NorCal People

Ride-A-Lot said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer)
four bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute
commute, and around $500,000 - $800,000?

None.

That kind of distance would put you in Petaluma,
Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa (actually a bit longer
than desired commute probably).

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer)
four bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute
commute, and around $500,000 - $800,000?

None.

That kind of distance would put you in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa
Rosa (actually a bit longer than desired commute probably).

c'mon, pete. you could probably get into EPA for that. just bring your gat.

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer)
four bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute
commute, and around $500,000 - $800,000?

None.

That kind of distance would put you in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa
Rosa (actually a bit longer than desired commute probably).

WTF? Is everyone in CA a freaking millionaire? I take it places like
Brentwood, Martinez, Hercules, and Walnut Creek are not desirable?

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer)
four bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute
commute, and around $500,000 - $800,000?

None.

That kind of distance would put you in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa
Rosa (actually a bit longer than desired commute probably).

WTF? Is everyone in CA a freaking millionaire? I take it places like
Brentwood, Martinez, Hercules, and Walnut Creek are not desirable?

Walnut Creek is desirable, don't know about the other 3. But your commute
time is going to suffer in Walnut Creek.

Don't know if SF home prices are still similar to here, but in SoCal, within
a 45 min commute radius of downtown LA we're looking at 2 bedroom, 1 bath
houses for a minimum of $600,000, and the neighborhoods aren't that great.
4 bedrooms in a nice neighborhood are over a million. Hell, newer 2 bedroom
condos in Burbank are going for $600,000.

Greg

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer) four
bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute commute, and
around $500,000 - $800,000?

Looks like you don't get much of a yard, but the family stipulations are a
spot for the dogs to do their business and a pool.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Are you planning on driving to work or using mass transit? No rail service
north of SF, but I think it is a better place to live. Towns like..Pengrove,
Cotati, and Sebastopol.

Dean A. Stepper said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer) four
bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute commute, and
around $500,000 - $800,000?

Looks like you don't get much of a yard, but the family stipulations are a
spot for the dogs to do their business and a pool.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Are you planning on driving to work or using mass transit? No rail service
north of SF, but I think it is a better place to live. Towns like..Pengrove,
Cotati, and Sebastopol.

I'll check out those towns. I'd like to see what I am possibly getting
myself into. It might be a huge adjustment and although the pay and
title would be a significant increase, I'd have to weigh the move very
carefully. It's an almost identical job to what I do now, just a bigger
and more profitable (lol) non-profit.

Still in the interview process, but moving along. I'd like to be able
to take BART. The places I mentioned said they were near a BART
station. I used to think my current lot was small (1/3 acre) until I
saw what you guys get.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Still in the interview process, but moving along. I'd like to be able
to take BART. The places I mentioned said they were near a BART
station. I used to think my current lot was small (1/3 acre) until I
saw what you guys get.

And I thought my 4000 sq ft lot was big.

There are still places in the San Fernando valley where you can get 1/2 acre
lots for under $800,000 if you don't mind driving a bullet proof car and
your estate is well barricaded from the local MS-13 chapter.

Greg

Ride-A-Lot said:

WTF? Is everyone in CA a freaking millionaire? I take it places like
Brentwood, Martinez, Hercules, and Walnut Creek are not desirable?

There is no way that you're going to find the type
of house/yard that you're describing, at that
price point, in those areas.

Furthermore, if you think that those areas are
within 45-60 minutes of the Presidio during normal
working hours, I want some of what you're smoking.

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

WTF? Is everyone in CA a freaking millionaire? I take it places like
Brentwood, Martinez, Hercules, and Walnut Creek are not desirable?

There is no way that you're going to find the type of house/yard that
you're describing, at that price point, in those areas.

Furthermore, if you think that those areas are within 45-60 minutes of
the Presidio during normal working hours, I want some of what you're
smoking.

Just going by what Google maps said, that's why I am asking.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Ride-A-Lot said:

Just going by what Google maps said, that's why I am asking.

Don't even think about trusting Google maps for
commute times from the East Bay.

On an early Sunday Morning you can get from Walnut
Creek to the GG bridge entrance in maybe 40
minutes. Driving FAST.

On a "good" normal commute day leaving Walnut
Creek at 5 am you could get there around 6:30.

Leaving at 7, it would be more like 8:30 or 9:00.

On good days. Add rain, accidents, construction
and it just gets "better."

With that work location, living North Bay has its
advantages since you don't have to fight your way
across the Bay Bridge and then fight your way
across the city on surface streets.

