San Jose area advice

[LilAnn]

I could really use all the help and advice I can get! We are a family of three, our little girl is 6, and it looks like we may be relocating from the cold Northeast to the San Jose area. DH currently is entertaining a job offer in Cupertino so we are looking into nice, safe areas to move to with gret school systems. We are slowly getting over the shock of hearing the difference in cost of living (primarily real estate) and are preparing to downsize. We will have temporary housing for a short while but would like to look into places to move to before the next school year (which I don't even know when it starts).

Realistically I do not think we will be able to afford to buy right off the bat, and I'm not sure I would want that commitment right away without having visited the area first hand. We are most likely looking to rent an apt or town home. Some friends have mentioned looking into the Los Gatos, Los Alto, Palo Alto areas (quite expensive areas, but i figure we have to pay for the schooling). Schools and safety are high on our list. We are moving from the suburbs out in the NE so already previewing the areas online is a change. I hope to find a job once we relocate (I'm a pediatric nurse) and things settle out. We still need to figure out what DHs working hours will REALLy be. I'm nervous about picking a "bad" part of town, especially with any gang activity. So any and all help would greatly be appreciated!!

Thank you!!!

 

[bcla]

The areas you mentioned are very good, but a quick look at the prices will send many into shock.

I bought in Santa Clara years ago and it's been a pretty good investment. I no longer live there because a job change brought me somewhere else. I actually live near Berkeley and commute to my current job in Silicon Valley (it's one heck of a commute but not that bad).

You don't have to live in Santa Clara County proper. A lot of people live just outside - maybe in Fremont or Menlo Park. It's also a large area and commute distance affects pricing a lot.

I don't know if a general statement is possible. You're covering a large area and there are no absolutes. There's of course a correlation of neighborhood income levels to crime rate. Even with all the money in Santa Clara County, there's still pockets of high crime areas. You'd really have to just find a place you like and then work on from there about the neighborhood/schools/etc.

 

[LilAnn]

The areas you mentioned are very good, but a quick look at the prices will send many into shock. I bought in Santa Clara years ago and it's been a pretty good investment. I no longer live there because a job change brought me somewhere else. I actually live near Berkeley and commute to my current job in Silicon Valley (it's one heck of a commute but not that bad). You don't have to live in Santa Clara County proper. A lot of people live just outside - maybe in Fremont or Menlo Park. It's also a large area and commute distance affects pricing a lot. I don't know if a general statement is possible. You're covering a large area and there are no absolutes. There's of course a correlation of neighborhood income levels to crime rate. Even with all the money in Santa Clara County, there's still pockets of high crime areas. You'd really have to just find a place you like and then work on from there about the neighborhood/schools/etc.

Thank you for the info!!! I am pretty much just going off of things I am reading online and a few friends who live in the San Fran area. I don't even know if what I am aiming for is feasible for is but i needed to start somewhere. Ideally we would want to get into an area where we felt comfortable enough to settle down in and not have to uproot our DD so many times. This cross country change will be hard enough on her as it is (and me).

I don't mind a commute as I currently drive 40 minutes to work, and that's an improvement from my hour and a half commute from a few years ago. We see working more based in my husbands location and I'll look for a job based on that. Thanks for the info and if you think of anything else that would be great! Thank you so much!!

 

[GenGen22]

San Jose born & raised here... 42yrs... Cupertino has the best schools as you will read online. Stay away from East Palo Alto & East San Jose. Very bad areas with gangs & high crime rates. Los Gatos is very nice but very Expensive & same with Cupertino & Saratoga. West San Jose isn't bad and close to all surrounding towns. Also Campbell is a charming town as well. Let me know if you have any questions. Im glad to help out.

 

[bcla]

San Jose born & raised here... 42yrs... Cupertino has the best schools as you will read online. Stay away from East Palo Alto & East San Jose. Very bad areas with gangs & high crime rates. Los Gatos is very nice but very Expensive & same with Cupertino & Saratoga. West San Jose isn't bad and close to all surrounding towns. Also Campbell is a charming town as well. Let me know if you have any questions. Im glad to help out.

