Off-topic: I may be moving to San Jose... Trying to figure out real estate options...

[ReverendDeuce]

Folks,

I may be moving to San Jose to join a start-up company whose Kool-Aid I've drank.

My girlfriend and I are currently living in Nebraska and are used to a $300,000 home being a goddamn mansion. So when we looked at some of the real-estate sites for San Mateo county, we about vomited when we saw the average home listing for over $2,000,000 for something ALMOST as nice.

We saw some goddamn ghetto properties for $450,000 -- you know, the kind of CONDO with the house number stenciled six feet tall on the side of the building, so police can easily tell where they need to be.

JESUS GOD! How do you people do it?

That being said, are conditions REALLY that bad out there? I thought the "bubble" burst and prices were in free-fall...

What about foreclosed properties?

For my 1200 sq. foot apartmnet with attached garage in an upscale neighborhood I pay about $800. For the same thing in CA is like... $4500!

Please, I have to be looking at the wrong thing...

[XemaSab]

1. San Jose is expensive

Maybe things are cheaper out of town... like FRESNO. :P

[Joanie Baloney]

2. Now, now Xema...

Don't taunt the poor Reverend. He may actually believe you and move to Fresno!!! LOL

But seriously, if your new job doesn't pay enough to live in California, then you shouldn't take the job.

-JB

[EFerrari]

17. Sometimes I think I should sell this little cubbyhole

and buy a house with a yard in Fresno and lower my and the puppy's stess level. The thing is, I'm addicted to the ocean now.

[ChrisF66]

3. San Jose is in Santa Clara county

Not San Mateo.

San Mateo county is the Peninsula; it's tight, old and can be very pricey. Santa Clara county is vast and sprawling and there are properties to be had for the low 500s (I see the signs all the time). San Jose is a great place to live, if you make north of $100,000/yr and you really like driving.

You can also find properties in the Santa Cruz mountains to the southwest or in the Gilroy/Hollister area to the southeast.

While you may be able to find <$250K properties further out, it will be in places like Los Banos, Tracey, or Stockton and you'll spend a fortune on gas and A/C costs.

For 1200 sq. ft with garage in the valley, you shouldn't have to spend much more than around $2500/mo, but upscale developments can easily double that.

[EFerrari]

4. You guys might think about renting close to work until

you get to know the area. You will be able to find deals and in places that you might like.

[EFerrari]

5. Oh -- and remember, out here, we don't pay for A/C or heat.

So whatever you had budgeted for that, you're going to call "rent".

My utility bills run about $120 year round. :shrug:

[ChrisF66]

7. In SF you may not need AC

But in San Jose last week we got up to 103° on Wednesday.

[EFerrari]

8. That's true. It depends where in San Jose the OP is looking.

My mom is in the foothills above Story Road and it was really hot there, too.

[ChrisF66]

9. I would be fine with really hot

Last week was Fresno brutal!

I'd hate to think there was some sort of steady change causing our formerly beautiful weather to become less than ideal.

Ya know?

[EFerrari]

10. Yep. I went to school out in Turlock for a year and it nearly killed me.

I don't know how you all do it.

In San Francisco, there is usually only one day a year when we all need A/C and the whole city goes stupid from the heat. But, the rest of the year, our utilities are really low.

[ChrisF66]

11. The whole city goes stupid from the heat

I love that line!

That explains a lot of Fresno, though.

[Auggie]

6. Housing in the San Francisco Peninsula is among the highest-priced in the nation

Try looking in the city of San Jose or to the south -- Morgan Hill or Gilroy. Most foreclosures I am aware of are in the counties of Contra Costa (east) and Solano (north) where development has been running rampant. That's a little far from San Jose. You don't want too lengthy of a freeway commute -- it can be horrible.

Prices have come down, on average, about $150,000 (my estimate) since the highs of summer 2006. In my neck of the woods a 3 bedroom/2 bath is going for around $450,000 today.

The hard truth is that it is expensive to live here. Many people devote 1/3 to 1/2 of income to housing when I believe the national average is closer to 1/4.

On the bright side:

Winter lasts about three/four months. October and most of November are beautiful.
Cars last longer, i.e.: no rust. And no snow tires needed because it does not snow.
You don't really need a winter wardrobe.
There is an incredible amount of things to see and do within a day's drive.
We are culturally diverse and a never-ending source of entertainment.

