Where to buy (Oakland, Concord, Antioch: renting, HOA fees, condo)

[nimo]

I am looking to buy in the east bay. I am currently renting in Walnut creek, i love the area but it is a little expensive. I am looking to spend around 250k. I want a nice neighborhood where i wont have to worry about walking at night or leaving my car on the street. I have no idea what parts of Oakland are nice, so im asking from those of you who do know. I would like to be near BART as i work in SF. What are your suggestions?

[artemis78]

What are you hoping to buy? If you're going for a 1BR condo, it might be doable these days in neighborhoods that fit the bill---but anything more than that is unlikely. What's your ideal place, and when you say "near BART," do you mean walking distance, or a quick drive?

[Ultrarunner]

There are lots of homes meeting your price point in Oakland near Bart... it would be quite a contrast as opposed to Walnut Creek.

If Bart is important, the only thing to do is map out the neighborhoods along the line...

[E14]

id recommend san leandro or hayward
quiet, unpretentious, and pretty cheap

[Beat02]

Is Dublin any less expensive than Walnut Creek? If so, it's a nice, relatively safe area with a BART station.

[cardinal2007]

What are you looking for in terms of housing? Here is an okay sized and a moderately sized 2bd in Walnut Creek:

450 N CIVIC Dr #312, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596 | MLS# 40406652
330 N CIVIC Dr #404, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596 | MLS# 40410533

with some crazy HOA fees ($450/mo), are you looking for bigger? Newer? More bedrooms? What didn't you like about Walnut Creek in your price range? Once we know that we can help you better.

[Kitten645]

I'd actually consider going in the other direction. Away from SF. I hear there are deals to be had in Concord/Pleasant Hill & Antioch. They weren't great places a few years ago but as prices have gone up, more desirable residents have gone in that direction and improved those towns.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Kitten645

I'd actually consider going in the other direction. Away from SF. I hear there are deals to be had in Concord/Pleasant Hill & Antioch. They weren't great places a few years ago but as prices have gone up, more desirable residents have gone in that direction and improved those towns.

Pleasant Hill is very desirable and prices have not fallen much...

Still seeing homes go pending in a couple of weeks on the market...

Of the 3, I would pick Pleasant Hill

[cardinal2007]

Originally Posted by Kitten645

I'd actually consider going in the other direction. Away from SF. I hear there are deals to be had in Concord/Pleasant Hill & Antioch. They weren't great places a few years ago but as prices have gone up, more desirable residents have gone in that direction and improved those towns.

Prices have fallen a lot in Antioch, I think most people would agree that the people that bought houses when they were really expensive in Antioch did not improve it. Many of those couldn't actually afford the high prices. Anyway you can certainly find houses in Antioch about less than 50% of what such people paid in the past.

1320 OAK HAVEN Way, ANTIOCH, CA 94531 | MLS# 40390118
526 Eaker Way, ANTIOCH, CA 94509 | MLS# 40392729

Higher prices don't lead to improvements, improvements lead to higher prices.

[PeixeGato]

There have been some pretty negative impressions of Antioch on these boards. But when you look at getting into a 2,000 sq. ft. house on a nice-sized lot for less than $1,000 per month with a 30-year fixed mortgage, it makes you think about taking a second look. You begin to ask yourself at what point do the negatives become no-so-negative?

However, if you could get close to that in Concord, I'd probably look there first.

But again, it depends on what the OP is looking for in a location. The criteria given in the OP was rather general.