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Old 05-17-2010, 10:48 AM
 
27 posts, read 61,139 times
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We are planning to move from Los Angeles to Bay area. Planning to buy a house in Bay Area in a decent school district. But our max budget is 500k. Is it possible to get a new single family home in that price range? Are any agents that can help us in finding our first home? We are open to live away from SF as long as its a good and upcoming neighborhood... Please help!!!
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Old 05-17-2010, 11:00 AM
 
46 posts, read 143,467 times
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Hello,

My name is Mary Burns and I am a Realtor that specializes in representing buyers and sellers in the East Bay. There are some established neighhborhoods with highly regarded schools that have single family homes with your price criteria. They may not be 'new', but are still quite nice.

Mary
DRE #01439959
(510) 290-1122
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Old 05-17-2010, 11:08 AM
 
27 posts, read 61,139 times
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Thanks for the quick response. Can you please name some of the neighborhoods?
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Old 05-17-2010, 11:41 AM
 
Location: California
37,154 posts, read 42,274,207 times
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The Bay Area is pretty big, it would help to know where you would be working and what your commute thresholds are.
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Old 05-17-2010, 11:42 AM
 
27 posts, read 61,139 times
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We both travel a lot within US (almost every week)... So the proximity to SFO / San Jose airports would be the key.
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Old 05-17-2010, 11:55 AM
 
Location: Mission Viejo, CA / San Rafael, CA
2,352 posts, read 5,257,419 times
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Avoid Oakland, San Leandro, Richmond, Vallejo, and certain parts of S.F.
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Old 05-18-2010, 12:26 AM
 
31 posts, read 129,254 times
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Oakland is a great place to live, and you might be able to find something in a decent area for under $500k. Commute to SFO is easy via Bart from Oakland, plus the Oakland airport is very handy. San Jose is doable via Amtrak or driving of course. Oakland is a very vibrant town, great restaurants, clubs, art, music and so close to Berkeley and San Francisco. Really good public transportation. Oakland is great.
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Old 05-18-2010, 03:02 PM
 
Location: Mission Viejo, CA / San Rafael, CA
2,352 posts, read 5,257,419 times
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Buying a home in Oakland with a 500k budget will put you in ear shot of gang drive-by's and shootouts. Look more towards Benicia, Walnut Creek, or Danville.
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Old 05-19-2010, 11:58 AM
 
Location: 38°14′45″N 122°37′53″W
4,156 posts, read 11,018,326 times
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In Oakland there are homes under 500k that are in good neighborhoods, but they probably won't be new single family homes, this isn't SoCal. New lofts and condo's sure, but not new single family homes really. And the school districts in Oakland are debatable as well. There are deals but you have to know a good realtor who can hook you up....or rent in Oakland for a while and get to know the 'hoods yourself.

oh yeah and pay no attention to the troll who thinks he's a genius and lives in a planned community in the OC.
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Old 05-19-2010, 12:02 PM
 
Location: California
37,154 posts, read 42,274,207 times
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OP wants a "new single family home". I don't know where any new construction is going on at the <500K bracket. The best advice, as usual, is to rent near your employment to get a feel for the area. Decide whether you want to stay long term and make this kind of investment and by then you will know where you would like to live and what compromises you will have to make.
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