Moving to the East Bay from SF - where to live?

I need to relocate from my current home in SF's mission district to someplace w/ more affordable homes (I would likely be renting, not buying) - presumably in the east bay, but not necessarily. I have a five year old son, a dog, and no car (could buy one, but prefer to not). My son is gets severely motion sick, so short easy commutes to school etc are necessary. I can't afford private school, so would want to live someplace w/ excellent public schools. I am a single mom, so a neighborhood with a good sense of community (and charm/character) is also highly desirable. Any suggestions would be so much appreciated - I am feeling completely overwhelmed by this move right now, and how to best give my little family what we all need & want! concerned mama

Moving from NYC with 13yo - need affordable and safe

Hello! I realize this question has been posted many times, in one way or another, but most of the posts I could find were outdated and I figured it couldn't hurt to request some advice specific to my situation. I grew up in the Bay Area but moved to NY City in 91' when I was 13. I am now moving back to the Bay Area with my 13 year old son, our 2 cats and one dog. My husband will be coming out to join us in the near future. I have been researching towns, counties, neighborhoods and I am more confused now then when I began. I want to find an area that is 'safe' but I feel that what is considered safe varies greatly from person to person. For example, I feel perfectly safe in NY but many people do not. My main concern is gang presence, since I have a teenage son. 'Affordable' is another word that means different things to everyone. Basically, around $1500 for a 2 bedroom is the max for me. More for a 3 bedroom obviously, because I could get a roommate in that case. Good schools are very important to me as well. I don't mind communting to SF but I would love a town with a vibrant downtown so that mayve I can find a decent job. I work in Food and Bev, which is decent money in NY and SF, but not necessarily everywhere else. I've read some negative things about the schools in the East Bay and that snobby attitude of Marin. Any advice about these things would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!!! going back to Cali

Moving to Bay Area from Washington DC

My husband, 18 month old son and I are moving to the Bay area this summer from the Washington DC - Northern Virgina area. My husband will be working in downtown San Francisco but we are looking to rent somewhere in the 'suburbs'. Can anyone suggest neighborhoods on the outskirts that are family-friendly, safe and affordable but still commutable downtown? Easy access to grocery and big box stores and parks would be good. Don't need to be close to public transportation. Any great parts of Oakland that we should check out? What areas should we strike off the list that are too far out? Thanks very much! Jennifer

A little further out in the East Bay, Lafayette is great. It has pretty easy freeway access, a BART station, and good shopping/dining. The schools are excellent all the way through. Orinda is pretty and has good schools. It is quite hilly (as is Montclair), so many neighborhoods aren't the best for walking, bike riding, playing in the street, etc.

Moving from Spain - which neighborhood for city people?

We will be moving from Barcelona, Spain to the Bay Area in June 2012. We are city people, we like the buzz and diversity of cities ( I grew up in Buenos Aires and my husband in Madrid). We have two kids, who will be ages 7 and 5. We were originally thinking of Noe Valley, but have heard such awful things about the public schools in SF and can't afford private school. We would like some advice on Berkeley. Is it urban enough? Are the public schools significantly better than the ones in SF? Which neighborhood should we look into? I would like somewhere where I don't have to drive all the time, and can walk to cafes, markets, etc. My husband will probably be working either in SF or somewhere in Sil Valley, so close to Bart would be important. Thanks for your advice, we are very much in need of it! Camila

With that said, it's still a great place to live! If you like the sound of Berkeley and want to feel the constant buzz of people around most of the time, I would go for North Berkeley or Rockridge, an Oakland neighborhood adjoining Berkeley. I lived in Berkeley for five years and it not a particularly urban place, but because of the student population it feels fairly densely populated. The most urban shopping/strolling strips are Shattuck Ave, College Ave, San Pablo Ave, and University Ave but all are rather sleepy. Obviously the food scene in Berkeley and Oakland is really vibrant and that lends a buzz to both neighborhoods. There are two BART stations in Berkeley; Rockridge also has BART. Berkeley elementary schools are, my friends there tell me, generally great. Not sure about middle and high schools. It does seem a lot of Berkeley/Oakland families who can afford it send their kids private once middle school rolls around. Both areas have broad ethnic and economic diversity.

I also lived in Noe Valley and actually wouldn't recommend it for an urban feel. Better San Francisco neighborhoods would be North Beach, Eureka Valley (the larger neighborhood above and behind the Castro, adjoining Noe Valley) or Potrero Hill. I believe there are some good public elementary schools in North Beach; Potrero Hill's SFUSD schools are fine to iffy (at the moment; these things can change fast too); not sure about which schools are in Eureka Valley. Yes, public schools in San Francisco are not uniformly great, but neither are they all dreadful. We left the city because of the unpredictable school assignment system -- you don't get to go to the school closest to your home. This has been remedied somewhat but neighborhood schools are still not the rule there. Be aware that San Francisco is, sadly, a city of extremes: among families, there are many people at each extreme of very poor and very well-off. It also has one of the lowest percentages in the U.S. of households with children. San Francisco is no major metropolis, but it's going to have the most urban buzz of all the cities in the Bay Area.

Hopefully someone from the San Jose area will respond too. I don't know that area well, but San Jose is a large city with a great climate, and you can always commute up to Silicon Valley rather than down from the East Bay or San Francisco. There are a good number of strong public schools in Santa Clara County, too.

Don't move to the Peninsula (San Mateo County/heart of Silicon Valley.) It has fabulous weather and some very good public schools, but is a chain of sleepy-to-moderately lively towns strung along a major highway and a smaller, minor highway. Not urban. At all.

We ended up moving to Piedmont, a small town nested in Oakland. We are 15-20 minutes by foot from two BART stations and close to two major shopping/strolling streets. There is incredible family involvement in the public schools, which are excellent. Still, it's also not particularly urban here, e.g., we have a backyard; people have chickens, gardens, etc. Contrary to what you may hear, Piedmont is actually ethnically quite diverse; it is also for the most part a middle to upper middle class community.

