All Forum Posts by: Raj Ramachandran

Thank you Rohit. That was very well written. I recently had the opportunity to visit Hayward and completely agree with your view. I have temporarily moved to a rental apartment in Fremont (needed a very centric place to comfortably get to SFO downtown or SV) and will continue my research. Since I have relocated from St. Louis, my first priority is to buy a primary residence (waiting to sell my house). Since my kids have gone to college, I don't have to pay the premium of a great school district (such as Pleasanton) and may be able to wait out the time Hayward requires to catch up.

Thank you Chris, Jerome & Taj for your responses. I am curious why new homes are much cheaper in comparison with other neighborhoods that are much farther east from the bridge (such as Walnut Creek or Dublin or Pleasanton). Check the new construction by KB Homes (Element) 2000 Sq. Feet available for upper $600K. Is it the school district, is it crime rate? I can't seem to be able to tell. Thanks for further clarifying in advance.

I am relocating to California from the mid-west, where we are used to living in newer, bigger homes and we cannot live comfortably in the small, older, expensive homes in the peninsula, SFO city or near Silicon Valley. My job requires me to be equidistant from downtown SFO and Silicon Valley and so I am considering investing in Hayward, CA. Seems affordable, centrally located with options to commute either direction. If school district is not a concern anymore, are there any reasons why I should not invest in Hayward, CA if I am looking at it as a 5 year investment?

Hello - I am moving to California this month, following my daughter who will be attending college there. I have so many questions but will start with a few:

1) Is it still better to rent given than invest, given the prices in the bay area? I need to be equidistant from downtown San Francisco and Silicon Valley.  

2) If I can be ready to buy in 6 months, would it be better buy a pre-owned home or new home?

3) Are there any reasons to not invest in Hayward, CA if I am looking at it as a medium term (say 5 years) investment horizon?