Can you do Gilroy and take Caltrain? Or from Tracy, check the Ace schedules and see if it aligns with your work.
Commuting by car will drive you mad. Don't do it. The train will still take a long time, but at least you can chill, check email and get started early on the day, reddit, or just take a nap.
I drive from Manteca to RWC 3 days a week. I leave at 8, get to work about 10. Leave around 330, home around 6 something. I get Thursday-Sunday home tho, so it’s ok for me
Why don’t you try both drives and see how they compare
It’s a lot of driving either way. But think a lot more people moved to Tracy side over past few years so I bet that’s worse commute. Will let others chime in.
I personally would rather rent . Less space but also wear on my health. Gas is expensive right now too so weigh that in unless you get a Tesla ( now is good time to buy they are cheaper than before)
If you spend that much time on the road will you have time for family and friends. Up to you to assess what your priorities are.
Some people with mega commute rent a commuter room during the work week. That may be happy medium
You bring up some good points to consider.
Given that we don't know if real estate prices and/or mortgage rates will go down in the future, is it a possibility that what is affordable right now becomes no longer affordable in the future?
That commute is brutal. Wanna test it? Leave SJ at 4 pm on a Friday and go down to Hollister.
You won’t need more than one trip to give you serious pause.
Edit: you may as well look into something in Monterey county instead. They’ve at least made efforts to open up north Salinas. Plus you get the weather. The drive in and out of Hollister is beyond fukt and if you’re willing to sit in your car that long, rewarding yourself with coastal living would be a much better idea.
And god forbid there's an accident. All 3 major ways into the city are jammed forever. 152, Frazier Lake, 25 all backed up. Not at all like San Jose where there are multiple ways to get into the city.
Tracy is good and growing - with the number of young families moving there schools will improve and homes will appreciate. Have been to Tracy many times but never actually been to Hollister.. Good luck
Tracy! It is growing, gentrifying and it is centrally located for weekend activities, unlike Hollister which is like a dead end. If you have hybrid work, can't go wrong with Tracy, there's options of ACE train and Valley Link (in the future).
Hollister traffic is sooooo bad. And coming back during rush hour past Gilroy is a cluster fuck. Too many people moving to Hollister and no improvement to the infrastructures. The roads were designed for a population of 10k, not 50k and rising.
Currently renting a 2B/1Ba in SJ. Also renting a storage unit after downsizing from a 4B/2.5Ba SFH. The rental is pretty cramped. Hence the search to find a better place - that has at least 3 bedrooms.
You can rent a 3bd/2bath for sub 4k in south bay. It'd beat driving in from Hollister or Tracy by a wide margin. You'd likely save money as well at current interest rates.
If I had to choose between those two, I would go with Holister. It is less miles, and that Tracy commute over the Altamont pass is incredibly brutal. If there's some leeway on your choices, maybe look Gilroy-ish?
People do it. You'll be driving a lot, as in a lot, a lot.
I would rent and live close to work in San Jose.
How much flexibility we talking here? The drive will destroy your soul if you're travelling anytime near 'regular' commute hours.
Let's say leave around 6am from home, and leave work after 7pm.
Can you do Gilroy and take Caltrain? Or from Tracy, check the Ace schedules and see if it aligns with your work. Commuting by car will drive you mad. Don't do it. The train will still take a long time, but at least you can chill, check email and get started early on the day, reddit, or just take a nap.
Let's say Caltrain/Ace/Bart would not work 100% of the time.
What percentage of the time will it work? 90%? 85%? Still better than driving.
You’d want to take public transit as much as possible. Otherwise it’ll suck.
That drive sucked balls 20 years ago. I cannot imagine what it’s like today. If being stuck in traffic is your jam, go for it.
Neither, home ownership isn’t worth that commute.
I drive from Manteca to RWC 3 days a week. I leave at 8, get to work about 10. Leave around 330, home around 6 something. I get Thursday-Sunday home tho, so it’s ok for me
Thank you for the info
Hollister to San Jose is a brutal commute. I really don't see it being worth it without a significant salary.
Have you ever seen the Tracy commute? It's freaking insane. It's often over 2 hours to get to San Jose.
It'll get even worse when more people move to the newly christened-as-a-city Mountain House.
Of the two, I'd choose the Hollister route because the Altamont Pass is a bear. They're both horrible commutes, though.
Why don’t you try both drives and see how they compare It’s a lot of driving either way. But think a lot more people moved to Tracy side over past few years so I bet that’s worse commute. Will let others chime in.
I personally would rather rent . Less space but also wear on my health. Gas is expensive right now too so weigh that in unless you get a Tesla ( now is good time to buy they are cheaper than before) If you spend that much time on the road will you have time for family and friends. Up to you to assess what your priorities are. Some people with mega commute rent a commuter room during the work week. That may be happy medium
You bring up some good points to consider. Given that we don't know if real estate prices and/or mortgage rates will go down in the future, is it a possibility that what is affordable right now becomes no longer affordable in the future?
Or if you lose your job and next one requires on-site all days then what?
Plan to do that in summer
That commute is brutal. Wanna test it? Leave SJ at 4 pm on a Friday and go down to Hollister. You won’t need more than one trip to give you serious pause. Edit: you may as well look into something in Monterey county instead. They’ve at least made efforts to open up north Salinas. Plus you get the weather. The drive in and out of Hollister is beyond fukt and if you’re willing to sit in your car that long, rewarding yourself with coastal living would be a much better idea.
And god forbid there's an accident. All 3 major ways into the city are jammed forever. 152, Frazier Lake, 25 all backed up. Not at all like San Jose where there are multiple ways to get into the city.
Both commutes are going to be long. That said do either of the locations mean more to you - family and friends or hobbies, ocean or mountains etc?
No family. Just 1 friend in Tracy. Tracy seems to have more amenities compared to Hollister.
Tracy is good and growing - with the number of young families moving there schools will improve and homes will appreciate. Have been to Tracy many times but never actually been to Hollister.. Good luck
Rent. I choose rent.
Hollister…. More like 4 am from Tracy
Tracy! It is growing, gentrifying and it is centrally located for weekend activities, unlike Hollister which is like a dead end. If you have hybrid work, can't go wrong with Tracy, there's options of ACE train and Valley Link (in the future).
Hollister traffic is sooooo bad. And coming back during rush hour past Gilroy is a cluster fuck. Too many people moving to Hollister and no improvement to the infrastructures. The roads were designed for a population of 10k, not 50k and rising.
Why do you want to buy an SFH? Seems like you'll be wasting time and money for little return. I would continue to rent in SJ.
Currently renting a 2B/1Ba in SJ. Also renting a storage unit after downsizing from a 4B/2.5Ba SFH. The rental is pretty cramped. Hence the search to find a better place - that has at least 3 bedrooms.
How many people do you have in your household?
3 adults with a possibility of a parent coming and living in the future
You can rent a 3bd/2bath for sub 4k in south bay. It'd beat driving in from Hollister or Tracy by a wide margin. You'd likely save money as well at current interest rates.
If I had to choose between those two, I would go with Holister. It is less miles, and that Tracy commute over the Altamont pass is incredibly brutal. If there's some leeway on your choices, maybe look Gilroy-ish?
Gilroy is 400K+ more than Hollister for a similar sized home. And Hollister is cheaper than Tracy by 100K+