roads, terrible commutes, terrible schools that stick ESL kids in regular classes, gangs, politicians that put homeless and illegals before the tax payers that prop up this festering welfare state that is currently, yes CURRENTLY, looking at yet ANOTHER way to repeal Prop.13. Maybe you have some offshore tax shelter in the Caymans? If not, it sounds like you're ready to just throw your money away. Well get ready to work harder, because in California there's millions and millions of people on welfare who are counting on you. FFS, stay away from this place!

Shouldn’t your username be alabama man?

[NorCalMan]

Originally Posted by MrHoover

Shouldn’t your username be alabama man?

Gee, please explain.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by NorCalMan

Gee, please explain.

There is truth to what you said in regards to San Francisco itself. The suburbs the OP is considering don't have most of those issues though, but I understand a lot of what you are saying. It's part of the reason I moved out of San Francisco. California still has a lot of nice places, but San Francisco other than being locked in by a high paying job is truly a WTF city living wise. That's just my opinion anyways.

[NorCalMan]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

There is truth to what you said in regards to San Francisco itself. The suburbs the OP is considering don't have most of those issues though, but I understand a lot of what you are saying. It's part of the reason I moved out of San Francisco. California still has a lot of nice places, but San Francisco other than being locked in by a high paying job is truly a WTF city living wise. That's just my opinion anyways.

For sure. There are still some great parts of the state to live that are in the Bay Area, you're just going to have to pay for it, dearly.

I was waiting for MrHoover to chime back in as to how my comments, hyperbolic as they may be, were what? Racist, dumb, untrue? Whatever xenophobic, narcissistic view he apparently has for residents of Alabama.

Regarding the Bay Area and LA, nothing that I stated was untrue. California literally hands out needles, there is literally a poo map for SF. California is literally a sanctuary state. California literally places ESL kids in English speaking classes. California's roads are crap, most of our schools are under performing, gangs and homeless infest parts of the Bay and large swaths of LA, California spent $23B on services for illegal aliens in 2018 alone. And, California literally has the highest taxes on everything, except for property taxes, which, if AG Becerra gets his way and Californians stupidly repeal Prop.13 in March, our property taxes will then rival Illinois'. You wanna buy a $1.2M home in California after Prop13 is repealed? I wish you luck.

So MrHoover, please enlighten us and tell us your views on Alabama residents. Are Californians better and better off than Alabamians for some reason?

[mstnghu2]

Originally Posted by NorCalMan

You make 1%er money and want to move TO California, not AWAY? What in the actual hell? I keep thinking about advice to offer you and then I get sidetracked by the fact that you are willingly of your own free will choosing to move to this burning, crap stained, high tax, needle strewn, homeless filled, over populated, sanctuary state that has terrible roads, terrible commutes, terrible schools that stick ESL kids in regular classes, gangs, politicians that put homeless and illegals before the tax payers that prop up this festering welfare state that is currently, yes CURRENTLY, looking at yet ANOTHER way to repeal Prop.13. Maybe you have some offshore tax shelter in the Caymans? If not, it sounds like you're ready to just throw your money away. Well get ready to work harder, because in California there's millions and millions of people on welfare who are counting on you. FFS, stay away from this place!

None of what you say is anything like what my daily life in CA is like...at all. I don't know anybody else who suffers through that kind of life here either. I can't imagine choosing to live such a miserable life. You really should do something about it.

[NorCalMan]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

None of what you say is anything like what my daily life in CA is like...at all. I don't know anybody else who suffers through that kind of life here either. I can't imagine choosing to live such a miserable life. You really should do something about it.

Aww, thanks for your pity. Which I don't need. I live a very happy life, thank you very much. Lived here all my life. I take the good with the bad.

So, just to be clear. You see none of what I mentioned in YOUR daily life. So, your subjective experience negates what's literally going on in this state, a state of 40 million? Or, are you saying you choose to look at life with rose- colored glasses on? Or are you saying you don't pay taxes, don't drive on our crappy roads, don't pay for wildly inflated gas, don't have kids in school, don't own a home or business, you're indifferent to the suffering of those living in the miles upon miles upon miles of homeless villages that crisscross every city in the state, the needles and human waste in SF and LA? Maybe you don't travel, independently wealthy, and your life view is of the Lifetime movies you watch on your TV?

You're intellectually dishonest. You really should do something about that.

[MechAndy]

I have a place in Danville and like it a lot.
I work in the City.
I go to work early and come home early.
It’s about 35-45 minutes in the morning and about 50-65 minutes in the afternoon.
The school system is great.
That being said the Orinda commute would be sweeter.
Orinda schools are every bit as nice.
Dollar wise if you want to live nice in either town it starts out at about 2M.
Yes I know it can be done cheaper.
It all depends on what you think is nice a 60’s-70’s house with a small yard or something more modern with a bit of privacy.
I’ve lived in both towns.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

None of what you say is anything like what my daily life in CA is like...at all. I don't know anybody else who suffers through that kind of life here either. I can't imagine choosing to live such a miserable life. You really should do something about it.

Neither is my life like that too. What is the point of such posters, many of whom don't live here, choosing to rant about such tired memes?

[WeezulMaster]

Originally Posted by Blitz2014

Thanks for the input.

Some follow-up questions/comments:

1) Not too picky, 3br/2ba is fine then.
2) Where would Fremont/Union City go in your rankings, below San Ramon or in the middle?
3) Which areas of SJ/Silicon Valley should I consider? Los Gatos? I dont much about that area, but I know it has great (warm) weather, so am interested if my wallet allows it..
4) Yes, Bay Area is $$. This is why we are also considering LA. If you were in our shoes, would you say LA >> Bay Area?
5) Apart from zillow, any real estate websites you suggest?

Late response, I know.

1) Ah, good. Those are more numerous than the others.
2) I would put Fremont/Union City between Walnut Creek and Danville.
3) Los Gatos is way down south. Nice area; friend of mine used to live there. Got priced out. It also took him over an hour, minimum, to commute to Fremont each day. In terms of Silicon Valley, I'd look at north San Jose and Redwood City. Avoid East Palo Alto if you value your life (not exaggerating).
4) I've never lived in the LA area, only visited. Don't know what the cost of living is down there, but if you're OK with warm weather, the LA area's at least worth a look.
5) I use Trulia, Redfin and Realtor.com myself.

[vunderbar]

Originally Posted by NorCalMan

Are Californians better and better off than Alabamians for some reason?

Subjective, but I'd say yes. They're healthier, better educated, have greater professional opportunities and live in a richer, more diverse state. In fact, they live in one of the world's great economies. Alabama? Are you kidding me? Not even the same planet. And a shame it's the same country...