I hope this helps! Miss the big, big city!

Asian Indian family moving from Boston - Silicon Valley?

My husband and I are thinking of moving to SF (silicon valley) next year or so. We have two kids (5 and 3) and need to find good schools and a family friendly area. We are an Asian Indian family and are professionals. We would love to find an area with moderate number of Asian Indians. We have no idea about SF and would love to get some feedback as to where to start looking for a place to live. We are thinking of renting now and later buy a place. So, we would really appreciate experiences from other first time movers. What do you think of the place ? We really love the weather in SF and the diversity it has to offer. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Ann_2_SF

Two things about SF, in particular: first, there is a lottery to get into public schools, so you could wind up at a school across the city (45+ mins.) from where you live or work. It is a notoriously challenging system. Second, make sure you actually really like the weather in SF. You may already know this, but it is chilly and foggy during most of the summer. good luck

Planning to move but where to?

Hi All: We are quickly realizing that with Baby Girl here we have grown out of our Albany condo and are hoping to move. The question is, where to?

Given the dynamic and turbulent nature of the California budget situation and local politics and that our daughter is still a baby we have decided NOT to use schools as a factor in our decision (by the time it really matters, things will very different than they are today.) We are starting to research so we can narrow down neighborhoods and what home features are most important.

The place where I need advice is to compile a list of factors that we should consider in looking at specific homes and neighborhoods. Please no endorsements of why your neighborhood is so great. What I really need are the specific things you more experienced parents think are important. Here are a couple of examples that I already have on my list so you can see what I mean: 1) It would be nice if kitchen had window to backyard so kids can play there while I make dinner 2) Living in a hilly area makes stroller walks difficult 3) Bedrooms are better above main living space than below so parents dont keep kids up if they are walking around after kids go to bed.

If any of you have ideas for things to add to our list based on your experiences, we would greatly appreciate it! Thanks! House Hunter

Depending upon what is important to you, check out the walkability of your new digs on walkscore.com. I would also drive around the neighborhoods you are interested in at various times of day - try it early in the morning during commute, and late at night. Park your car and take notes. You can also source neighborhood crime reports. Personally, I feel that schools are something to consider because due to unforeseen circumstances and simply how fast time seems to fly once kids enter the picture, we sometimes get 'stuck' in a living situation longer than we anticipate - and considering that preschool and kindergarten happen before you know it (plan on the application process one year out from school entry), schools can definitely be a factor. If allergies are an issue, consider what's hanging around your neighborhood (I live on the other side of the hills now and allergies are worse); consider your proximity to your support network of friends and family, and your medical crew, your savings (or not) with car and house/rental insurance (we saved a bundle from our last place), any increase or decrease in your utilities budget (this can vary widely) and most of all any work commutes. If you or your partner have to extend your commute, that could negatively affect family time. You might not feel it right away, but when your baby girl is older, it may become an issue. I would also consider where you see yourself down the line because it takes time to get grounded in a community. Lastly, I check the shake maps at USGS, look around for cell towers and the like, and consider where you could potentially be if a major quake happened (are you separated from your partner by bridges, tunnels, etc. I know this could potentially be seen as catastrophic thinking, but we do live in a major earthquake zone). Oh, and sap from pine trees will totally destroy the paint job on your car if you don't happen to have a carport or garage, and regular car-washing expertise. just another house hunter

But I will tell you what mattered to us, OTHER than the schools, in choosing a neighborhood and a house in which to raise our family (my kids are now 10 and almost 7, and we've lived in the same house since before the older one was born):

- Pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, where it is easy and pleasant to walk or bike to schools, parks, restaurants and grocery stores, and the houses are close enough together that kids can walk next door or around the block to visit friends. This excluded the hills, as well as the more car-oriented suburban areas.

- Area with a community feel, people working in their yards on weekends, someone organizing block parties and that sort of thing. A place where my kids would HAVE neighborhood friends to visit on a casual basis, and I could send them next door to borrow a cup of sugar.

- Enough private, fenced-in yard space for a young kid to run around and play with little or no supervision. With a large enough lawn for things like a climber, playhouse, croquet game or what-have-you. I wouldn't care whether there's a kitchen window overlooking the yard, as long as the yard itself is reasonably safe and I can HEAR what's going on in the back yard, from inside the house. (I also wanted good access from the 'public' areas of the house to the back yard, and did not like the houses where the only door to the back deck was from the master bedroom or the view from the living room toward the back of the house was of a bathroom. But I think this has more to do with our entertaining habits than with parenting per se.)

- We couldn't afford as large a house as we knew we would ultimately want, so we looked for one that it would be relatively easy to add onto. The configuration of bedrooms, bathrooms, and spaces for work, play, crafting, etc., is so individual that it's hard to generalize. Your own family's sleeping arrangements and habits will determine what makes sense; for us, I like having the bedrooms close together and also within earshot of the kitchen and living room, as it seems safer when the kids are very young. Only now as they get older do I sometimes think a bit more separation might be nice.

- Lots of storage space! We are not exactly minimalists to start with, and the accumulation of STUFF as our family grew and the kids get older is kind of astounding. Yes, we do give away or sell many things that they have outgrown, but it is still a challenge to manage everything. And I'm not talking just closets, but also attic/garage/garden shed/whatever.

- A laundry room. Kids generate a ridiculous amount of laundry! I did not want the washer & dryer to be in the kitchen or in a grimy basement or outdoors, but in a separate space inside. Happy househunting! Albany mom

Moving into Bay Area from Brooklyn with 4-year-old

Help! I just got a dream job with a wonderful SF company after having lived for over 25 years in NYC, 21 of them in Brooklyn. And while I'm definitely counting my blessings, I'm also grappling with my sense of loss (I developed an amazing network of friends during my 25 years and I love Brooklyn) as well as panic--we have about five weeks to find a place and get settled before I start my job. I'd like to get some recommendations from members about the best places to live--that are family friendly, ethnically diverse, have strong public schools and interesting communities (by which I mean, not exclusively the hedge-fund type). And the names of some good realtors as well (we'll be renting at first). Thank you! G.

