patrick.net

It's overpriced. The housing is aesthetically modest and of low quality, yet the costs are astronomical in spite of the housing downturn. The cities are nothing to write home about, except maybe Sausalito, which is an overpriced tourist ghetto. I guess the scenery is nice, but it most definitely not worth the costs. Furthermore, the daily commute over the Richmond bridge will be hell. So, what are the other reasons for your not wanting to move to the East Bay? Are you 100% certain that the allergies in the East Bay aren't present in Marin County? What are the allergies that you speak of?

Most kids find Marin county BORING and when it comes time for your kid(s) to gaduate from high school, he/she/they WILL high tale it out of there. Also, it is highly unlikely that your kid(s) will be able to afford to live in Marin county when they are in the market to buy real estate (let alone most of the Bay Area). Also, do you want to be your kids chauffer until they are of driving age? IF you grew up in automobile oriented suburbs, how did you feel about growing up in such an environment?

To be honest, the outer east bay is too rural for me. I like being closer the the city. The commute is reverse over the RB, and takes about 20 min to Emeryville. Right now, WC to Emeryville is worse due to getting stuck in both tunnel and bridge traffic during prime commute times so that is a moot point.

The whole bay area is boring if you are under 35...it is either too expensive(Napa for wine tasting weekends) or things just shut down too early (restaurants even on weekends closing at 10PM in SF). Its a good place for families and old people so I expect my child will move away for college, career etc. Maybe she will move back...who knows?

Im mainly concerned about now, and we are stuck here due to my husbands career being pretty solidly engrained here now.

You should check out the Piedmont area of Oakland as well as the Oakland hills before you move to Marin. Similar pricing, better commute.

Allergies??? Really? I sense something underlying that, such as "Marin is the place for me". No?

I would also suggest Albany. It has superb schools, low crime, and is close to Emeryville. Ditto Alameda.

The whole bay area is boring if you are under 35…
I know I just defined Bay Area on another thread to be as far as BART reaches (at least in North/East Bay), but really, if you are on the other side of the hills, you ain't in the Bay Area.
Quite frankly, I can not even comprehend why you would want to move to Marin with the availability of good school systems within a stones throw of Emeryville (Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont -- BTW, looking at like demographic groups, Berkeley 'tests' better than the rest, including Marin). In some parts of the East Bay, you'd be closer (time wise via BART) to Ess Eff than many folks who live in the City. Hardly boring -- or you could be stuck in Marin...

EBGuy says

The whole bay area is boring if you are under 35…
I know I just defined Bay Area on another thread to be as far as BART reaches (at least in North/East Bay), but really, if you are on the other side of the hills, you ain’t in the Bay Area.
Quite frankly, I can not even comprehend why you would want to move to Marin with the availability of good school systems within a stones throw of Emeryville (Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont — BTW, looking at like demographic groups, Berkeley ‘tests’ better than the rest, including Marin). In some parts of the East Bay, you’d be closer (time wise via BART) to Ess Eff than many folks who live in the City. Hardly boring — or you could be stuck in Marin…

That's all fine and dandy, but if she's allergic to something in the East Bay, all that is moot.

The commute from Marin to Emeryville will suck, it is not a reverse commute. Highway 80 approaching the bay bridge is the worst route in the bay area. It is often backed up as far back as Hercules. The caldecott tunnel is two miles of traffic hell and there is a local detour, highway 80 is ten miles that with a $5 toll and at least twice the miles. Check out 511.org to check traffic situation during commute hours.

Marin is a great community especially for a small school age kid, but there are no good jobs there. Most people that commute work in downtown SF.

Why do you hate all of East Bay? Is it the allergies? Is it related to carpet or mold and not the area itself? Can Claritin fix the allergies or allergies vacinnes? Do you hate the people and the kind of people that lives in the east bay?

If I was in your situation, I would look into Orinda, Moraga and Lafayette. To a lesser extent, Berkeley Hills and Piedmont.

If you already made up your mind and asking us to confirm you're right, don't do that. Because no repsonse ever gonna change your decision.

If that is not the case, check couple things.

You got a kid, and he is one single thing you treasure the most as a mom. So why don't you focus on his needs first?

Here's some checklist.

