Hillsborough or Burlingame?

[saimamom]

We ended up buying a teardown property on a 6000 sq ft lot in Easton Addition, Burlingame. We got it in Dec. 2007 and knew we would have to do major work to it. After planning with a house designer, the City was supportive of having the house torn down completely. It was a 1917 Craftsman that was severely neglected and covered over with asbestos ridden plaster and vinyl flooring. I can't believe we lived in it for two years with three children. Everyday plaster would crack off the wall in chunks and my toddler would crawl over and pop it in her mouth. Of course I watched her like a hawk and pulled it right out. But it was asbestos!

After tearing it down, it took 14 months to finish and move back in. The house is now 3000 sq ft with 5 bedrooms. We got our slate roof and copper gutters. But we also have a view of our neighbor's kitchen from our guest room. We've been in the house since Aug. 2011. With three growing children (and all the neighborhood children) it's starting to feel a little tight. We have the "hangout" house all of a sudden. Maybe because I'm an easy-going, stay-at-home mom the kids tend to gravitate here. So I enjoy the friendly neighborhood atmosphere. But here's the twist in the plot...

My husband is talking about Hillsborough non-stop. I think it's inevitable that we'll buy something (hopefully livable) there in the near future. We may have to endure major renovation again. But we realized in Burlingame, that we need more distance between homes and a bigger lot size. The house also needs to be bigger because our parents will be staying with us sometimes. I think we made a good investment in Burlingame. We like our home. But you can't get any bigger than this unless you're up in the hills.

My number one concern in Hillsborough is to find a home as close to Crocker as possible. Then find a lot as flat as possible. Then hope the home is livable enough that we can work on sections of it overtime. Impossible requests?

[clongirl]

I don't know...but your life sounds really chaotic to me.

I don't really "get" why you'd need a bigger house..I have 4 kids, live in a much smaller house than you, and we do very well. Boot your kids/kid's friends out of the house, lock the door behind them and voila..problem solved!

Other than that, I can't imagine feeling like I'd have to move again after all that just because you think that a 3000sq ft/ 5 bedrooms isn't enough space. Most people have done fine on far less.

As for whether you not you can find a flat lot in your school catchment area---doubtful anyone here is going to know these kinds of specifics...you should probably contact a broker/agent.

[saimamom]

Clongirl....I know what you mean. I grew up in a small town in Canada in a 1500 sq ft house. And we did fine. I think our current house is comfortable. But that doesn't seem to be enough for my husband. Maybe we're just looking for another project. This is the first time we've been settled in our 12 year marriage. We've moved so many times. I have a feeling I will be talking with an agent soon. And seeing some open houses in Hillsborough tomorrow.

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by saimamom

Clongirl....I know what you mean. I grew up in a small town in Canada in a 1500 sq ft house. And we did fine. I think our current house is comfortable. But that doesn't seem to be enough for my husband. Maybe we're just looking for another project. This is the first time we've been settled in our 12 year marriage. We've moved so many times. I have a feeling I will be talking with an agent soon. And seeing some open houses in Hillsborough tomorrow.

Good luck with all of that. I moved 6 times (twice in Europe) with my family (including a nursing baby and two toddlers) ...I guess I have a heightened awareness of how moving around a lot sucks and how stressful it can be!!

I am finally settled, love everything about where I'm living now....of course my husband occasionally gets homesick for Europe again and starts to dream of going back again. That's when he gets smacked by me and the conversation ends abruptly!

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Lot sizes, schmizes ... did you not know of our overpriced land here?

Our Levitowns are yuppie utopias - 3/2s in San Burlingcarlmont for nearly a mil.

Welcome!