We have at least 29 languages spoken in the public school district, which like all districts in California, struggles for funding and does a decent job considering everything.

There's a reasonable diversity of restaurants and small businesses. There are a couple of shopping districts with cute boutiques; there are several independent bookstores that kept a toehold while Borders came and went. We have a mall called 'Towne Centre' which unfortunately is nowhere near the center, often referred to by its old name, 'South Shore'. Towne Centre was recently purchased by a major developer and there are improvements in shopping choices in the works. Currently the mall is kind of low-rent. But there is a Trader Joe's with the best parking lot of any Trader Joe's I've ever shopped (usually they're a nightmare for some reason).

Alameda's flat (great for riding bikes and trikes), has many well-kept parks. Alameda has a low crime rate, 25-per-hour city-wide speed limit, and most neighborhoods have high walking index scores. There are many lovely views of San Francisco Bay. Housing options are diverse, all the way from hideous 70s era apartments to adorable bungalows to Victorian mansions and storybook cottages and beachfront condos, the occasional art deco or midcentury modern and... ok, no mud huts.

Note, I'm not a real estate agent or professional booster or anything, I just love this town - have lived here 10+ years and while it can be a little on the sedate side, it's getting more interesting every day. I hope you'll check it out. +++ happy in Alameda

I'm tooting my own horn here - my husband and I are great real estate agents! I hope you'll give us a call when you're sorting out whom to work with. I can honestly say my clients are a very satisfied bunch, and we can give references.

So: you have budget, schools, commute and community to sort out in your decision. You didn't say if your budget would allow you to live in San Francisco, closer to where you'll work. If budget and schools bring you across either the Bay Bridge or the Golden Gate, there are many communities to choose from. I know you'll get many great opinions from the members here, and I'll add my vote for you to consider Albany, Berkeley and Montclair (in Oakland). I'm leaving out El Cerrito because you're coming from Brooklyn and my opinion is that you'll feel more at home in these areas, and many neighborhoods in SF.

Whichever neighborhood you choose, I'm sure you'll build another great network and community out here - welcome! Jessica

The East Bay, particularly Berkeley and Oakland, is the most like Brooklyn you will get. It's very diverse, a lot of stuff is walkable, more bike friendly here and there is TONS of stuff to do with kids. We live in Berkeley (we also love Rockridge in Oakland). Both have great elementary schools. For middle/high school you would probably have to move out of Oakland though or go to private as I understand it. (We only moved here in May so are still learning). Berkeley has great high schools. You could also consider Albany, just North of Berkeley. Same vibe, great elementaries, cute main street and accessible to everything as well. If you are commuting daily into SF (I do as well), all 3 are great options. My commute door to door is 35 min including a 10 min walk to the Bart in the morning. My commuting time far beats what I used to do in NY.

We're also a multicultural family so feel very at home here- we last lived in a place where we were one of the few intercultural couples we knew and it has been so refreshing to be around so many others families like us.

Starting over anywhere isn't easy and it takes a while to form the same awesome community you are leaving (we are in the process of that now) but I bet you will love it here. I would never want to live in NY again after life here!

Feel free to get in touch with any questions via the moderator (don't think it lists my email here but not sure). Also, I'm not sure what you meant by interesting community being not hedge-fund like. Are hedge funds ever interesting (I worked at one)? Stephanie

What might affect your decision will be where your office is. The Bay Area is a lot bigger than East Coasters imagine (I used to live on the East Coast), and you might want to figure out where your work is before you choose a neighborhood, to save yourself a 2 hour commute each way. Alameda is pretty close to San Francisco downtown btw. You can take the ferry there, or else get dropped off at the BART (commuter rail). Lots of people drive into the city but the traffic often gets bad. For realtors, I recommend the one who helped us buy our house: Catherine Bierwith, longtime Alameda resident who is very knowledgeable. (http://www.alamedafinehomes.com/) --Alameda Resident

Another good neighborhood is Piedmont, although it's pretty upper-crust and expensive. The schools are amazing, though. And Berkeley and Albany are both really great cities with great restaurants, good schools, and lots of little neighborhoods within them. I lived in Berkeley and Albany for a decade, and finally moved to Alameda because I was sick of fighting with all of the people who crowd those two towns for a parking space, restaurant reservation, daycare spot, etc. I find Alameda to be much more relaxed when it comes to those kinds of little things that make life so much easier, and I've been happy that I moved ever since. If you need specific Alameda location recommendations, feel free to email me. Cassie

Where's the 'Park Slope' of Berkeley/Oakland?

We live in SF now but I would love to get recommendations on which Berkeley-area neighborhoods to check out in case we decide on an East Bay move with our 2 year old for more space, better weather and more affordable private schools. I'm originally from NY and miss the density, buzz and foot traffic so ideally, I'd love to live in a neighborhood that has the best of both worlds in terms of being near a BART station with a walkable, urban shopping area and yet still have a yard, leafy streets and block parties.

I've only done a few drive bys but the area near the Rockridge BART and the North Berkeley area near that Totland Playground seem nice. My husband lived in Berkeley long long ago for grad school and seems to like the Hills area but I feel like we'd always be bound to have to drive then.

On schooling, I'm particularly interested in Mandarin immersion and know there is AIM, GMIS and Shu Ren in addition to the new Charter School.

In NYC, I'd probably be inclined to live in or near Park Slope, Brooklyn. In SF, my favorite area is probably the neighborhoods near Dolores Park. Considering all this, which neighborhood do you think would have the best vibe for me?