- School district. Is it good enough?
- Community. Is it safe enough for kid walking in the night?
- Go look arround for a while. Other kids. Are they spoiled little brats or good enough for your kid to be friend with?

Then, for you and your hubby's needs.

- How close to amenities?
- How close to public transportation / highway?
- How long does it gonna take to commute?

And make sure that whatever thing gave you alergy is not be found in your new location.

That’s all fine and dandy, but if she’s allergic to something in the East Bay, all that is moot.
True, but urban East Bay is a different climate than the land beyond the hills.

The author's thread is hilarious. A parody perhaps?

"wanting to settle down and plant roots", but waiddaminute, "the whole Bay Area is boring if you're under 35"!

"The outer East Bay is too rural" but SF is too quiet ("things just shut down too early (restaurants even on weekends closing at 10PM in SF)" !; and besides,
"Right now, WC to Emeryville is worse due to getting stuck in both tunnel and bridge traffic during prime commute". WC to Emeryville a nightmare commute for a Bay Arean? That ain't nuthin compared to what so many folks endure. (and it sounds like they never heard of public transit!).

"...we can afford to live here...", but it is .."too expensive(Napa for wine tasting weekends)" and "Rentals are also very expensive for anything decent. Over 5k for a nice house, clean and updated over 2000 sqft. Even small 2 bedroom condos are 3500++ Anything under that price is a crappy dump."

Ah, comedic relief on Patrick.net

"Im mainly concerned about now, and we are stuck here" but "We are .. trying to find a place to settle down and plant roots."

Sounds like either it is a parody for fun, or else there is a whole lot more going on there than whether "Marin County is worth it".

Sorry if you find my post comical...but its meant to be serious w/ bits of sarcasm thrown in. Thats just my personality. Sorry if it offends you.

First of all..I was addressing the poster, Bobby S, was saying Marin is boring for young people and my daughter would likely leave the area permanently...so my point was that the entire bay area is either too boring or too expensive to enjoy for MOST people under the age of 35. There are more exciting places to be in this country if you are single or married w/o children. The bay area is good for families and old people. Or those looking to live a slower pace lifestyle. (as compared to cities like NYC, LA etc) People move to the bay area for their careers or family or school...not really for the excitement.

2nd....regarding rental prices...the housing stock in Marin is not great. Thats a given due to how Marin developed originally. But this can be said of many desirable bay neighborhoods. There is no curb appeal.

3rd....I am allergic to every tree,grass, and pollen in the east bay. Ive been tested, and its BAD. The doctor was like..you must be pretty miserable. I cannot walk outside my house w/o an allergy attack, I have allergy attacks in my yard (its a rental so no I cannot take out all the trees and bushes) I cannot take my daughter to parks or other outdoors places here. It is debilitating. I am on 2 types of allergy meds. which makes it bearable as long as I avoid places w/ lots of trees, flowers, grasses etc. Downtown WC is bearable as long as the trees are not blooming or dropping leaves. Stuff in the east bay blooms all year round so I am pretty miserable 9-10 months out of the year, and because my allergies are always activated, it brings out other auto immune conditions I did not have before or was able to manage...including psoriasis and excema. My psoriasis took over about 70% of my body when I moved here. I also have Myasthenia Gravis in my eyes which causes double vision making it impossible for me to drive on the freeway. .now I am on a biologic injectable medication to control my auto immune conditions which costs 150 per month .now I am on a biologic injectable medication to control my auto immune conditions which costs 150 per month, in addition to by allergy meds which are $60 per month, and my doctor said I need to give the humira a rest and get my allergies under control to combat my auto immune conditions. I have been tolerating living here the past 2 years for my husbands job, but I am over it. I have to stop the Humira now and anticipate my psoriasis coming back because my allergies here are always active. I am not allergic to mold, but I am allergic to dust mites.

In Marin, I feel better. Its beautiful, I can live on the water with no trees, just deck for a yard w/ nice bay breezes blowing the junk/pollen/ plant residue out of the area, whereas you can see floating in the air stuck and stagnant in the east bay. The weather is also very nice there...particularly places like Larkspur, Greenbrae, and Kentfield where we are looking to move. It is also a bit more sophisticated being closer to San Francisco.