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Gilroy's down to about $525,000 on average

Mortgage Hill about $660,000.

Hollister's down to about $425,000, but that may jump again pretty quick when the sewage moratorium's lifted.

[davidinalameda]

13. salaries are higher out here

to make up for the cost of living being so damn high

you may want to try the Fremont area or east of San Jose in Alameda County

[OffWithTheirHeads]

14. You can but an 1,100 s.f. condo in my building for about

$400K. Nice building. Downtown S.J. Cute Victorian historical dist. Walk to light rail (1 block) Walk to Cal Train (3 blocks) Every major freeway entrance, 101, 280, 880, 17, 85, 87 within 5 min +- drive. Walk to everything downtown starts in 1/2 block. S.J. river walk across the street. Shark tank (H.P. Pavilion 2 blocks. Hundreds of restaurants and arts venues, Opera, symphony, ballet, S.J. rep, comedy clubs, theaters, Parks, Farmers market, the whole 9 yards, all within walking distance. And there is almost always some free festival, parade, arts & craft fairs, etc. going on downtown.

Oh, did I forget to mention, progressive political activists live here?

Where exactly (like in street add.) will you be working?

[EFerrari]

16. I used to work downtown in the late 90s. It was great.

:)

[krabigirl]

15. Yeah, that's how it is there. Not much cheaper where I live in SoCal, either.

[SuffragetteSal]

18. Come on over!

I just moved back (forward) from another nearby state...find a realtor, there are a million, one that will take the time to help you. There are many pre-foreclosure properties, called 'short sales' and foreclosure properties...put in a bid and wait but it will be worth it. I love it here...friendly people, plenty of sunshine and lots of opportunities. Good luck!

[Sequoia]

19. San Jose is not a good place to live. Stay where you are.

[ReverendDeuce]

20. LOL... Care to explain your opinion?

Seriously. I've heard lots of good stuff.

[succubus.blues]

21. I live in San Jose.

I've been here my whole life (hell, my kids go to the same school district *I* did), and cannot imagine living anywhere else. We are 20-30 min. away from the ocean, 45 min away from San Francisco. House prices are still steep, despite the turn down, and some areas suck, but there are nice areas, too. But you will be spending a good chunk of your money on housing. But like another poster said, you can't beat the moderate weather. There are about 1M people in San Jose, so there is traffic and if you need to commute can find it takes longer than it should. Where is your company going to be located?

[ReverendDeuce]

22. Oooo good info to have....

Devil Girl, thanks for the reply!

Our office is located by Sun Microsystems over in Menlo Park.

I spent the last two days trucking around Fremont and Newark looking at places only to be left severely frustrated. NOT by the cost, but because every apartment has one critical thing missing or wrong. Such as: no central air, miniature laundry machines, nice apartment nestled in piss poor area, no pets, outrageous parking prices... It's always ONE thing that screws it up!

I am currently looking in Foster City and Belmont...

That 101 haul up by 85 is f**king murder at 8AM. I've NEVER seen traffic like that. In ANY other city I've been to. These idiots stop for no reason! And man, when I get into Sunnyvale everybody just starts peddling around like... Nobody drives over 35 here! :)

I think I just need to accept the fact that I am going to have an hour drive in and out of work every day. Maybe I can telecommute... Hell, I am in management so I should be able to dictate policy. :)

[succubus.blues]

24. Every freeway is murder at 8AM, but 101 is the worst.

I would take 280. Your best bet is to try off hours....early 6:30-7AM or later 9:30AM. If you are in management you should be able to have some flex in your schedule, and yes, telecommuting would be fantastic. But, start ups can be hard....I worked for many start ups in my early career.

I hope you can find some place!

[ReverendDeuce]

23. ... and another thing!

What is it with "no pets" in this goddamn town? Doesn't anyone have a cat?

Really, I've seen more "NO PETS!" signs here than anyplace else... :)

[succubus.blues]

25. that sucks!!

you can't leave kitty behind!! Keep looking!!

[ReverendDeuce]

26. Thanks for the help, everyone...

We managed to find a fantastic little 2 bedroom in San Carlos right off of Laurel in the downtown area. It's big, allows pets, and was recently renovated and met all of our criteria.

I saw that San Carlos has virtually no crime and it's such a cute area... It's a real diamond in the rough!