Thanks for any thoughts! Ponzu2

I've also lived near the North Berkeley BART station, and it's a great neighborhood -- compared to Rockridge it's a little less affluent and a little more crunchy-hippie, with somewhat smaller homes on average and not quite so leafy, but the two areas are not wholly dissimilar, especially if you go a bit more east and north than the area right around the N Berk BART station. My husband and I moved from Rockridge to Albany because, among other reasons, we wanted to send our kids to public school -- but for you, planning on private school, probably Rockridge is better located for commuting too. The area has plenty of great private schools although I don't know anything about Mandarin immersion options specifically. We love Albany, and Solano Ave has a sort of similar vibe to College Ave in Rockridge, but I do sometimes miss being *so* close to a BART station! Holly

Coming from New York, you will find the pace slower, but it is also much easier to cope with daily life. You'll never have to haul a stroller up subway steps again. As in the slope, public schools are less certain after elementary, but our neighborhood middle school is getting better all the time and more neighborhood families are choosing it each year. Lastly, although the bay area is expensive compared to most of the country, we've got nothing on the most desirable parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan so you should be spared some sticker shock. Good luck in your choice!

Seeking safe area with diversity, culture, quality food

My family and I want to move to the East Bay or Sonoma County. There is such a diversity of cities in that area that we're overwhelmed by the choices. We're actually just trying to figure out if any cities/towns/neighborhoods fit our wish list. We'll be moving from Los Angeles and would like to live in a safe area with diversity, culture, access to quality food and farmer's markets and restaurants and a good school system but we're ready to live without pollution and traffic and would love a city or town where we could walk or bike in order to run our daily errands. I just want a safe place for our son to grow up, thrive and be a part of his community. We'll both be working from home so commute is not a major factor but we'd love to be able to get to SF relatively easily. Any suggestions? Thank you for your time and Happy Holidays! Jen

When we moved to the Bay Area we drove through many of the neighborhoods to get a feel for all of them. I recommend that as it was educational to actually be on the streets, instead of just looking at real estate postings. --Loving Alameda

We found the east bay to really be a good fit in terms of diversity, being entrenched in good eats and local farming, and being close to sf. Oakland, Berkeley, and Albany were our top choices but ultimately we narrowed it down to Berkeley and Albany because of the good public schools in addition to all the other things we wanted and are very happy with our choice. We can walk to shops, hop on Bart and go to sf, and live in a community that is very diverse and feels like a good place to raise a chikd without going out to the suburbs! Good luck. Been there

New job in SF - where's a sunny place to live?

Hi- I have been a longtime reader of BPN and now that we are moving to the area I am pleased to join the community and ask your advice. We are moving her for my partner's work in downtown San Fran. It will be a big adjustment for us as we'll go from flex, working from home to long office hours and to a city where we know few people and have no family. We want to find a place to live (we'll rent at first) that is not longer than a 45 min commute. Not seeing Dad every morning, noon and night will be a huge change for the kids and adding more than an hour on to his workday seems too long for everyone yet is it realistic to find a less than 45 min commute?

I'm worried about the fog. Like a plant I need sun. Any thoughts on places that are more sunny? We care deeply about schools. Any leads on great schools? We'd like to find a real community where we can settle and stay put. We want to know our neigbors and walk places. We enjoy healthy, good food, we are eco-conscious, we like kids parks, biking, skating etc. We are liberal cultural Jews and former New Yorkers. I grew up near Madison, WI (which I LOVED) and I think there are some similarities in Berkeley. Yet, would we feel like a family in a sea of students if we lived near the Ashby Bart stop?

My older child will be changing schools mid year in K and any hints on how this works mid year are very welcome. Also any good private or charter school options if we can't navitate a midyear public move. Also leads on play based social emotional empahsis or Reg Emilio preschools apreciated too. I know it's lots of questions in one so thanks very much in advance! New BPN Mama

East Bay:

Piedmont, Berkeley Hills, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Danville, Alamo Blue. Oakland Hills (Montclair) Berkeley flats, Rockridge, all Green, San Leandro, Oakland above lake merrit, Albany, Hayward, Purple.

South Bay:

Hillsborough, San Mateo Blue. Pacifica and Millbrae, Green. Bellmont, San Carlos, Foster City Purple.

Blue is where everyone wants to be. Perfect weather, gigantic homes, good schools, every day is vacation. High percentage of stay home mothers. This will work if your combined income exceeds $200k. North Bay blue's tend to be fairly liberal and artsy, where the east bay Blues have some pockets of .... how do I say.... 'not very open minded'

Green, also VERY nice, great climate, generally more liberal folks, artists, athletes, writers. The schools are sometimes alot of work to ferret out, though it can be done. Everyone in green has a dog. This is more the $100 to $175K folks.

Purple is your classic, 'moving further out to get more for your buck', areas. Schools tend to be pretty good, but the culture is not quite as dynamic.

The farther east you go, the warmer the climate. Berkeley Oakland is ideal. Sausalito is absolute heaven, Pacifica is foggy. Soon as you get 'through the caldecot tunnel it gets hot; as far out as concord is deadly hot. North- Petaluma gets rather hot as well, but its really quaint.

The Bay Area really is the most beautiful place in the world wherever you land, but it can be expensive.

there are definately places to avoid: anywhere near an airport. East oakland, Richmond.... South San Fran.

