Tell me about living and housing in/near Mountain View, CA...

A930Rocket · 05:52 PM

PPOT has never let me down, so I come here again for the collective knowledge.

I have a “friend” (not me) who’s taken a position in Edit again: between MP and Palo Alto, CA. I have no idea about the area, except I’m sure it’s expensive.

What can you tell my friend about where to live in regards to an apartment/other options for one person? What areas are okay and what areas are to be avoided? What are commute times? The plan now is to work in the office, but work from home is possible.

What else should he be thinking about?

I have limited info, but ask questions for me to ask him.

Thanks, as always.

Steve Viegas · 11-16-2020, 05:57 PM

I am familiar with Mountain View. Where is your 'friend' going to be working? Traffic can be very bad. Mountain View used to be not the greatest part of the south bay, but Google has purchased every piece of land they can and it has become the darling of the south bay now.

A930Rocket · 07:17 PM

I can’t say the name right now, but it’s not one of the FANG companies...at least I think that’s the acronym.

It’s the area below....Palo Alto.

I apologize for being evasive, but he’s a private person.

Thanks

Tidybuoy · 11-16-2020, 07:29 PM

All I can say is Highway 280 to San Fran is an awesome drive! It's made for Porsches.

Steve Viegas · 11-16-2020, 07:34 PM

That is funny, probably couldn't find a worse place to have to commute to or from if you use normal commute hours.

East Palo Alto is as sketchy as it gets around there, and I would feel safe walking through there at night. Stanford University is located near the bottom left of your red square. Most expensive real estate in the area (likely the country) is located just to the left of your red square (Menlo/Atherton).

I would suggest staying right of the square for the commute. If your friend is going to commute any distance, it is better to drive on 280 than on 101. 85 is brutal during commute hours.

Night life near Stanford is OK, downtown Mountain View (castro street) is great. After Santa Clara comes San Jose, and there is night life there as well. The commute might be an hour to go 10 miles though during the Giants season (heading back up 101 towards SF).

Steve Viegas · 11-16-2020, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

All I can say is Highway 280 to San Fran is an awesome drive! It's made for Porsches.

Pulled from Wiki...The segment of the Junipero Serra Freeway between Cupertino (SR 85) and Daly City (SR 1) has been called the "World's Most Beautiful Freeway" since its dedication in the 1960s.[7][8] Drivers along this portion of Interstate 280 are treated to scenic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and, at a few points, San Francisco Bay to the east, and are isolated by hills from the cities to the east. Through much of this segment, the freeway is actually running just inside the eastern rim of the rift valley of the San Andreas Fault. A particularly attractive 6-mile (10 km) stretch of the freeway from Hillsborough to Belmont provides a view at Crystal Springs Reservoir, formed by water piped over 160 miles (260 km) from Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, partly filling the rift valley.

Tidybuoy · 11-16-2020, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Viegas

Pulled from Wiki...The segment of the Junipero Serra Freeway between Cupertino (SR 85) and Daly City (SR 1) has been called the "World's Most Beautiful Freeway" since its dedication in the 1960s.[7][8] Drivers along this portion of Interstate 280 are treated to scenic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and, at a few points, San Francisco Bay to the east, and are isolated by hills from the cities to the east. Through much of this segment, the freeway is actually running just inside the eastern rim of the rift valley of the San Andreas Fault. A particularly attractive 6-mile (10 km) stretch of the freeway from Hillsborough to Belmont provides a view at Crystal Springs Reservoir, formed by water piped over 160 miles (260 km) from Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, partly filling the rift valley.

Very true statement. What they don't say is that it's a beautiful "race track" if you get there at the right time of the day. Late evening is most spectacular, weekends are great too. Since I don't live there, I can't comment on commute traffic.

Steve Viegas · 11-16-2020, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Very true statement. What they don't say is that it's a beautiful "race track" if you get there at the right time of the day. Late evening is most spectacular, weekends are great too. Since I don't live there, I can't comment on commute traffic.

The curves are properly banked

biosurfer1 · 11-16-2020, 07:57 PM

I worked on a new building at a private school in Atherton a few years back. Not a single person who worked at the school lived anywhere near the school, and most of the students that went there had higher net worth's than the employees.

Tuition is $35k/year...and this was an elementary-highschool.

I hope this FANG company has some huge salaries, because the area they are moving too has some of the highest cost of living in the country.

wildthing · 08:09 PM

I am from San Jose and commuted to Sunnyvale before Covid. That is a bear in the mornings and evenings. Luckily I can go to work at 10AM (in which case leaving at 5 takes 55 minutes for a 23 mile drive), or I can leave at 2PM and a regular 25 minute commute is only extended to about 35 minutes.

