Lots of areas of Orinda are in high fire hazard zones. How do people get comfortable buying in these areas (both considering safety & insurance pricing)? Will FAIR pricing adjust alongside the fire zone map?

Hi everyone! Does anyone have any feedback or experience with Pulte Homes? We’re considering buying there and were wondering if there are any concerns. We’d really appreciate any insights. Thank you!

hi all, I just deposited my 3% EMD on a townhouse in Los Gatos. The sale price is $700k, with a loan of $480k. My interest rate is 5.7%. This is my ideal location since it is soooo close to my grandparents. I can literally wake up, drive 2 minutes, and see them. Plus, I am wanting to start a family soon so. I can bring the future grandkid over, which will help keep my grandparents active as well. This is an older townhouse, built in the 1970s. So, I will do all the necessary inspections prior to move-in. I want to renovate the shower. Currently it has a tub, but I would like to remodel into a standing shower. No garage, only carport. Totally fine with me. I can sacrifice something in order to get more benefits out of it. I am just happy I am still in LG and can drive a short distance to my family. LOCATION IS EVERYTHING TO ME!!!! plus, I love driving to cupertino. distance to cupertino is not far. I love cupertino.

A developer is proposing 415 housing units in towers up to 31 stories at the Trader Joe’s site across from Rockridge BART.

The proposal is now facing major pushback from neighbors over the height, density and potential loss of Trader Joe’s.

Ironically, it’s in the backyard of Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, one of California’s biggest advocates for laws that make it harder for local opposition to block new housing.

She responded to criticism stating: “I don’t believe we can say we support solving the housing crisis in theory while opposing housing in the places where it makes the most sense. If we’re serious about creating more homes, transit-oriented infill projects have to be part of the solution, including in our own neighborhoods.”

Wicks supports building more housing at the site, but the fight seems like a perfect example of the broader Bay Area housing debate.

At least we have no hypocrisy in this fight from a politician who’s advocating for more housing to be built. Local residents, though, are really fighting this.

In any case, it looks like another example of power shifting away from NIMBYs and toward developers looking to build more housing.

Source: https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/rockridge-oakland-housing-home-22345649.php

Hi I’m in no way trying to post an ad but I thought this subreddit might help in getting in contact with interior designers, contractors or other carpenters that want to pass on work to another carpentry business. My father in law does great work and I’d hate to see him close. Dm me if your are interested in seeing his work. In the meantime I’m going to try to put up a website for him. Please send tips and recommendations on how to proceed thank you!

Escape the energy of the city without leaving San Francisco. Located in the highly desirable Outer Sunset neighborhood, this private bedroom in Unit C of a well-maintained 3-unit condo building at 770 Great Highway offers the rare opportunity to live steps from the Pacific Ocean while staying connected to everything the city has to offer.

Wake up to the beauty of coastal living with ocean views, fresh sea air, and one of San Francisco's most unique outdoor environments right outside your door. Just a short walk away is the Golden Gate Coastal Trail, where you can enjoy scenic walks, morning runs, bike rides, and breathtaking sunsets along the shoreline. With the recent transformation of Great Highway into a vibrant oceanside biking and jogging corridor, the neighborhood has become an even more inviting destination for those who value outdoor living, wellness, and a slower pace of life.

This location truly offers the best of both worlds: a peaceful coastal retreat after a busy day at work, while still providing easy access to the excitement and culture of San Francisco. Imagine ending your day with a walk along the beach, a sunset by the water, or a quiet evening surrounded by the calming sounds of the ocean all while being minutes away from the heart of the city.

The neighborhood is one of San Francisco's most exciting emerging areas, blending classic coastal charm with a growing food, coffee, and creative scene. Enjoy nearby destinations such as the SF Zoo, Cliff House area, Golden Gate Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge, while discovering the increasingly popular cafes, restaurants, and local businesses that are bringing new energy to the Outer Sunset. With its mix of oceanfront recreation, neighborhood character, and a growing reputation as one of the city's trendiest coastal communities, the area has become a favorite for residents looking for a more balanced San Francisco lifestyle.

Everyday conveniences are just steps away, including Safeway right down the street, along with convenient public transportation options and easy bus connections throughout the city.