You are going to be SO HAPPY. Welcome! Please email me with any further questions. I enjoy this Reenie

Re: neighborhoods, you don't say how much rent you can afford, which would inform my recommendations. Don't shy away from Oakland--there are many wonderful neighborhoods here. In addition to Berkeley, you might check out Rockridge, Temescal, or Piedmont Ave. areas of Oakland. Of these, in general, Rockridge is probably the most upscale and Temescal the cheapest, but more up-and-coming/artsy/etc. They are all centrally located making commuting pretty easy--a simple walk or bike to BART. W. Berkeley is less expensive, Central Berkeley medium, N. Berkeley and Claremont area are more affluent--again, these are generalities. Can you visit here to see what neighborhoods you like before signing a lease? While the Ashby Bart area of Berkeley is not flooded with students (at all), you might find some of the aforementioned Oakland neighborhoods better. Berkeley is full of families, students are more around the campus and where Shattuck and Telegraph intersect with University.

Be aware that both Berkeley and SF have a lottery for public schools. Not sure how that works re: mid school-transfers. SF's is very intense and you could wind up in a school across town. Berkeley's is more manageable, though you are not guaranteed your neighhorhood school. The more affluent neighborhoods of Oakland have pretty decent public elementary schools and you are much more likely to get your local school, though sometimes they are oversubscribed. I would call to check about transferring in mid-year.

Re: play-based preschools. Yes, there are many, Regio and otherwise. Hopefully someone else will offer current recommendations. There are also many progressive, private schools in the east bay, too many to list! Google is your friend. good luck!

--It's a wonderful walking neighborhood full of shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. (OK, Rockridge is oversupplied with places to get your brows waxed, but where else can you walk to the bay area's best butcher shop?) I walk EVERYWHERE - to get groceries, to the post office, to the playground with my kid, etc. I routinely park my car and then don't look at it for a week.
--There is access to GREAT food here - both restaurants and groceries and a great farmer's market on Sundays.
--It is so easy to commute from here. The BART gets you from Rockridge to SF in 20 minutes. And it's right on the freeway too.
--Rockridge is FULL of families w/ small children, and it feels like a village. I routinely see the same people when I am out with my daughter, and I have made friends at the park, the coffee shop, etc. Although it has all the fun and interesting stuff of an urban neighborhood, it *feels* small, and you see the same faces regularly.
--There are about six trillion preschools in Rockridge (maybe even more preschools than waxing salons). Take your pick.
--Rockridge is home to two of Oakland's best public elementary schools, Chabot and Peralta.
--Downside: Rockridge is an expensive place to buy a house (see above if you wonder why). But renting here is not that different than other nice neighborhoods in Berkeley/Oakland. I have been both a renter and a homeowner here, and, in my opinion, the location is so special and wonderful that it's worth maybe squeezing into a smaller space.

Best of luck on your move! Rockridge Mom

You can drive to downtown in 30 minutes (more with traffic), take BART (unfortunately you'll have to be driven to BART in Oakland), or take the ferry (very convenient). I hear some people carpool into the city from Alameda. A 45 minute commute seems like a lot when you are not from the Bay Area, but you will find that you have to drive at least 20-30 minutes just to get anywhere, so you might have to readjust your expectations. At least within Alameda, everything is just 5-10 minutes away. Oh, and did I mention the weather is good? It's never too hot, and we don't get the fog. Good luck with your move! --Vote for Alameda!

We knew we did not want to be in the South Bay. Too far from work, not urban enough, or interesting enough. Before moving here, I was pretty set on Berkeley. I lived on BPN and real estate web sites and pretty much had a lay of the land before we even came to visit. However, spending time in Berkeley left me feeling a bit empty. The places in our budget didn't seem like communities I wanted to live in (we wanted to buy a 3-4 bedroom for 800K or less). I was really surprised by this, so I absolutely recommend you take a few trips out in advance to see the areas for yourself.

We ended up really liking many parts of Oakland-- Rockridge, Lake Merritt, Crocker Highlands, Montclair. There was an energy here I really appreciated. My parents-- after more than 30 years of listening to Oakland-bashing on the news--were surprised to see that Oakland was really an interesting and beautiful place.

We fell in love with a house in Montclair, and the zoned public school seemed excellent, by test score and because the parent community was hugely involved. We took a risk and bought it.

It's been 3 months since we moved and we really love living here. It is nowhere near as pedestrian-scale as Brooklyn, but there are other things we appreciate. Our street is so lovely--our neighbors are very friendly, our kids all go to the same school, they ride their bikes and scooters in the street (it is a dead end street, so little traffic), we have BBQs together... we feel so fortunate to have that and without it, we would likely feel lonely. The school is also terrific, though certain things about it have taken some adjustment (the parent involvement is enormous, and expected. as a working mother with 2 small children, I have found it overwhelming at times the extent to which I am asked to participate). The farmer's markets are amazing. The weather is incredible. My neighborhood is gorgeous. We love our house. The work-life balance is better here culturally than in NYC... my husband is home earlier despite a longer commute as people seem to put down their jobs and go off to pursue their own interests. He is not as stressed out. I have always worked from home, so it is no different for me. Culturally, it feels quite liberal, and the families I have met seem to share our values in education, healthy living, the arts, politics, etc.) I am sure there are varied opinions no matter where you go, but it does not feel conservative here.

The cons: We've put more miles on our car(s)--we need 2 now--in 3 months than we did our entire driving history in Brooklyn (we owned a car for 2 years there). My husband is driving to Brisbane temporarily for work, and the traffic is a bitch. He sometimes makes it in an hour, if he is lucky. He will normally go to SOMA, which should allow him to take BART. I miss the vast selection of great, independent coffee shops in Park Slope. I have yet to replace my beloved Grumpy's. I also miss the Park Slope Food Coop, which was a great place to buy inexpensive organic food. I love Berkeley Bowl, but it is not cheap. Same with Whole Foods. I miss fall and that snap in the air when you can pinpoint exactly when the season changes. Also, my daughter's school in Brooklyn was pretty economically and racially diverse, which I appreciated. Her school in Oakland is less so.

