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Old 08-05-2012, 04:42 AM
 
6 posts, read 8,249 times
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Hi there, I'm new to this forum, but have been getting some good advice searching the threads. As my title says, we are moving to California from Melbourne, Australia for 12 months and will be looking to settle outside of San Francisco as my husband is likely working in or near Silicon Valley.

I'm trying to find the best area for us, we have two little boys (3yo and 4mo) so would like a family area as I am a SAHM and would like to make friends with other mums. We've been recommended around San Jose/Mountain View by some friends and also told not to be IN Silicon Valley, what ever that means.. Also recommended Woodside, Emerald Hill, Menlo Park and Palo Alto.

We would like a big four bedroom house with a yard and parks close by, and have a budget of around $4-5k per month for rent. Thoughts on an area that could fit our needs?

Last edited by Angel1977; 08-05-2012 at 05:25 AM..
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Old 08-05-2012, 09:40 AM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
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For 4-5K a month, that would be the entry level price for a 4 bedroom home in a place such as Mountain View, which is a nice area with a nice downtown. For Woodside, the rents for a 4 bedroom would likely start at about twice as much (9K-10K a month). For Palo Alto, it would be a stretch also, at your budget. You may be able find a smaller home for rent in Palo Alto.

I would recommend Cupertino or Sunnyvale which are very safe and have great schools.
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Old 08-05-2012, 12:04 PM
 
Location: Portland, Oregon
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My daughter's first house was in Sunnyvale. De Anza park is where her child played. She now lives in Los Altos where her 4 yo frequents Cuesta Park.

There is a mom's forum for the Silicon Valley (which is not actually a valley, it is an area where many high tech businesses are located). I don't know the name of it but others on the forum may.

My general advise is to try to find a home stroller walking distance from a park with good play structures for young children. Locals, how about a list of parks suitable for young children?

Because your husband is on a one year assignment you should ask his local HR Representative if they can link you up with an Executive Housing outfit. Often there are 'out bound' executives on a year's ex-pat assignment who put their homes with a leasing agency.
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Old 08-05-2012, 08:54 PM
 
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Quote:
which is not actually a valley, it is an area where many high tech businesses are located
Actually San Jose and the area is in the Santa Clara Valley, so it is a valley.
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Old 08-06-2012, 05:33 AM
 
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Thank you, it seems anything relatively close to silicon valley is quite expensive. What about Campbell, Los Gatos, Willow Glen etc?
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Old 08-06-2012, 09:01 AM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
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Campbell is nice, with a nice downtown and rents are relatively moderate. Los Gatos is beautiful, but the rents are similar to Palo Alto. I cannot comment on Willow Glen, though, as I don't know the area.
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Old 08-06-2012, 09:21 AM
 
Location: Portland, Oregon
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My daughter's BIL family's first house was in Wilow Glen. Their only issue was schools, which is why housing costs are relatively lower.

When we visited I observed that the drive from Los Altos to Wilow Glen wasn't short but if you are working in Cupertino it shouldn't be a challenge.
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Old 08-06-2012, 04:56 PM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
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The general rule is: the better the schools (as measured by API scores), the higher the rent and property values. These areas will generally have lower rates of crime also and a better quality of life.
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Old 08-06-2012, 05:26 PM
 
Location: Portland, Oregon
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I am not aware of crime or quality of life issues in Willow Glen. The OP's children are not of school age and they are staying only a year, schools are not an issue. In all honesty I don't know that the schools are not satisfactory. The couple who lived in Willow Glen have advanced professional degrees, odds are only a couple schools would pass for them.. and they can't afford homes in those neighborhoods.
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Old 08-07-2012, 04:32 AM
 
6 posts, read 8,249 times
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Thank you again for the advice, I feel so clueless being on the other side of the world and having only ever visited San Fran on a holiday.

My husband is setting up his own business so we have a bit of flexibility as to location, but thinking close to Silicon Valley and also San Fran. I'm just after a nice safe family area that has some good shops around!

How about Emerald Hills?
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