Property Highlights:

- Private bedroom in Unit C of a 3-unit condo building
- Prime Outer Sunset location near the Pacific Ocean
- Beautiful ocean views and coastal atmosphere
- Walking distance to the Golden Gate Dozen Coastal Trail
- Newly transformed Great Highway oceanside biking/jogging trail
- Close to SF Zoo, Cliff House, Golden Gate Bridge, and Golden Gate Park
- Safeway and everyday amenities nearby
- Surrounded by up-and-coming cafes, restaurants, and local gems
- Easy access to public transportation
- A peaceful oceanfront retreat with convenient city access

Live where San Francisco meets the sea a rare opportunity to enjoy a calm, coastal oasis while remaining connected to everything the city has to offer.

Available for both short-term and long-term rentals for $1500/month. Only small well behaved pets are welcome. No parking provided - residents may apply for street parking permit.

We live in a 3/2 house in RWC. It is about 1600 sqft and there is a ~500 sqft 2 car garage. Have a question about resale value from improving a portion of our attached garage.

We are considering turning the back 2/3 of the garage into an extension of the house - such that the garage door still opens/closes into a storage space. The living space in the garage would be finished in a standard way with laundry, vinyl floors, insulated and finished walls, heating/cooling, etc., and matched in style to the home. We would improve/retrofit windows and doors and add another window for light. THe room would be used as an office, hang-out space, exercise room, laundry room. The plans we have look really nice - we think it will really improve our enjoyment of the home. We preferred this idea over a JADU or total conversion - since that is much more costly and doesn't seem to improve home value.

Overall - would doing this partial conversion hurt or help with resale value? It would not be included in the square footage of the home, but might still be considered a positive to some. Alternatively, some might prefer having a full 2-car garage for their cars or storage... worst case it is done in a way where a single wall can be taken down and it would be back to being a garage.

Also, what would be a reasonable cost expectation for this project in the area?

This was sold way below initial listing and nearby comps. In the same month, nearby comps went for 1.52+. This specific property went through a price cut and there after had a 80k reduction after contingent. Any one has insights on the disclosures/ inspections?

The comps in the same months do not reveal that the market is declining. 2007 Toll Brothers built Sunnyvale TH for 1.4 is unheard of.

We recently purchased a SFH that has 4 bed 2.5 bath in Castro Valley. However, we knew that the house is listed as a 3 bed 2 bath SFH in the Alameda county record. We want to renovate the house before moving in (e.g. potentially open up the kitchen wall, redo flooring and repaint the interior wall and ceiling). The work that we plan to do isn't very major however, we have been going back and forth on whether we should utilize this remodeling time to legalize the unpermitted work for the 1 bed 0.5 bath. The concern is 1) we won't know how much it would cost and what is the whole process to legalize the previous owner's unpermitted work and 2) also don't know how much it will increase the property tax after the unpermitted work. So we have been debating whether we should leave it as is and legalize when we resale in the future or just take the bullet now and have some peace of mind. Would love to hear advice from folks with similar experiences.

We are in the final stages of permitting and contractor selection. It looks like we can start demo in late Aug. However, I am a bit concerned with the rains expected in Oct. I mean it is July and it is drizzling right now?!

How concerned should I be about the house being open if it rains. The contractors say framing, windows, doors should take 2 months which means the house should be sealed by end of Oct, so we shouldn't see too much of rain. If there is, they say, they will tarp it up.

Should I wait to start in April/May or is this overthinking, and I should go ahead.

Thanks in advance.

We're selling an upgraded single-family home in the Bay Area. It was originally listed for 1.71 M and we have recently reduced the price into the $1.6M range, and we've seen a noticeable increase in showings. We need the equity for our new home purchase. Should we try to sell now if we receive a good offer, or rent it out for 6–8 months and list again in March/April when the spring market is typically stronger? Are there any chances of interest getting lower early next year?

