Well, here it is New Years Eve.  Tomorrow is January 1st 2008.  I think everyone is glad to see 2007 go away.  For me it was a huge year of transition for me.  I went from full time caregiver back to a working professional.

And it feels good.   Bring on 2008.... Let's make it great in 08.

Today's blogging post is about something that has been bothering me since starting to work here in Alameda.  Alameda is a highly desirable city on the island here in the San Francisco Bay.  It is a nice place to live.  It can also be a very expensive place to live.   Can we also talk about the limited numbers of bridges and tunnels in and out of the city.

I have a co-worker here in my office that was listing a home in Alameda's Fernside District.  It was listed for over $800,000.oo.   It was on the market for a long time and did not sell.

The home was not unique and identical ones to it could be found in San Leandro for $200,000.oo less.  San Leandro's "Estudillo Estates" and "The Broadmoor" are areas very similar to Alameda's Fernside, but at a fraction of the cost.

The area of North San Leandro around Dutton and Bancroft has some very nice restaurants, a Safeway grocery store and a very special community based Zocalo Coffeehouse.  The area of Mac Arthur Boulevard between Dutton and Estudillo has just been renovated by the city and is very nice with restaurants and shops.  On the Corner of Estudillo and Mac Arthur is the Estudillo Center and a very nice Rite-Aid pharmacy and shops.

Within a healthy stroll you can the Main Branch of the San Leandro Library and the Downtown San Leandro Plaza Shopping center with Long's Drugs, Safeway and many shops and restaurants.

Bayfair Mall has been undergoing some dramatic renovations lately also and has become Bayfair Center.  The company that owns it, Madison Marquette also owns "Bay Street Emeryville" and has really been upgrading Bayfair into a nice place to shop.

Not being isolated on an island, San Leandro's North Area is just seconds away from Interstate 580 and minutes away from interstate 880.

The Oakland Airport is just down San Leandro's Doolittle Drive.  The regional transit agency B.A.R.T. has two stations in San Leandro, downtown and at Bayfair.

The elementary school for Estudillo Estates and The Broadmoor, Roosevelt Elementary school is the premiere school in the district.

So for anyone considering Alameda's Fernside, You can get a similar home in San Leandro, for less and have better traffic. Give San Leandro a look see.   you will love it.