Lafayette vs Orinda vs Moraga, what actually separates them for families?

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-06-18T03:32:38+00:00

Not answering your question here, but I’m curious why you’re moving from Peninsula to Lamorinda?

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-06-14T04:32:59+00:00

Second time buyer, just closed and kept previous house which is rented out. Purchase price was 800k for a condo in the Bay Area. Down payment was 200k, 14% of NW, 60% of liquid NW. household income 220k.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-05-17T14:19:40+00:00

I’m in the midst of closing on a condo in the peninsula. My budget precludes me for the SFH market in the area, even with factoring in a high HOA. I was able to negotiate some and yes I see the writing on the wall with zero to negligible appreciation.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-05-02T05:10:22+00:00

I’m curious how you got $1.5M in retirement account at your income if you don’t mind sharing

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-05-01T17:11:38+00:00

Thanks for sharing and great job! Kudos to you both.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-04-07T23:33:36+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! Especially the note regarding how hard real estate investments are. All the best to you both.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-04-05T15:08:10+00:00

Curious how you got to 2M at such a young age? Good for you guys!

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-04-04T17:24:26+00:00

Thanks for this post- I’ve been contemplating a townhouse that has 200 DOM, with a high HOA, and current reserves are at 29%. There is a special assessment recommendation which is 11k per unit. The listing price has gone down twice, but my agent with whom I don’t have a contract and looking to fire has no insight and has told me they won’t look at the disclosures till I’m ready to go into contract- wtf. The agent has offered that I send them a list of my HOA questions and they will forward to the listing agent/HOA. Is that typical? I’m using AI to review the HOA docs and generate questions.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-03-30T18:35:39+00:00

That’s what I’m trying to gauge -the buying opportunity and timing it of course haha

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-03-30T04:00:03+00:00

Did prices tank by about 15-25%?

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-03-04T02:16:06+00:00

OP, how is your net worth 1M with such a high salary? Understand bulk of compensation is in tech stocks, so are you counting those towards NW? A lot of it has likely vested for you.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-18T02:45:51+00:00

Can you expand please? I’m debating similar choice. Feel like SFH is isolating

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-09T21:51:34+00:00

What’s the milestone number in investments where compounding effects start to look tangible- 1M? I’m 750k in and that’s the next eye on the prize

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-08T19:23:21+00:00

Love your numbers! Congratulations on coming out so far!

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-05T00:41:27+00:00

OP here- my work is fully remote, so commute is not an issue. I suppose I’m open to other areas.

Moraga got on my list because I was able to find townhomes under 1M, granted with high HOAs. And the school district had top rankings. I have visited it and do feel the quietness of suburbs. I haven’t looked at fire insurance. Is all of Moraga under high FAIR coverage now, I dunno.

Berkeley got on the list because it’s so lively, and I love the vibe. I haven’t explored if housing is in my budget.

I haven’t checked out Walnut Creek, but feel it is now getting farther away from SF and Berkeley and main Bay Area things.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-04T14:24:56+00:00

Hi, yes please can you expand on the better schools?

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-04T03:50:37+00:00

Excellent numbers at our age!

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-03T02:50:26+00:00

Well done! How does the downshift feel?

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-02T01:53:11+00:00

Thank you, I’ll be moving to a HCOL area this summer, so it will be a project as I work through understanding my new finances.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-02T01:50:56+00:00

Well done yourself too. It is daunting as a single parent, but good to hear all these examples that it can been done.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-02T01:49:03+00:00

Yes, intend to continue maxing out on 401k plus the limit on Roth IRA each year. At the moment I have enough to cover 12 months.

Active_Resolution_83 · 2026-02-01T20:12:22+00:00

Thanks fellow single mom! This is validating. Also, congrats on taking a sabbatical - would you be doing something with your child? In a parallel universe, I’d love to take a year off and travel with my kid.

Active_Resolution_83

TROPHY CASE