My best advice is to live as close to work as possible. Depending on the compensation package, Palo Alto is one of the more desirable neighborhoods, and also one of the most expensive.

Rents have gone down lately due to Covid so he may be able to get a good deal.

Sunnyvale is also good enough. Cupertino and Palo Alto are expensive because of the highly rated public schools. But it doesn't sound like your friend has school-age kids.

Executive level compensation package will get you to Atherton...

Steve Viegas · 11-16-2020, 08:07 PM

For the third year in a row, Atherton has landed at the top of a list for most expensive residential real estate in the country, according to real estate website PropertyShark. Atherton topped the list of the 100 priciest ZIP codes, with a median home sale price of $7.05 million in 2019.Nov 21, 2019

Yeah, it is a little brutal

87maniac · 11-16-2020, 10:16 PM

I agree 100%.
"My best advice is to live as close to work as possible."

I worked downtown Palo Alto for 10+ years.
Lived in a condo two miles from the office.

The weather is mild and sunny, one the the best climates anywhere.
I could bike to work. or scooter - through the beautiful $$$$$ neighborhoods.

The Stress of the Commute cannot be underestimated!
Everything is expensive in the Bay Area, might as well eliminate the commute

A930Rocket · 11-17-2020, 04:03 AM

Thanks, guys. Great advice.

At 25, he’s young and has no baggage. I’ll have to find out his hours/schedule...he might be able commute off hours.

rcooled · 11-17-2020, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87maniac

"My best advice is to live as close to work as possible."

Good plan ↑

Check out the Southern part of Redwood City too. Commuting to Palo Alto from there would be opposite the heavy traffic, which generally flows North in the AM and South in the PM.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

One of my buddies is selling his house in Redwood. He was transferred to Seattle

Mahler9th · 11-17-2020, 09:27 AM

I have lived in Norcal for more than 25 years. I live about 25 miles from Mountain View and about 15 miles from Palo Alto.

My first NorCal job was in Mountain View. I have some good friends that live there.

As you should know, there is a rich Porsche history associated with Mountain View (Garretson Barbour team racing primarily 935s). World champions.

I know all of the good Porsche and BMW shops in that area and my wife has worked in that area for about 15 years. Most of her clients live in Los Altos or Atherton.

Happy to help if you'd like to send me a PM. Can recommend lots of possible places to live for a person that age, depending on their interests and budget, et cetera.

A930Rocket · 11-17-2020, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

I have lived in Norcal for more than 25 years. I live about 25 miles from Mountain View and about 15 miles from Palo Alto.

My first NorCal job was in Mountain View. I have some good friends that live there.

As you should know, there is a rich Porsche history associated with Mountain View (Garretson Barbour team racing primarily 935s). World champions.

I know all of the good Porsche and BMW shops in that area and my wife has worked in that area for about 15 years. Most of her clients live in Los Altos or Atherton.

Happy to help if you'd like to send me a PM. Can recommend lots of possible places to live for a person that age, depending on their interests and budget, et cetera.

Thanks for your kind offer. I’ll send a PM shortly.

Although he’s into cars, I don’t think he’s ready to buy a Porsche and start carving the canyons just yet. He wishes he had my old 930. Me too!

Mahler9th · 11-17-2020, 11:20 AM

"Thanks for your kind offer."

You are welcome.

A few years ago, in some other Porsche-related Forums, a man asked about moving to my area. We connected and found out we had a lot in common. He is a fellow enthusiast and Porsche track and racing driver, and not too long after he arrived we attended a Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca with a bunch of other friends. His educational and professional backgrounds are close to my wheelhouse, so I introduced him to parts of my personal and professional networks. Great guy. He has since moved back home (back East), but we are still in touch.

Not too long after that, another person posted in that same Forum inquiring about his impending move to the area and asking about different clubs that have track days. Turned out that he and I had a lot in common as well. He and his wife are both alumns of the same college that I attended. I got to work with him at Laguna Seca at a driving event last year. Great couple-- one works at FB and the other at Google. Both of those companies are nearby.

I connected with a gentleman via these forums a few years ago-- he was vising from Europe and was asking questions about Porsche-related businesses he could visit. We connected as well, and I took him on a bit of a tour. He is an ex-F1 engineer and a member of an America's Cup technical team. Very nice young man. Accomplished and brilliant to be sure.

Happy to help in any way I can. I will await your PM.