School districts and particular school zone maps are an issue too. There's a premium price for homes with access to Mission San Jose HS in Fremont. Sometimes it's not so obvious and maps of schools need to be consulted.

 

[GenGen22]

School districts and particular school zone maps are an issue too. There's a premium price for homes with access to Mission San Jose HS in Fremont. Sometimes it's not so obvious and maps of schools need to be consulted.

Yes this is very true... you can find the school zoning maps on most school websites.

 

[rms123]

We live in Los Gatos - a big reason was the schools. Campbell also has some good ones including a public Montessori school. Cupertino is known for its schools although some people think they are too intense there. There are parts of San Jose that feed into Leigh high school on the Los Gatos border that are also good. Saratoga is also good. If you don't mind a little seclusion, there are lots of homes in the hills around Los Gatos for less money and still the Lis Gatos district. If you have any more questions or find a place and want to check the address, pm me.

 

[LilAnn]

Thank you so much to everyone for the comments and suggestions. As of now I think we are looking more to rent and then buy since both of us are unfamiliar with the area. I definitely appreciate the school advice. I was also just informed that schools start earlier there than here, and along the same lines we end our school year later. So I think that will mean less time to find a spot. Anything else you guys can think of about living in the area would be great. Sounds like I definitely still have a lot of research to do. I am also hearing commute times can be pretty bad.

 

[southlakejr]

The cost of living here is certainly a shock!

But, you are in for some of the best weather you can ask for, and living in an area that has easy access to every type of cultural experience you could want.

As a pediatric nurse, there are several fantastic pediatric hospitals in the area, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a great spot when you are ready.

Cupertino, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Saratoga all have very good schools and are very safe neighborhoods. (Which you'll pay for!) There are also very nice pockets in Campbell, Santa Clara, and some parts of San Jose. A lot of police departments in our area have crime mappers, which are pretty nice for helping to see how safe a neighborhood is. (we live in a meh neighborhood, but it's incredibly safe)

Commutes can be tricky. For the most part, in the morning you want to avoid 880 south, 101 North, 237 towards 101, 87 towards San Jose. Then flip that at night. The traffic really does suck, but you do get used to it. There are also public transit options depending on where you are connecting to.

If you are sports fans, congrats! We have every major sport represented, and most of our teams are good. You will be 45 minutes or so from the beach, and4 hours from the snow. Be prepared to BBQ year round, the weather is very temperate here. There are also a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, etc. if you are so inclined. And, you will be about 6.5 hours from Disneyland, which is always a plus!

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I've lived in the Bay Area for most of my 47 years. I currently reside in the Dublin/Pleasanton area. It's very safe. modern and convenient, with a real community feel. We are in the suburbs. There's great infrastructure here, with freeways to all parts of the Bay and beyond. The BART system is a great commute option, and we have two stations. I commute by car to my job, which is 20 miles away. I used to drive over 30 miles to the Oakland/Berkeley area. My partner commutes to SF by either carpool or BART. Tons of people live in this area and commute to the Silicon Valley. Personally, I'd never want to live in the South Bay, peninsula, Silicon Valley or San Jose. Those cities are just too crowded, and secluded from other areas of the bay.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Disneyland is only 5 hours away by car. If that's something you're into.