I don't care for the inner east bay (including Piedmont, Albany, Berkeley etc). Its just not for my family. The weather is cool most of the time, and I like warmer weather, which can be found in Marin. Plus when I go back to work, it will likely be in SF, and I prefer the ferry over Bart as transport, plus the GGB is much more manageable for me then the bay bridge nightmare.

My husband job requires he drive to Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, RWC, or Santa Rosa. He goes to 1 or 2 of these places just about every day so driving isn't a big deal for him. Most people I know living in the east bay have horrendous commutes into San Francisco every day. Over 1 hour each way.

Anyway...I am just trying to find a place to settle our family since we haven't decided on a final stop since relocating here 3 years ago. Once we buy a house, we will be stuck in it for awhile due to the market.

Can anyone else shed any light on Marin County other than Bobby?

Thanks!

Can't shed that much light on Marin but can sympathize with the allergy situation. No doubt the dry and hot climate in east-of-the-hills eastbay is terrible for pollen, dust and all kinds of other crap that floats around in the air.

How hard are you looking for rentals?
Less than a year ago my sister found a very nice 3/2 SFR with a beautiful yard in Mill Valley on Craigslist for $3K a month. It had been on the market for >$1M. Owners Mother had died there and they have gobs of equity (maybe even paid off) so no worry of foreclosure.

I moved to the Bay Area when I was 25 for a job. I thought the night life in SF and myriad outdoor activities were pretty awesome. I think the BA is less cool now that I have 2 small kids (2,5). Maybe if I could afford nicer housing I'd feel differently. Once they are a bit older, I think we'll be able to take advantage of the area more again.

samsmom says

People move to the bay area for their careers or family or school…not really for the excitement.

Thats a good deal for Mill Valley...though MV is deceptive because many homes that are 3/2 may only be 1200 sqft. and in the fog belt and 15 min up a hill on a narrow road from the freeway. Though right now no SFH for that price in MV, unless a shack.

We ended up renting a very private end unit totally remodeled 3/2 condo in Tiburon for $3500 (originally listed for 3850, and I negotiated down) p/m w/ storage and 2 pkg....walking distance to trail and shopping. It also has a very nice view of SF and bay. I am very happy w/ our decision. Plus I was able to get a flex lease 6M then M2M in case we find a house to buy, but in the meantime...this place is great! No trees, no yard, just a massive deck w/ a big, open view of water. Its perfect. Today we walked along the trail in Tib and I didn't even get a tear in my eye or sneeze 1X. Its like a miracle.

Unfortunately the price of homes in Tib are beyond high for what you get...we will see how it goes...maybe decide to buy a much smaller house then planned if we can get the right property.

Congrats on finding a sneeze free zone. From your perch there, I bet you could find a nice Prop 13 rental that your can lease for a fraction of the homeownership costs. I highly recommend LMRiM's (lauging millionaire renter in Marin) posts on Socketsite for pursuing this strategy.
Nevertheless, the trader in me recognizes an arbitrage when I see it, and how could a good trader pass it up in good conscience? Prop 13 means that the owner of my rented home in Marin (owned by a child of the original purchaser) only pays $1500 per year in property tax. That, among other reasons, allows the price distortion of houses selling for literally 3x the "rental equivalent" value.
It's diabolical that the recent purchasers who are now absorbing large drops in home values are nevertheless paying the property taxes that allow the renters' kids to go to these great schools.
There is talk of a parcel tax to support education here. I bet the renters all vote to increase the tax! ...
Public school up here in Tiburon seems very good. Public school seems to work well when everyone aound you is rich, most moms are stay-at-home, and the kids are supported by a stromg family structure that is reinforced by daily life, playgrounds, play groups, etc.

I grew up in Marin during the 1970's and 1980's. Back then Marin was great(especially in summer)albeit a little boring for us kids at night but we always found ways to entertain ourselves.
Generally things were not that expensive compared to elsewhere in the Bay Area. Housing started to get expensive during the late 1980's. I have not lived there since the early 1990's. Now when I go back to visit, I barely recognize the place. Taxes and prices are just ridiculous. And the overall quality of life has deteriorated.

OTC is a troll. Plain and simple.