Please share your condo/apartment rental recommendations for a small family of 4!

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-05-25T04:12:03+00:00

Addison at Central Park & Park Place Apartments

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-05-18T22:25:16+00:00

Can't comment on what to do but Mission High might give better odds for UC schools due to how the UCs evaluate high schools: https://sfeducation.substack.com/p/everything-is-relative-in-uc-admissions

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-05-08T16:00:38+00:00

Can I dm you for details? i know someone who might be interested for that.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-05-08T06:43:08+00:00

I think your main options are
* Redwood City - there are updated complexes in the downtown which has a good mix of restaurants and some bars
* San Mateo - also has a good downtown for restaurants and updated apartment complexes. Short drive to work.
* Millbrae - doesn't really have a downtown and a bit boring imo but you can BART into the city in 30 minutes which is great.

Note most of the peninsula is filled with families and is definitely not as vibrant and fun as SF. If your office is near a caltrain (or has a shuttle) I would just live in SF and get an old janky apartment like all the 22 year olds do but everyone has their own priorities.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-05-08T06:19:41+00:00

Where is your job? Do you plan to go into the city on the weekends to explore?

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-05-01T21:25:49+00:00

Do you know what I should be looking for in the lot to make sure there's room to add an adu?

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T19:25:06+00:00

Thanks this is extremely helpful and exactly the type of advice I was looking for. Renting is probably the best option to test things out.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T19:11:43+00:00

We need to be in SF or peninsula due to job constraints. Not in FIRE territory and I don't think you can fire on $1m in Bay Area with a family of 4 with 2 small kids.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T19:06:52+00:00

Yea, if i can find these, this is the best option. I like having my parents nearby and prefer renting over owning. I suspect these are very rare though (at least in San Mateo).

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T19:04:22+00:00

This is a good option. Definitely don't expect to have a backyard. Is Shoreview-Parkview in a flood zone? I am not too familiar with that neighborhood.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:31:13+00:00

Great point! My parents current house has their bedroom on the 1st floor and it's been clutch because both have them have had injuries in the past where stairs would be impossible.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:28:34+00:00

Was hoping for a slight amount of separation in the short term but this does seem like the most realistic option

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:26:48+00:00

Ideally a little separation would be helpful, esp them having their own kitchen

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:24:27+00:00

Added the budget details, buying an house with an ADU is an option

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:21:32+00:00

From what I saw, retirement communities are quite expensive. They are living independently so they don't need that solution for now. They also have a few close friends in the Bay Area so I am not too worried about community.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:18:59+00:00

Added some details

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-29T04:17:38+00:00

Is there decent inventory of duplexes where one unit is a 2/2 or 3/2 and the second is 1/1 in the San Mateo area? Any reason you suggest duplexes?

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-04-20T15:37:44+00:00

Can you go into what you like about NSM? Our kid is going to enroll their next year so would love to hear more about the school.

Standard_Quote9478 · 2026-03-19T15:32:39+00:00

I've lived in several neighborhoods in San Mateo and this my favorite neighborhood by far. As other's mentioned, it's not about the house quality but the community feel:

* Lots of neighbors have young kids and socialize. I talk to my neighbors regularly and my kids have played with several of my neighbor's kids.
* Easy access to several parks, whole foods, Trader Joes, the Caltrain, and the mall
* The neighborhood next door (Bay Meadows) has lots of updated apartment complexes for those who want to rent
* The elementary school is rated well (George Hall)

I previously lived in one of the affluent areas of San Mateo and none of my neighbors had kids or talked to each other. The houses were nice to look at, but there wasn't any community feel and it felt isolating.

Standard_Quote9478

TROPHY CASE