The downside is that the infrastructure comning
down from Santa Rosa et al is [censored] poor and only
two lanes each way until you hit Novato.

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 17:48:44 -0700, G.T. wrote
(in article <[email hidden]>😉:

Quoted message said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

Ride-A-Lot wrote:
> Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
> Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer)
> four bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute
> commute, and around $500,000 - $800,000?

None.

That kind of distance would put you in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa
Rosa (actually a bit longer than desired commute probably).

WTF? Is everyone in CA a freaking millionaire? I take it places like
Brentwood, Martinez, Hercules, and Walnut Creek are not desirable?

Walnut Creek is desirable, don't know about the other 3. But your commute
time is going to suffer in Walnut Creek.

Don't know if SF home prices are still similar to here, but in SoCal, within
a 45 min commute radius of downtown LA we're looking at 2 bedroom, 1 bath
houses for a minimum of $600,000, and the neighborhoods aren't that great.
4 bedrooms in a nice neighborhood are over a million. Hell, newer 2 bedroom
condos in Burbank are going for $600,000.

Greg

GT and Pete are correct. Right now houses like that are starting at around
8-900k (if you're lucky) with in a hour commute of downtown SF . BART only
services Contra Costa, Alameda, SF and northern San Mateo counties. Most of
the people that I work with who have the big suburban spreads commute 2+
hours one way from the valley or up I-80. welcome to the Bay area real
estate nightmare. BTW as the local economy improves traffic is getting
worse.

Paul

G.T. said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Still in the interview process, but moving along. I'd like to be able
to take BART. The places I mentioned said they were near a BART
station. I used to think my current lot was small (1/3 acre) until I
saw what you guys get.

And I thought my 4000 sq ft lot was big.

There are still places in the San Fernando valley where you can get 1/2 acre
lots for under $800,000 if you don't mind driving a bullet proof car and
your estate is well barricaded from the local MS-13 chapter.

Greg

LOL! I'll pimp my ride into a gangsta mobile!

I guess the west coast experience comes at a premium. But, it's not
unlike towns here which are closer to New York City. My wife's
childhood home, 35 minutes from NYC, a 1908 2 bedroom 1100 sq ft house
sold for $600,000. So, it's not much different if I were going to work
in NYC and moving closer to there. Philly is a relatively inexpensive
area, but the jobs coincide with the area. I have a very strong
ambition with regards to my career. For me it is not about the place,
it's about the job. The catch there is the other half thinks the
opposite way 🙂. I quote her... "I don't live in a shack now and I am
not living in one if we move". I should have married a simpler girl but
oh well. For better or worse. She was all for Seattle, but she has
something against California in general. What's not to love? You've
got Ahhhnold.

I guess I should also mention that having a nice area to ride in is
certainly a HUGE plus.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Just going by what Google maps said, that's why I am asking.

Don't even think about trusting Google maps for commute times from the
East Bay.

On an early Sunday Morning you can get from Walnut Creek to the GG
bridge entrance in maybe 40 minutes. Driving FAST.

On a "good" normal commute day leaving Walnut Creek at 5 am you could
get there around 6:30.

Leaving at 7, it would be more like 8:30 or 9:00.

On good days. Add rain, accidents, construction and it just gets "better."

Sounds like the commute I used to do from where I am now to King of
Prussia, PA. In the morning I was there in 35 minutes (6 AM leave),
coming home 1:45 (5 PM leave).

I know I'll never have the short commute I have now (14 minutes in the
AM and 25 minutes in the PM), but we all have to make sacrifices.

Quoted message said:

With that work location, living North Bay has its advantages since you
don't have to fight your way across the Bay Bridge and then fight your
way across the city on surface streets.

The downside is that the infrastructure comning down from Santa Rosa et
al is [censored] poor and only two lanes each way until you hit Novato.

Are they building more out that way? That's what they do here. They
build infrastructure that's outdated the day it's opened. Then they
keep adding McMansions.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G.T. said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Still in the interview process, but moving along. I'd like to be able
to take BART. The places I mentioned said they were near a BART
station. I used to think my current lot was small (1/3 acre) until I
saw what you guys get.

And I thought my 4000 sq ft lot was big.

There are still places in the San Fernando valley where you can get 1/2

acre

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lots for under $800,000 if you don't mind driving a bullet proof car and
your estate is well barricaded from the local MS-13 chapter.

Greg

LOL! I'll pimp my ride into a gangsta mobile!

