Now according to the traffic within the past ten years, the bay area and silicon valley area has had traffic increase like no other. The dreaded commute has taken a toll on all of us. Now we know financial limitations, family size will limit where we live but when working and communicating it comes to a point to know what you can do with and what you can do without. Now i've lived in southern california and northern california and i can tell you that the traffic in the bay area has come equal to southern california if not surpassed it. Who wants to really add 2-3 hours of commute along with their work day? I don’t.  Now when looking for a house these are our top suggestions.
Know exactly what size home and or condo you need. Most times bigger is not always better. Floor plans make a big difference and pay close attention to where most of the family hangs out the most and then pinpoint those areas when shopping around. Make the drive from from where you are looking to move and make sure to get calculate the amount of time you'll be in traffic. This will allow you to see if you can actually tolerate the commute. Worst thing in the world is to buy a property and then realize that the drive is taking a toll on you and making you a grump when you get home. What amenities are you looking for and what you just can't do without. Most of the time the most important features most people end up looking for are attached garage (very important on rainy days), open floor plan for the kitchen to living room (if you're anything like my family then you know we always stay close to the kitchen and the tv), washer dryer hookups, central heat and air. Location, location, location. Now this is important to most people because the location of your property will determine almost every aspect of your life. Socially, family, relative location to your job. Sacrificing a few things will definitely be worth if you have to just to make sure your quality of life does not diminish. Now with all of our suggestions you should always chose what works best with your family. Making a pros and cons list with your family and or yourself if you're purchasing alone. Try to make sure your decision is not emotional but yet logical, if you need any help please give us a call and we can bounce some ideas off of one another.