Ask El Diablo

[NorCalJosh]

along the same lines as buying a condo in SF, do you have any thoughts about what other parts of the bay area you would choose to purchase property in? i currently rent in the east bay, and commute to san rafael, but it looks as though i may be changing jobs very shortly to a position in cotati. I also am looking to switch from renting to owning. Cotati is way the [censored] up there. should i look to purchase in the east bay and make the 45+ minute commute? should i look to buy up in the novato/cotati/santa rosa area? or is there any sense in buying in the city itself and still commuting?

[haakee]

NCJ: Short answer, I think the boonies (Cotati being a prime example) are going to fare worse than more centrally located properties (e.g. SF, Oakland, and the peninsula). Demand is going to fall more sharply in the outskirts and there's been more room to overbuild.