All in all, I think you will find something to love about your Bay Area experience, no matter where you end up. We ended up in a place we didn't expect and we love it. Just be open minded and embrace the change. Feel free to contact me if you would like to ask me anything else. Good luck! Wendy

Moving from London - I have no idea where to live

we are moving into the area in august from london with 2 boys of 7 and 10 and have no idea where to live and where to send our kids to school. our 7 year is an average child and the 10 year super smart.we will both be working from home so can live anywhere any advice on where the good schools are and also a good neighbourhood. we can go private or to public. any advice gratefully received. we are thinking about marin county, and palo alto but i dont really know SF and surrounding areas at all. what are the differences between the 2 areas.we would also like to live in a place which has some soul and where people are open and are not totally money minded. we are finacially very comfortable so can look at reasonably expensive areas

We made the decision to move to the East Bay and while there are challenges with the public school system here, we are trying to make it work. So far I love the feeling of community at our neighborhood school. A group of very dedicated parents who want the best for EVERYONE.

I know Orinda has very good schools. We decided against buying there as that would put a bridge and a tunnel in the way of getting to the city, although there is BART. Also, it was a bit too rural for us. Good luck! -Happy to be in the E Bay

Job in SF but I must have sun

I'd hate to have husband commute but I must have sun. Is it better to live in Berkeley, Sausalito, parts of SF or avoid SF complelety? Concerns about crime as well. I am Cal mom age 63.I hope to teach cooking to kids out of my home. Many thanks, C.

In the East Bay, I wouldn't go north of Emeryville -- too much fog coming across through the golden gate. Oakland is pretty reliably sunny in all parts, I'd say. A Fan of the Fog

East Bay neighborhoods like DC Metro

Hi, We are moving to East Bay from DC Metro area for my husband's new job. He'll be working in Oakland and Pleasanton. We have a 1 year old boy. We love where we are currently living. We are 1/2 mile to 2 subway stations while only 1 and 1/2 mile to DC. When we have to drive, we can travel to anywhere in the area within 30-60 mins top(we are against the traffic during rush hours). Our neighborhood is diverse (in a mixing bowl, melting pot sense, not pressure cooker kind). Even though we tug away in a very safe/friendly neighborhood w/ very few cars pass by (we are behind a service road), within 1/2 mile, we have great restaurants, bars, shopping, 3 playgrounds, great public schools. We want to find a neighborhood that comparable to where we are. We can afford a home up to around low to mid'900k (but lesser we need to spend the better). Any advice is welcome. Our first thought is Berkeley b/c my husband lived there long long time ago, but any advice on any place is welcome. ! Thanks Moving to East Bay from DC Metro

Anyway, on to your topic of interest. I think Oakland is terrific and has a ton to offer. In your price range, you could easily live in more upscale neighborhoods in Oakland and have a nice single-family home (which there are a lot more of in this area compared to cramped, apartment and row-house/townhouse crazy DC). For a neighborhood that has BART within walking distance plus shops and restaurants nearby, I'd look at Rockridge and maybe Temescal. I also really like the Dimond District. Grand Lake/Lake Merritt has some terrific shopsand restaurants and the North side of the lake is considered nicer, but there are mostly apartments right around the lake and then houses a few blocks out. Great houses with terrific walkability. Montclair and Broadway Terrace are really nice too but it's quite hilly and many houses aren't walking distance to the shops and restuarants or BART.

We live in Maxwell Park and really like it but we aren't as close to BART. But, it does have a very neighborhoody feel to it with mostly all single-family homes that have been here since the 1920s.

Working downtown in Oakland would be a quick BART ride away or like a 10 minute drive from most of the neighborhoods I've mentioned.

Depending upon the age of your kids and whether you plan to go public or private for schooling may influence your decision as well. We only have a baby so I can't speak to the quality of the schools from experience. I'm sure others can chime in on that.

Best of luck with your move! I'm sure your family will love your move to the Bay. :) Happy to be out of DC

Friendly, Rural East Bay Neighborhood?

My partner and I are the parents of 2 toddlers and live in Oakland. We are sick of the increase in crime, poor-performing schools, and our lack of a cohesive, safe neighborhood where kids can play together outside. I was raised in a more rural setting and long for that, but for many reasons, we need to stay in the East Bay. Is there a neighborhood or area that has a more rural feel to it, with kid-friendly neighborhoods? I want our kids to be able to run around outside and play with other kids in a place that does not seem so urban. We also want a decent public school near us. Is there anything in Oakland that meets these criteria? Anywhere else in the East Bay that is not prohibitively expensive (we are middle class). Thanks! Looking for a better place

My kids play in the street, ride their bikes to their friends' houses, walk to and from school, etc. I ride my bike to the farmer's market and pilates (AWESOME pilates studio in Moraga...a real hidden gem).

No, it isn't Berkeley or Oakland hip. But it has a lot to offer, especially if you are looking for a something rural and close in. Moraga Momma

Safe, family--oriented neighborhood?

We currently live in the Dimond/Laurel area of Oakland with our young children. Unfortunately, there has been a recent increase in crime in our neighborhood, to the point where we no longer feel all that comfortable living here. We are interested in living elsewhere in the East Bay, somewhere that is safe and very kid-friendly where the neighbors really know and look out for each other, close access to nature, and in a good school district. Oh yes-and affordable. Don't know if this is too much to ask? We have thought about living through the tunnel in Moraga, Lafayette, etc., but I do like the progressiveness and diversity of Oakland/Berkeley. Are there some neighborhoods we aren't aware of? Rockridge is great but there is no way we could afford it. I don't know if it is too much to ask to live in a place where the kids can run around in the neighborhood after dark-or is that something from the past that we were able to do in different times? Or is it possible still to do that somewhere like Lafayette/Moraga? I would love any suggestions. We are planning to send our kids to public school, by the way, so we would like to live in a neighborhood that has a good elementary school. Thanks. Looking for safer pastures

It's not perfect because we are a resource-poor district but it's worked out great for our kids. The parents are very involved (volunteering in the school) and they raise funds to provide the students with a good education. The PTA provides art, music, and science programs to supplement what the district provides.

