I’m highly familiar with Brisbane, just south of Candlestick Park and surrounds. There is a nice mall fairly close to there (Tanforan) but San Bruno is older and the houses there are slightly larger than in Daly City, which has houses that are quite small and close together. Both areas are 5-10 mins from SF in traffic – VERY convenient.
As you work your way into Burlingame (airport-area) and beyond to the south and west, it becomes more expensive for an older 1500-1600 sf house on a medium to larger lot. An SFR in SF proper is quite cost-prohibitive but flats there are as cheap as $350K for a 2000 sf fixer with a one-car garage, depending on area.
I don’t know what your price range is or your housing needs are, but you can get more house for your money just across the San Mateo Bridge in Hayward. A little ways south of there is Union City and then Fremont. My understanding from a relative who retired from teaching in Fremont schools is that they are very good. I don’t know if that school district extends into Union City, however. I don’t know how the schools in Hayward are now (Alameda County) but they used to be very good.
