What is Fremont, CA like?

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

OK, my wife has to transfer and she has found a position she loves but it is north of Fremont, CA.

What do yall think of the area?

Cost of living?

Availability of land (5 acres or so) and pricing?

We have horses but will be down to two.

Non-CA '83 SC without air pump, CA Emissions?

What else have I missed besides wierd laws to someone from Texas?

[Moses]

Freaky Fremont? Fremont itself is heavily East Indian. Also lots of techies commuting to Silicon Valley. It also has a bit of the west Oakland thug-life thing going on.

Not a lot of "wide open spaces". Very few places to keep a horse in Fremont. Depending on your income, a lot of very nice places are a short commute to Fremont. There are horse properties in Castro Valley near Crow Canyon. Lots of space to the south in Niles Canyon which is spacious and secluded (for the Bay Area). For more suburban digs, look at Pleasanton. It's 15 minutes away from Fremont, but it's a beautiful town with a western feel. Saddle shops, great restaurants and sky-high real estate prices.

No matter what, you are in for some serious real estate "sticker-shock".

[widebody911]

Availability of land (5 acres or so) and pricing?

Dorothy, you're not in Texas anymore. "North of Fremont" - since it all runs together, what is the actual city?

My WAG is $2M if you can find it. They're developing as fast as they can.

There's a nice 20 acre horse property not far from where I live (outer Sacramento) for $1.9M

I was stationed in that area when I worked for CDF. I wouldn't want to live there.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Yep guys, serious sticker shock. My 17 acres and 2850 sq ft custom home with antique wood floors thoughout, granite counters, etc, appraises at $180,000. Just sold my old 1000 sqft home and six acres for $37,000.

Just asking questions so she can negotiate smartly. Please keep the cards and letters coming....

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Affodable housing? Here?!?!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

That's a good one.

[Moses]

Originally posted by Groesbeck Hurricane
Yep guys, serious sticker shock. My 17 acres and 2850 sq ft custom home with antique wood floors thoughout, granite counters, etc, appraises at $180,000.

Well, there's your down payment! (seriously).

[widebody911]

$37k in Fremont will get you a prime dumpster behind Hu Phlung Phoo's Veterinary Clinic and Restaurant.

On the plus side, looks like you're bringing your own food; that will help make ends meet.

[Scooter]

You might have to go over the hill to "the valley" to get acreage. Many people are commuting to the bay area from places like Tracy and Stockton. But even those places are growing and are more expensive than what you are used to.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

So, we go from upper income bracket in our little hick neck of the woods and become very poor... I knew it was bad, but needed a wake-up call. So this drives the salary demands the wife needs to make! When looking up the cost of living indicator for the two counties it shows that we need a 36% increase in pay but yall are giving me different information. I LOVE this board!!!!!

What about the employment situation for me if she can get the salary raise? Senior Buyer/Planner, Materials Management, high speed production in food/pharma. Best scenario is I could get on with her company.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Groesbeck Hurricane
So, we go from upper income bracket in our little hick neck of the woods and become very poor...

Back in the Roaring 90's, technical recruiters would fish the backwaters for 'underpaid' rubes, and offer them 'phat' salaries in the Big City. I knew of several techies who jumped at the chance to make 6 figures in SF and NY - only to find themselves barely making ends meet. In 1994 or so, I was making $30k and had a 'crooter offer me $65k in SF. Wow! More than double my current salary - sweet! I went down to the bookstore, got a copy of the SF paper, and did some apartment hunting. There was no way I would have been able to maintain my standard of living - and car working (ie a garage) - on $65k in SF.

[juanbenae]

thom what years did you work for CDF? I was in san benito/monterey ranger unit 87 thru 90.

sunol, just north of fremont is the area i am reading you want to look for, either that or livermore. livermore would be like pleasanton descibed above, but more cowboy-ish. you would find it easier to find the acres you desire. i know a few that board horses in the bay area at stables because they can not afford the property to keep them at home.

i would recommend you two make a trip out to see if its what you desire.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by k911sc
thom what years did you work for CDF? I was in san benito/monterey ranger unit 87 thru 90.
'87 - '91, Santa Clara RU, split between Los Gatos and the A/B station in Sunol.

i would recommend you two make a trip out to see if its what you desire.
Excellent advice.

[stevepaa]

Yes, you do need to visit first to see the land. Exactly where is the job. That will allow us to give some better advice on where to commute from.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

What about the employment situation for me if she can get the salary raise? Senior Buyer/Planner, Materials Management, high speed production in food/pharma. Best scenario is I could get on with her company.

There are quite a few pharma companies not too far away in South SF, Berkeley, etc. Farther away is BioRad in Hercules and Benicia. You might look into real estate in Martinez where there are horse properties but way cheaper than Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, etc.

Let us know if you plan to see the area before moving here. I'll can show you around if you like.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Thanks to all!!! North side of Fremont is where I believe the plant to be. The other issue we expect to figure in is traffic. I hear yall's 40 mile commutes take more than 40 minutes. Heck, when there are more than three vehicles in front of me it is rush hour...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Thanks to all!!! North side of Fremont is where I believe the plant to be. The other issue we expect to figure in is traffic. I hear yall's 40 mile commutes take more than 40 minutes. Heck, when there are more than three vehicles in front of me it is rush hour

Yep, we know there will be many life changes coming. Cowboy area? Sounds better to this East Texas Redneck! Guess our 3/4 tonne Diesel would fit in better there.

[stevepaa]

What is the name of the company and address? Niles or Sunol may be a good option.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by k911sc
i would recommend you two make a trip out to see if its what you desire.

Agreed. GH - sounds like most of your expectations/wants may not be met. Don't make any decisions until you come out. Plan for a Thursday - Saturday stay to experience area/commute on a work day, Friday, and weekend. My weekly commute is doubly bad on Fridays.

[jrdavid68]

Here's the 5 acres you are looking for. Oh, but you will need to build a house...

http://www.realtor.com/FindHome/HomeListing.asp?snum=63&locallnk=yes&frm=bymap&mnbed=0&mnbath=0&mnprice=500000&mxprice=99999999&js=off&pgnum=7&fid=so&mnsqft=&mls=xmls&areaid=88376&typ=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5%2C+6%2C+7&poe=realtor&ct=Pleasanton&st=CA&sbint=&vtsort=&sid=046518586211C&snumxlid=1044169264&lnksrc=00001

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Steve,

It is Scios, in Fremont, CA. She currently works for another division of J&J and her facility is closing down. She has until about the third quarter to find a job to move to.

David,

Yep, we'd have to make a trip out and see what is up. worse on fridays just says to work four days a week, but then again I must be dreaming.

David,

Sounds OK, but that is waterfront property. I want across the street where it is only $1.5M!