At last count, there were at least 8 elementary school children on our block--all living within 5 houses of each other. At night they run in and out of each others' back yards and play in the front yards. Some parents in El Cerrito opt to go to private schools but I think the local elementary school is just fine. We are also planning to go to the local public middle school when my son is ready. Most of El Cerrito is very safe and family-friendly. There are great parks and a terrific public pool.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's that affordable for first-time home buyers but houses are slightly less expensive than Albany, Lafayette or Orinda. Consequently, there is more diversity in the local public schools.

We love that we can walk to the park or to dinner, and there is a good mix of people (ages and ethnicities) and young families. Holidays are fun here - the whole town is out for the 4th of July parade, Halloween is so fun and tons of kids abound, and over the holidays we love going to ''Christmas tree lane'' to see the lights.

Lots of changes/improvements are in store over the next year or two - the historic theater downtown is getting renovated, the mall is undergoing a revitalization and will have more restaurants and shops, including Borders books, and plans to develop the old military base on the west end are in the works. I think it's a good time to get in the market here.

Prices vary, with the gold coast neighborhood and the east end being the most expensive - gold coast due to the concentration of large mansions there, and the east end due to the good reputation elementary schools and proximity to shopping on Park Street.

Come on down and take a drive through the town - you won't be disappointed. I would recommend it over Lamorinda - you can actually walk to school/grocery store/restaurants here and there is more diversity. Good luck! at home in Alameda

It is very white, but that is changing, slowly but surely. I have seen a slight demographic shift in the couple of years that I've been here.

When you compare a place like Moraga to the safer neighborhoods of Oakland (Rockridge, Montclair, Redwood Heights), I think you get a little more for your money out here. The lots are bigger, the streets are conducive to kids playing in them, and the schools are among the best in the state. The property taxes are expensive though, which is the downside. You'll have to do your math and decide the best solution for you based on your income, number of children, commute, and so on.

For us, it has been one of the best changes we ever made. There is so little stress now: no serious crime, no worries over school quality and safety, no constant scheduling of and driving to/from playdates. My kids are happier than they've ever been.

Kid friendly neighborhoods in the East Bay

My husband, 9 month old daughter and I live in a small house in Kensington at the top of the hill. We're looking for a larger home in the East Bay in a kid friendly neighborhood. We long for walks in the stroller, parks, playmates for our daughter and a lovely home. Our income (thankfully) allows for great flexibility in where we live. What we'd like to know from parents is which neighborhoods most fit this criteria? Where do people LOVE living with children? Any advise about neighborhoods, things to look for as a parent and home owner would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks! Leigh

Since Alameda is very flat, it couldn't be more stroller friendly. The city parks and rec department has lots of activities for kids and families, including a program offering free swim lessons for all kindergarteners.

Park Street has lots of fun shops, good food and coffee, much like Solano or College Avenues.

The housing stock in the Gold Coast neighborhood is older, with lots of turn of the century Victorians. In our house-shopping, we found that homes in this neighborhood were pretty well- maintained, and the prices weren't completely insane (at least by bay-area standards).

For shopping, there's a Trader Joes and new Safeway in the Alameda Towne Center. Target is also interested in building a new store there, but they're getting a lot of opposition. Near the Park Street bridge, The Marketplace is like a mini Rockridge Market Hall.

Happy Alameda Mom

(In fact, when we outgrew our small starter house last year, we purchased a larger house just a few blocks away so that we could stay in the neighborhood, where our kids have lots of friends and where we really feel like a part of the community.)

Demographically, it's somewhat ethnically diverse, with mostly middle- and upper-middle class residents (it's definitely been skewing more upper-middle class as home prices have tripled in the last 8 years or so; most houses now sell in the high $600K to low $800K range). Among the newer residents with kids (who are quickly replacing older residents who moved in decades ago and stayed), I'd say that most are white-collar professionals, with scientists, medical professionals, and educators making up pretty significant subgroups, plus a smattering of writers and artists. A lot of people here are Cal alumni.

There's an active neighborhood organization with a softball team, a baby-todder mom's group, block emergency captains, etc., and a really involved community at the elementary school as well.

This being Oakland, it's fairly progressive politically and socially. There are lots of two-mom families, a fair number of MoveOn members and Green-party voters, etc. There is the occasional property crime (car break-ins and home burglaries every once in awhile) -- as there is everywhere -- but all in all the neighborhood is extremely safe. It's just a comfortable, open, and welcoming place to live -- maybe a bit suburban in feel but also close to all the urban stuff that Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco (you can be in downtown SF in 20 minutes, barring rush hours) have to offer.

Anyway, come on over and check it out! Leah

Another thing that I think should be noted when looking at cities - Berkeley has historically and consistently been a big booster of schools & libraries. Contra Costa voters recently failed to pass bond measures for schools - but Berkeley voters tend to pass library & school measures. I profoundly hope we pass Measure A and continue this trend.

As recent home buyers/ home-sellers, we can attest that the prices seem to be lower than we've seen recently so this might be a good time to get in. Berkeley booster

East Bay neighborhood that's commutable, progressive & kid-friendly

In a year or so my husband will be taking a job in San Fancisco. We presently live in Hawaii where I am from. We are looking in the East Bay area for a place to live. We have three kids- 3 year old twin boys and a 4 month old baby boy. I know very little about the area and am very nervous about this move because this is a decision we are making for our whole! family. I have been trying to research areas from Berkeley all the way to Walnut Creek.