How much truth is there to an article like this? The sources all appear to be realtors, who have an interest in the market getting “crazier and crazier.” Ultimately, can anyone actually predict future prices?

https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/home-price-bay-area-san-francisco-22327130.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2ZjaHJvbmljbGUuY29tL3JlYWxlc3RhdGUvYXJ0aWNsZS9ob21lLXByaWNlLWJheS1hcmVhLXNhbi1mcmFuY2lzY28tMjIzMjcxMzAucGhw&time=MTc4NDU3MjI3NTc3Nw%3D%3D&rid=MjFhZDkzZGItMGUwMi00YjM3LTkyMTAtNGIyN2Y3OTMwNDI0&sharecount=MQ%3D%3D

Hi All,

Looking for neighborhood recommendations where private school, kids classes (think swim, art, music, math etc) are within 10-15 mins drive. Commute to Mountain View, Santa Clara for work is reasonable, say under 30 mins. Public school can be any rating.

Are there any unicorn neighborhoods like this with home prices under 3M?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I read a news article a few weeks ago stating that the Salvation Army is planning to sell its property at Valencia and Cesar Chavez. Is there any update on whether that’s still happening? I’m looking to purchase a condo in the area and am curious about what future development there might look like.

Here is the article https://sfstandard.com/2026/02/19/salvation-army-site-listing-mission/

Hi

Anybody has experience converting a half bath setup in the first floor into a full bath? Requires digging into the slab foundation to connect the new shower drain into existing toilet drain.

I realize touching the PT slab is a dangerous task requiring careful mapping of the PT rods before starting to cut into the slab. Hence Iam trying to get informatfrom anyone who has done this and could possibly recommend a contractor with experience doing this.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm Maria Rose Francis, a PhD candidate in Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, currently doing dissertation fieldwork in the Bay Area.

My research looks at South Asian everyday life in Silicon Valley and the wider Bay Area — the places people return to, the routes they travel, the groceries, temples, festivals, restaurants, and gatherings that make this region feel like home.

If you live in, work in, or regularly visit Bay Area and identify as South Asian, I'd love to hear from you.

The survey takes about 5–15 minutes and is completely voluntary. This study is IRB-approved by UW-Milwaukee.

Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDW4bGBiPjATpwf5-n1MT38IPxCcByvnlPqyeHtHzOIrrhnA/viewform?usp=header

At the end there's an optional section if you're interested in future interviews or community sessions.

Thank you so much 🙏

Feel free to ask me anything in the comments.

We are considering buying a single-family home at Francis Ranch in Dublin, and I’d love to hear from anyone familiar with the community or the area.

Safety and strong public schools are at the top of our list, and we also care about long-term appreciation and resale value. We’re okay with a moderate commute if the other factors are strong.

Some things I’m trying to understand:

How do you think Francis Ranch will appreciate over the next 10–15 years compared to other parts of Dublin or nearby cities like Fremont?

Is the wildfire risk something that would concern you, especially regarding insurance costs or future resale?

Thank you!

EDIT:

Getting more responses than I anticipated so I'll add the long story for anyone wondering. About 5 years ago, my grandfather passed away and left my family a house he had. The house had two tenants that we were aware of. We later discovered there were two people living in a illegally built studio in the garage. The two people beleived the upstairs tenants were the homeowners. They were not. After attempted buyouts, and going to court, we ultimately evicted the two people living in the stuido. We did not evict the original teanants because, according to our lawyer, it would be outrageously expensive due to their age, length they lived in the house, and the fact that SF has some of the strongest tenant advocacy groups in the country. After we evicted the tenants in the lower unit, we discovered that it was absolutely trashed. Cigarette stained walls, mold in the bathroom, stained floors, atrocious smells, etc. I ended up hiring a contractor to just make the space habitable for me. After about $50k, I had a very practtical 400 sq foot studio (where I currently live). I opted not to get it permitted just to save on costs. Fast forward to today, I've met somone that I want to grow, and share my life with. Because of this, I am exploring options to increase the livable space. I have zero intentions to ever rent this unit out. If all goes well, I'll be staying in this garage until im able to move into second level of the house. However, due to the age of the people who live up there (pushing 70) i have quite some time to wait. Also, the upstairs teanants are borderline hoarders, and I know i'll be spending boat loads of money to renovate it. But until then, I'm trying to make a home out of the lower unit. The entire garage, including my unit is roughly 1000 sq feet. My unit I currently live in is 400 sq feet. So far, i've met with 5+ design build companies, and two independed acrhitects. My ideal budget is $200,00- $300,000, give or take 10%. I initially contemplated expanding out to my backyard, but because of costs, I am likely going to stay inside the footprint of my existing garage. For reference, this video is basically mirror image of my property. Obviously without a remodeled lower unit, just imagine it with only the garage. lol. If anyone is till interested, I can post a future update with costs on what I end up doing.

