First time home buyer HELP! (Concord, Livermore: rent, condos, mortgage)

[dshaz6344]

I am going to be a first time home buyer and for a few months now I have focused my search for condos in the Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton area due to having lived in those areas before and also taking school districts into consideration as I do plan on having a child in the next 5 years. However, for about the same price I would spend on a condo/townhome in those areas I could get a single family home in Concord.


Any one have input on elementary-high schools in the Concord area? Also, would appreciation of value be better for a townhome/condo in the Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton area vs. a SFH in Concord?

Thanks all for any feedback.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I hate Home owners associations, but if the school districts are better where you can afford a condo/townhouse, as opposed to a single family home, then you should buy there. If you are looking now, someone will be looking when you are ready to sell.

[aslowdodge]

it's the old Location Location Location. Concord is not a bad area, but private schools which costs $$ might be what you need. Most schools in concord aren't rated all that well. You'll pay higher in Pleasanton, but payment difference on a mortgage may be less than private school and schools in Pleasanton might make private school unnecessary.
If you are looking for appreciation, pleasanton will match or exceed concord. Dublin and Livermore schools are quite rated as high as Pleasanton.
I live in Pleasanton and also own a house in Concord that I rent out. I am single with no plans for kids so Concord would be okay for me. But if kids were in the picture-I would try to raise them in pleasanton.

[beb0p]

Concord's elementary and middle schools are not good, but there is a small stretch of area in Concord (bordering Walnut Creek) that goes to WC's Northgate high school (but not WC elementary or middle school). Houses in this part of Concord is higher than the rest of Concord.

As for appreciation, suburbs with poorer schools tend to experience higher/lower ups and downs than the richer neighborhoods. It's usually last to raise and first to fall but at the middle point it will likely have about the same appreciation rate as the richer burbs.