 

[RagtimeKylee]

Willow Glen is the best area to live!!! Located in a suburb in San Jose, the schools are incredible. Booksin elementary makes at least $250,000 every year in just their walk-a-thon fundraiser! All the money goes straight to education. Willow Glen middle and willow Glen high school are also respected, and while I have attended there (I'm a senior this year), I have had several PHD's as my teachers.
Willow Glen also has a downtown area that is wonderful. The entire community is a family. For example, on my street every summer a bullion is posted on a telephone pole on out street. A neighbor signs up to host a party on a Friday and there are cocktail parties at a neighbors every week! The kids are all super friendly and we all get along and watch movies, or on the 4th of July, block off the entire street and have an epic water balloon fight!
Downtown willow Glen is filled with family owned businesses, with a few corporates speckled in between. One of my favorites is Dolchetto, a new Italian bistro that opened up on the corner. Throughout the year, downtown willow Glen has several events, such as dancing on the avenue and an Italian festival.
Schools and downtown are within walking and biking distance from nearly every home located in the "willow Glen" portion of San Jose.
It is also about 30-45 minutes away from Santa Cruz, the nearest beach, 20 minutes from Stanford College, and the best time we have made it to Disneyland in is 5 hours 40 minutes.

I hope to have you here soon, neighbor!

 

[RagtimeKylee]

Side note: booksin, Willow Glen middle and willow Glen high are all public schools! I personally was thinking about going to a private school and I ended up going to a public!
I still was recruited to UCLA, UC Riverside, San Jose state, and got accepted to a large variety of colleges. The public school system in willow Glen area is absolutely fantastic!!!!

 

[Pucka1378]

Because of the housing prices we chose when we moved to the area to live south of san jose. We took into account commuting time etc. We got more house for our money in Morgan Hill/San Martin/Gilroy area. And this area is more our speed LOL

 

[LilAnn]

THank you everyone for your input! We will be flying out that way this weekend - my DH to start work, me and the munchkin to visit the area and get a feel for areas/towns that we like, and don't like. Your advice and opinions have been really helpful. I definitely think it will make a difference once I experience it first hand and see for myself what the areas are like.

I do have to say that we have already been talking up the closeness to DL to our little girl! I've never been and can't wait to see it for the first time this year!

 

[Tommy_B]

THank you everyone for your input! We will be flying out that way this weekend - my DH to start work, me and the munchkin to visit the area and get a feel for areas/towns that we like, and don't like. Your advice and opinions have been really helpful. I definitely think it will make a difference once I experience it first hand and see for myself what the areas are like.

I do have to say that we have already been talking up the closeness to DL to our little girl! I've never been and can't wait to see it for the first time this year!

Pick up information on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and Caltrain, maybe even go for a ride. Depending on your husbands specific work location is you may have flexibility of he is close to hub or stop.

 

[TravelingCoopers]

Best of luck searching for a place for you and your family.

Soon see what you like and don't and get a feel for commute times, communities, schools, etc.

I was born and raised on the Monterey Bay a bit further south but have loads of family in the San Jose/South Bay area and I can completely understand how it's a bit overwhelming looking for a place at first. But you'll soon realize what's good for you and the fam.

Hope you like it out on the left (best) coast.

 

[dnsv14]

I heard from teachers in my area about how people like Menlo Park schools and even a mother who rents a place just for the address. It may be a commute but sometimes it is worth it. I commute a lot from a city near San Francisco to go down towards Santa Clara and even Gilroy to take the kids to the theme park in those areas. Without traffic, I could be in Santa Clara within 45 minutes so its not to bad. Morgan Hill/Gilroy I think have good schools and the housing prices are not to bad. My boyfriend works for Zillow which is a real estate web site and if you are looking to buy or rent then they can help you out. I personally decided to teach my children at home because the school districts are so bad near me so I know how you would like a good school for your kids. I hope that your search goes well and hope you enjoy living here

 

[RangerPooh]

Plenty of good suggestions have been listed. What's nice is that these continue to be good school districts/communities for decades, meaning you don't have to worry that the district you enroll in for K is still going to be a good choice come high school. I grew up in Gilroy and liked the 'slower' pace that it, San Martin, and Morgan Hill offered. Yes, the commute to San Jose can get old, did it every day to attend West Valley in Saratoga and SJSU; but at least it's no longer 2 lanes in each direction

I'd love to be back there. You're close to the coast, SF, Monterey, and reasonable drives to the Sierras and DLR.