Any San Francisco Mumsnetters out there?

[jennifersofia]

Wondering about the possibility of moving to SF and what the education system is like (primary) and also housing. Experience or advice anyone?

My friend lives about 40 minutes south,will try to get her to reply if no one else does. R

I grew up in Berkeley (across the bay). The state school system used to be great, but now is supposed to be pretty bad. There are LOTS of private schools offering every type of education you can imagine (from strict Catholic to hippy dippy) if you can afford it. Housing is very expensive (I think at London levels) as SF is on a peninsula and land is limited. Are you planning on going to SF proper or one of the surrounding towns? Anyway, it's a beautiful area and a great place to bring up children.

Rhiannon, thanks.
SofiaAmes, not sure which area we would go to as we are at the research stage and it would depend on employment. I realize that housing is expensive, but we are hoping that incomes are higher as compared with London where we presently live. Any views on this?

I think it depends on the job. The pay is generally better, but Americans do tend to work longer hours, have fewer vacations and less extras like paid maternity leave than the English. You will probably find everything other than housing cheaper, but you will need to add the cost of health insurance into your budget. And education if either of you is considering any type of further education.

The only place I have been to is Los Gatos about 40 mins south of SF. It is absolutely beautiful, bu the houses are v.expensive apparently.

Lived in the Bay Area for about 18 months and it really is the most gorgeous place.

Housing is hugely expensive but often nice. If you want to live in SF itself you are unlikely to get a house unless you are a well connected millionaire (or multi-millionaire), but an apartment or duplex is more possible (beware, ours had very thin walls!).

Might be better to consider the East Bay area where housing is still high but you can actually get a house. My friends who live in Alameda (a kooky kind of island which is part of Oakland) are really happy with the schools there but as with anywhere, it really depends! UC Berkeley has lots of chat rooms which go into this sort of thing in great detail.

Word from people I know at the minute it's definitely sliding into recession/war economy with health insurance, gas, groceries all going up in price and a distinct anti-immigrant feeling.

HTH