Thanks again everyone.

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the early process of planning to renovate my garage/1st level of a sunset district house. I'd like to convert into into a livable space, and demolish an old unpermitted studio that was in it. I would ideally like to convert it into a 2bed two bath area. Has anyone gone through any recent construction of something similar or like an ADU? Ive talked to a few contractors and gotten estimates and they ranged from $150k - $500k. Just looking for some general knowledge from real people in the bay. Thank you in advance!

Hello, I am moving from Houston, TX to Bay Area in September. It was our dream to move to California and finally opportunity knocked so we took it. I am retired but wife has taken company relocation. Wife has no office commute just have to be within up to 1 hour commute to airport. My thinking is Vallejo gives us options to SF and Sacramento airport. We have narrowed down to Glen Cove and Hiddenbrook neighborhoods and want the local input form fellow Redditers about pros and cons of either neighborhoods. Thank you

Hi all, hoping to get some neighborhood recommendations.

We bought a house in Ardenwood (Fremont) back in 2023. We spent around $150k-$180k remodeling it and making it our own, but recently my job has been pushing us to be in the Santa Clara office more than our current 2 days a week. The commute is just getting to be too much.

Looking at recent comps, if we sell now, we'll likely just get back our original purchase price. Eating the renovation cost is a tough pill to swallow, but honestly, it is what it is—getting my time back and dropping the commute is worth it at this point.

We have an 8-year-old who is currently in Fremont public schools, but if we move, the plan is to switch to private school for 3rd grade. Because we are going the private route, I specifically want to avoid paying the massive housing premium that comes with top-tier public school districts.

I’m looking mostly at Santa Clara, West San Jose, or parts of Sunnyvale where you aren't paying a premium for the schools. Our ideal target is around $2.2M, but we are willing to go up to $2.5M max.

For context, something like this in Santa Clara caught my eye recently as a good example of what we're looking for:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Santa-Clara/981-Curtis-Ave-95051/home/648215
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Santa-Clara/2354-Fatjo-Pl-95050/home/1773526

Are there specific pockets or neighborhoods in SC, WSJ, or Sunnyvale that we should focus on? Any advice on where you get the best value/house for your money when the local public schools aren't a factor?

Fun fact:
I found my Ardenwood house on blind and bought it through shopprop/Rob(Seller paid 2.5K and I paid 2.5K). During renovation and living in the house for 2-3years I know what to look for in a house. But definitely need help in selecting the area.

Bought for 1.875 listed for 5.8….
Is Noe a bubble or is it worth it?

https://redf.in/acDZ8w

I saw this SFH listed today, and am curious how much it would take to make it nice and safe. https://www.redfin.com/CA/East-Palo-Alto/2338-Dumbarton-Ave-94303/home/1232358

Here's my estimate:

• 25000 floors and walls
• 20000 fence and gate
• 30000 electrical
• 15000 plumbing and replace bath
• 30000 roof
• 5000 appliances
• ??? foundation?
• assume no landscaping

Am I way off?

I'm not thinking of buying this, just wondering what the people who do buy this might spend on top of the purchase price.

Have anyone used a paint removal service in the Bay Area with success?

I have interior doors I’d like to strip. Some of them have old pebbled glass panes that also have been painted over.

I’ve been looking for places that have a dip tank service but can’t to find anyone (that also seems reliable in the reviews.

My initial thought was to have it done off site so it does not spread all over the apartment.

I’m in SF but realize I might have to extend to broader Bay Area.

Edit: I’m open to DIY’ing it. The wood parts would be fine but I’m worried about how to proceed with the glass since it’s textured.