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Old 02-28-2014, 11:26 PM
 
178 posts, read 347,001 times
Reputation: 143

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My husband and I are in the adoption process and are likely going to have a 11 year-old child with some considerable auditory sensitivities. We're hoping for a quiet neighborhood (avoiding gunfire, loud trucks banging through, etc.). Ideally this are would also have kids around and have access to some special needs services in the schools.

We work in and near downtown Oakland and don't mind a little commuting. Here are the places we've considered - would love a thought edit and any suggestions.

We are looking to buy around $560K (lower of course is better)

Alameda. $560K is doable - very slim pickings but doable. Bay Farm Island might be loud with planes.
Oakland Hills. $560 is doable - also very slim pickings but doable. Not sure how quiet it is, but it seems so.

Albany - We'd have to live in a box.

Berkeley- Possible, but at our budget, I wonder if we can get to a quiet area or not?

El Cerrito. Maybe? I'm not sure about the schools or the quiet.

Richmond. I am very sensitive to fumes/smells and have trouble breathing on low air quality days. I wonder about Chevron. Is it quiet?

This is a pretty specific question. Thanks for considering.

Last edited by considering; 02-28-2014 at 11:36 PM.. Reason: Clarifying 560K
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Old 02-28-2014, 11:30 PM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
23,547 posts, read 24,049,201 times
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$550 a week for a 2/2, right?
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Old 02-28-2014, 11:37 PM
 
178 posts, read 347,001 times
Reputation: 143
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccm123 View Post
$550 a week for a 2/2, right?
Oops -- edited to say 560K purchase.
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:03 AM
 
Location: Los Altos Hills, CA
36,660 posts, read 67,548,962 times
Reputation: 21244
I know you said 2bds, but if you are thinking about going bigger and getting like a typically sized suburban house, You might like the following areas because they are quiet, middle class, have better than decent homes in your price range(although in this market options are fewer than normal like everywhere else in the Bay)

El Sobrante, CA 94803--Castro Ranch or El Sobrante Hills areas

Pinole, CA 94564---the area East of I-80 along Pinole Valley Rd

Hercules, CA 94547--a little longer commute but a place to consider
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Old 03-01-2014, 07:33 AM
 
Location: Los Altos Hills, CA
36,660 posts, read 67,548,962 times
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Wow@Lamorinda
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Old 03-03-2014, 11:30 PM
 
Location: San Francisco, CA
1,386 posts, read 1,499,635 times
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Lamorinda might be your best bet if you can pull it off. El Cerrito is an excellent option as long as you are up near The Arlington. If you go too far down the hill, you will have to put up with BART noise. The only part of Richmond that would meet your needs is the part in the hills next to El Cerrito. The Oakland hills are a mixed bag, as freeway noise could be an issue there. It might not be easy to afford, but the main island in Alameda would be ideal; you are correct that the Bay Farm Island part of it has airplane noise in certain areas (i.e., the closer to the ferry terminal you go, the more noticeable it is). I am not too familiar with the area, but the north side of Castro Valley might be a good match too.
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Old 03-12-2014, 07:49 AM
 
178 posts, read 347,001 times
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Thank you so much everyone. I hadn't really looked at the Lamorinada area and wasn't sure about El Cerrito areas as well. A friend visited last night who lives in San Leandro and said her area is quiet. I think it is called Farelly Pond.

EL Sobrante also sounds good the more I look at it. Alameda is still a good choice. I hadn't thought about highway noise up in the hills. I'll now know to listen for that. Thank you!!!!

We're assuming there will be some tradeoffs around commute/noise/etc. so having a few more places in the mix on the quiet side is great.

Many thanks!
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Old 03-12-2014, 11:46 AM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,218 posts, read 107,956,787 times
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I wouldn't rule out Albany. It's more affordable than Berkeley, and has good schools. El Cerrito's good, too. Watch out in the listings for homes listed as El Cerrito that are actually in Richmond, though. Richmond isn't a good idea at all. Fumes, and crime.
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