I guess the west coast experience comes at a premium. But, it's not
unlike towns here which are closer to New York City. My wife's
childhood home, 35 minutes from NYC, a 1908 2 bedroom 1100 sq ft house
sold for $600,000. So, it's not much different if I were going to work
in NYC and moving closer to there. Philly is a relatively inexpensive
area, but the jobs coincide with the area. I have a very strong
ambition with regards to my career. For me it is not about the place,
it's about the job. The catch there is the other half thinks the
opposite way 🙂. I quote her... "I don't live in a shack now and I am
not living in one if we move".

Does that apply to just to the house, or to the house and the location? IE,
any job possibilities in the smaller big cities that are closer to the goods
and where you can still get a 4 bedroom house on a 1/2 acre for less than
$600,000?

Greg

Ride-A-Lot said:

Are they building more out that way? That's what they do here. They
build infrastructure that's outdated the day it's opened. Then they
keep adding McMansions.

There's only a single pipe (101) between the Santa
Rosa area and SF. Supposedly it will be widened to
more than two lanes in each direction at some
point, but construction hasn't been approved ,
funded, or started yet.

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

The downside is that the infrastructure comning down from Santa Rosa et
al is [censored] poor and only two lanes each way until you hit Novato.

Are they building more out that way? That's what they do here. They
build infrastructure that's outdated the day it's opened. Then they
keep adding McMansions.

Due to geography there are some places that will be very difficult to widen
the 101. Having said that if you don't mind getting away from BART I'd hit
Petaluma, that's about as far north I'd go if I was working 5 days a week in
SF.

Greg
--
"What have you got in that paper bag?
Is it a dose of Vitamin C?
Ain't got no time for Western medicine
I am Damo Suzuki" - Mark E Smith

G.T. said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

p e t e f a g e r l i n said:

The downside is that the infrastructure comning down from Santa Rosa et
al is [censored] poor and only two lanes each way until you hit Novato.

Are they building more out that way? That's what they do here. They
build infrastructure that's outdated the day it's opened. Then they
keep adding McMansions.

Due to geography there are some places that will be very difficult to widen
the 101. Having said that if you don't mind getting away from BART I'd hit
Petaluma, that's about as far north I'd go if I was working 5 days a week in
SF.

Greg

Thanks Pete and Greg for the helpful hints. It doesn't ease my fears,
but we'll see. I still have one more phone interview before the
fly-out. I've gotten to this point before and it fizzled.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

G.T. said:

Quoted message said:

I guess the west coast experience comes at a premium. But, it's not
unlike towns here which are closer to New York City. My wife's
childhood home, 35 minutes from NYC, a 1908 2 bedroom 1100 sq ft house
sold for $600,000. So, it's not much different if I were going to work
in NYC and moving closer to there. Philly is a relatively inexpensive
area, but the jobs coincide with the area. I have a very strong
ambition with regards to my career. For me it is not about the place,
it's about the job. The catch there is the other half thinks the
opposite way 🙂. I quote her... "I don't live in a shack now and I am
not living in one if we move".

Does that apply to just to the house, or to the house and the location? IE,
any job possibilities in the smaller big cities that are closer to the goods
and where you can still get a 4 bedroom house on a 1/2 acre for less than
$600,000?

I'll work in Memphis, TN for the right position and $$$. I had a knock
from a non-profit in Sacramento. That seemed like a very affordable
area by California standards. I think I scared them off when I told
them how much I was looking for (no, it's not even close to Bill Gates)).

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Since I know there is just lousy riding in NorCal, what suburbs of San
Francisco (office near the Golden Gate) would provide a nice (newer) four
bedroom house in a good neighborhood, within a 45-60 minute commute, and
around $500,000 - $800,000?

Looks like you don't get much of a yard, but the family stipulations are a
spot for the dogs to do their business and a pool.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Try this link.
I am using it to try and find condos in my area ( OC Ca ), and it seems to
cover a good crossover of what's out there.
http://www.homes.com/Content/ListingCityOptions.cfm?City=san%20francisco&State=CA&Radius=25&PropType=%20&CFID=8159042&CFTOKEN=69766085

I entered San Francisco, $300.000 -$600,000 and got 4 hits. ( 2 + bedrooms )
You can go anywhere within the given area.
And Ya, on the Coast you pretty much have to make $120k+ and 20% down to buy
a median priced home.
that's around $500k-$600k.
Prices in Calif are ridiculous.
Enjoy and good luck..
Drew