Here is a summary of my ''dream'' place: I would love to find an area that is progressive with natural living/organic living resources. An active community would be nice. I am looking for a place with easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, running, parks, playgrounds and open space to run loose. I want a place that is kid friendly and close to good schools- public and/or private. Other places (ie: children's museums etc... are a plus too). My husband will be commuting to San Francisco so it needs to be within a reasonable distance to the city (I hear BART is very easy). I realize that the cost of living is outrageous- even compared to Hawaii, so I am prepared for that, but are some areas more expensive than others? I guess that covers the aspects that I consider most important. I have seen the other postings on the website but I was hoping for more information about some of the specific qualities that I mentioned. Any input would be very appreciated! Thank you
Courtney

For summer hot weather, you'd need to live ''through the tunnel'' in Orinda, Concord, Walnut Creak, Pleasonton area.

For this side of the tunnel, the best public schools are found in Piedmont. You trade good schools (v. Berkeley) for a fairly conservative population.

Berkeley has tons of diversity, poor/mediocre public schools, great access to the outdoors (literally out your door, if you live high in the hills, adjacent to Tilden Park), tons of arts and restuarants...in fact, Berkeley is all about food, whether its the abundance of fresh everything at the markets or tons of choices for excellent dining out. Lots of theaters, movies, art shows, music. This is why we live here.

There is good access to Rockridge Bart station in North Oakland/Rockridge area, or at North Berkeley Bart, central Berkeley BART or even El Cerrito Bart. Berkeley distinguishes itself from other areas nearbye in that most of the houses are old and have a lot of architectural charm, and the neighborhoods have lots of trees.

There are tons of excellent private schools to choose from. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Dana

Also, be sure to find directions and drive by Orinda Public Library. It is huge and new, beautifully set next to new community center and very large playground/public tennis courts. I have three kids (3yr, 6yr, 11 yr.) and we will go spend 3 hours or so doing various activities around the library & playground.

Good Luck! Tiffany

Most of your desires can be met in most of the communities in the Berkeley-Oakland area. As far as schools go, some districts are better than others, but California's budget is in a shambles and our schools are taking the brunt of the blow. All the districts, even the ''good'' ones, are scrambling to maintain decent class size and enrichment programs in the coming years.

Good luck to you,
ehens

My husband also commutes to the city on BART and we've lived in different East Bay neighborhoods over the past 10+ years. I've found the following to be really nice, kid friendly, good parks, easy commute to city etc.: Piedmont, Rockridge(Oakland), Elmwood (Berkeley), West Brae neighborhood near the N Berkeley BART station/Monteray Mkt all to be great. Living on the Berkeley/Oakland side of the East Bay puts you within easy access of great restaurants, food shopping at farmer's markets, Berkeley Bowl/Monteray Mkt, museums both in the East Bay and the City and close to the neighborhood parks and regional parks (Tilden).

I've also heard that living in Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga can be very nice too! So many choices, good luck! Maya

Although berkeley is a great place to live, my only complaint is that many parts of it are a pain to get out of, because there is only one freeway 80, and it is often congested. (also the property taxes are more than oakland). But still there are MANY nice neighborhoods in berkeley, & some good schools, and lots of parks/family oriented stuff. But I do not know berkeley as well as oakland.

Some neighborhoods in oakland that have good schools, and nice family neighborhoods are: oakmore, montclair, trestle glen, & crocker highlands, to name a few.

If you are interested in getting a general idea of the price/location of homes check out www.Realtor.com

Oakland school district finder http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us For school ratings (bear in mind that it is always best to get opinions of parents/and even better teachers on how a school is, also this does not list the correct school districts in oakland, that is why you have to use the other school finder) www.greatschools.net

some general info on oakland http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/RemoteRefFiles/form/current_info_bayarea.html

Also besides this site (impressive you found it!)For local jobs, etc. www.craigslist.org

Also, Alameda has really started to grow on me. It is has a small town feel, but is close to oakland/berkeley, and not to hard to get to san francisco. I love the old victorians (it is also slightly less expensive than oakland & berkeley). Also though coming from hawaii it will surley be a huge dissapointment, there is a beach there (with a nice view of S.F.- Hey you can't get that in Hawaii). But some of it is land fill, and Bay farm (part of alameda) which has great schools I believe is all Landfill, and it has a gated community feel which I personally do not like (and it's farther out).

Hope this helps, the bay area is a great place to live, it's just everyone seems to want to live here, so housing is out of control, and so is traffic during commute hours. But once you adjust to the few negatives you will fall in love with the diversity,& open mindedness of the residents, and the beauty of the surrounding reginal parks.
signed: an oakland resident for 13 years

It is NOT a given that the Berkeley schools are either poor or mediocre. Janet

Seeking a friendly neighborhood w/kids

We are going to move soon and would love to find housing in a neighborhood that has other small children and is community- oriented. We would comsider cohousing but we can't afford that right now as we are renters. The next best thing would be to live in a neighborhood where people know each other and there are other small children. These days it seems that most neighborhoods are somewhat anonymous, but I have heard that there are some special ones out there that have a communal atmostphere. I haven't lived in one myself, though.

We could go almost anywhere in the East Bay, if we found the right place (we live in Oakland right now and my husband works in Concord). If you know of or live in such a neighborhood, could you drop me a line or post a response to let me know about it? You don't have to know of any rentals available there. I am just wanting to find out where such neighborhoods might be in order to guide our search for housing and to give me hope for the future. (When I say neighborhood, by the way, I mean a small area within a town. Towns can vary a lot depending on what block you live on, in my experience.)

Thanks!

Within walking distance, we have a great park(Dimond) with activities for kids and a pool, as well as a small commerce area (Park Blvd.) which has a neighborhood market, a cafe, and couple of restaurants. I sometimes see rentals available in the neighborhood. For more info on the area, you can check out the Glenview Neighborhood's Association website at http://www.glenviewneighborhood.org Angelica

Looking for family-friendly multi-racial neighborhood

We are looking to move to a family friendly, safe and especially multiracial neighborhood somewhere between Alameda and San Leandro. Can anyone recommend such an area? Thanks a lot.
a mom