Advice about buying in Oakland/Berkeley area (for a new mom and aspiring musician).? -

Hi, I m Stephanie, I m 19, engaged and expecting. My fiance and I are moving to the US to be with his family and to get a bit more work as we are both musicians and I m an actress (We re both Aussies and we live in Australia at the moment). We are looking for a small home or an apartment around the Oakland/Berkeley area in California, as his family is around that area. Because I m expecting we want a place that is in a gsuburburb and close to a good pre-schoelementaryary school.Does anyone have any suggestions?Thanks in advance.

Housing in the Oakland/Berkeley area is very expensive, even the smallest one bedrooms are $1000+. I would definitely NOT suggest Oakland at all, it s very dangerous. I would recommend the Central Valley area like Tracy or Stockton as prices are at least half of the Oakland/Berkeley area with good schools and it s only an hour to drive to his relatives.To compare... My sister, husband and step son spend $1300 on a two bedroom with one bath in the Bay Area while I am in the Central Valley in the same size apartment for only $700.