[quote=SmellsFeeshy]Are there any other suggestions for bay area RE forums? I checked out patrick.net and the discussion seems to be a lot of BS and smack talking and low on quality content.[/quote]
SmellsFeeshy, I am a former Alameda County resident who left just as the tracks for the BART were being laid (eons ago). However, I drive there 4x per year to visit relatives and friends and have done so for the last 30+ years.
I was back perusing realtor.com last weekend to check out SFR’s in choice bay area zips in which I am interested in “retiring” myself – 3 in Contra Costa County (“Lamorinda,” as the OP stated here, as well as the Rheem Valley portion). These close-in areas are very, very desirable and stable (have very little “distress”). There is also VERY little current inventory available in them under $1M, ESP in one-story dwellings. The couple of short sales I DID find appeared to be <$70K short. I DID find one '50's and one '70's cosmetic-fixer (asking the low $600K range) which were situated on large (view) lots.
As you may know, it is quite a bit warmer (and housing is generally less expensive) east of the Caldecott tunnel leading into Berkeley.
Unlike SD County, I think you will find if you are able to obtain an older close-in east-bay property on a (low or high) view lot for a fair price that it will NOT lose value in the future as Walnut Creek and surrounds and Oakland and surrounds have huge local employment bases. In addition, there is a large contingent of very stable middle/higher income retirees who own there and are not going anywhere.
SF, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are becoming very expensive again. And houses and lots valued at under $1M in the peninsula are typically smaller, often MUCH smaller than what one can purchase in the east bay for the same (or less) price. Unless you are employed in SV need to avoid a bridge commute (or would prefer wind to sun), I no longer think it is worth it to retire on the peninsula at today's prices. However, SJ, Morgan Hill and even perhaps older stock out in Saratoga tend to be less expensive than properties located in the thick of SV. There is less wind in the eastern foothills of SJ. However semi-rural land overlooking SJ has the same inherent fire danger as the Oakland Hills (even less FF infrastructure).
I think the "desirable" RE market in the bay area is more "locked-up" for moderate/middle/upper-middle income buyers than the "desirable" market in SD County. This is due to it encompassing six counties and a population of nearly 10M, causing massive commutes for those who choose to live in inferior locations (mostly 45 mi+ north, south or inland from SF) and the fact that there aren't anywhere near as many newer developments there near job centers as in SD County (where builders subsidized initial financing).
My opinion is that if you are searching for a (under $700K) well-located property in the bay area that you be prepared to do some work on it and hopefully, you are handy so the work won’t cost as much. Keep and open mind and look for location and lot.
I haven’t tried to look for a forum but have you tried the City-Data forum? Just as in SD County, different parts of the bay area are night and day from one another.
