We really like both these Townhouses. In Foster city, it is closer to the water body (San Mateo Bridge), but it has a swimming pool, club area and has a very small back yard space., where we can watch the kids play around in that tiny 100 sq. feet while cooking. Also, the house is located closer to a big lawn and plenty of space for kids can play/drive bike safely. More downside is older kitchen cabinets, appliances, washer/dryer eventhough the kitchen has new marble tops.

In Redwood Shores, this brand new townhouse is itself very nice, with brand new everything but the downside is 3 level home, no backyard space, no much natural light inside as it is a middle home, no swimming pool or a clubhouse. There is a park closer.

Both HOA are the same. My husband is more inclined towards Redwood shores one because I work in Redwood Shores and he feels safe with 2 kids. Whereas I like Foster city one better  because it is 2 level, great view, plenty of space for the kids to play outside in the common area, also there is swimming pool and club house.

Both are of same price but RWS one is 10K higher, which doesn't really matter.

Foster City... the light, the water and the sheer number of open spaces for kids to play, 7 parks not to mention a great library, good schools.. what more

I would love to make a decision about where you should live.  Are you really going to take my advice?  I hate to give unrequited advice.

What about HOA fees?
                     taxes, any difference? Are they in the same county?
Distance to Schools, shopping etc.? By car/bike/foot?

Kay should answer about HOA. Both the cities are pretty small and self contained. All close by.. RWS does not have a Costco ;)

Lemme tell you something Kay. Ever heard of the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989? Most of the Bay Area was barely affected by that alleged disaster. Not one thing was damaged or out of place at my home in Pacifica. I had a friend living in Foster City, however, and his house got shook so hard that everything fell off the shelves. Plus the pavement in front of his home was horrifically cracked. It was ridiculous. Why did this happen? Because Foster City is built over landfill. The same is true of Redwood Shores. You might as well build on a foundation of Jello. If you buy a house in either location, make sure your earthquake and life insurance policies are current.

Brendan....half a million over a landfill. Are you sure?

I would never buy into a place with HOA fees. A lady I know, who purchased a home in that area, later got hit with like a $12,000.00 Special assesment for new siding and deck repair on all the units, due to faulty construction.

Abe, yes. Most of Foster City and Redwood Shores are built on landfill. Buy a house there and you're living in a place that was never meant to be dry land. If you want to know how it'll fare when "the big one" hits, Google the term "liquefaction."

I grew up in Belmont in the hills, and I am old enough to remember looking out over the area on our deck, and they were filling in the dykes, and draining the water to build Foster City. I know a Civil Engineer who said he would NEVER buy land out there due to unconsolodated soils, that are subject to liquefaction.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fo…

Parts of Redwood Shores was also marshy soils that were drained and filled. You can find out more by going to Google Earth, and looking at old pictures by clicking the go back in time icons at the top of the page, when you are viewing that area. Oracle is now were Marine world was when i was a kid.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re…

Thank you Sammy, for proving me right. I love that.

I also loved the old Marine World, and miss it quite a bit.

If you are focused on the upbringing and development of your family I suggest that you go with the property in Foster city which you clearly tried to build up. A space that is more beneficial to the kids where you can enjoy watching them grow and make some memories is far more important than a property that is slightly more convenient and presents less risk in the face of an uncontrollable act of God.

Living your life in fear of natural disasters will only harbor a similar, illogical phobia of the uncertain.  Let them grow up  swimming and frolicking while you barbecue and take advantage of the property values.

I understand that both RS and FC used predominantly clay fill which is *somewhat* more stable than the sand and 1906 quake debris used to fill in the SF Marina (ironic, no?).

If it's not liquefaction, it's landslides, wildfire, etc. I'd be more concerned about the condition of the 40yo bldg - if it's held up well, and has been brought up to code, I'd go for vintage over new. Life is a gamble!

Thanks all. The HOA fee for both are almost the same.

Brendan, I totally agree with the fact of landfill but here within peninsula the choice are very much limited. We love to have a single family home, but these are very old or too pricey. I work at RWS and my little son is already in his preschool, which means we need a good school district. My husband doesn't like any older properties.

In a 40 yr old townhouse, we don't know the condition of many things including the appliances. That's the peacefulness about new property argues my husband.

I would never buy something on landfill. Plus with global warming you'll be below sea level.

Owning a home in CA,  makes my head want Explode! I understand everything that has been posted. They all have good and bad points. Again It can make you want to scream!
Insurance, Home & Car & Flood & Quake. It's all a necessary evil.
BTW - Didn't the government rewrite the flood (insurance) maps within the past 5 years!
           Do you know any home owner that pays for Quake insurance. I know no one with Quake insurance..
Best of Luck Kay!

BTW are the Home inspection reports equal?

It sounds like the Foster City one would be more ideal for your kids, but the Redwood Shores one is more convenient for you to get to work and your husband seems to like it.

Have you looked into school districts? That might help you make your decisions...

I personally would be more inclined to go with the brand new townhouse. But the general atmosphere, neighbors, and townhouse management would be major factors too.

About the appliances I have seen many adds for entire suites of appliance. I like Lowes Free Del., Pick up, removal, install. Can't beat that!
Best Buy has a suites 2K. We lost many $$$ working with the old Refridg.  In the long run replacing everything was much less stress full. I wonder if Costco sells appliance suites/sets.

I owned a condo and the worst thing is the homeowner's fees, which can keep going up, and the old farts who make those decisions for you. Plus, I hate sharing walls with anybody. If you buy on fill, make it a single story. Liquefaction is a genuine concern for 2+ stories. If you really want a new place, then go with Redwood Shores. But where would your kids go to middle school? Is Sandpiper K-8? We opted for San Carlos: no fill, good schools, but old and you'll need to remodel. If you can get into a small house here, you can add on later.

My family has lived in FC all our lives, and it's perfect. We were here during the 1989 earthquake too, annnnddd the house still stands. We also live on the water, so far no earthquake has brought us down.

If there is going to be a large earthquake, rest assured it will take out not only FC and RS, but it'll take out the rest of the bay area with it.

I've grown up in FC, and I love it. It is fantastically dull, but really, when you're raising a family that's what the suburbs are all about. You want a safe neighborhood, with lots of other kids and parks, so you have plenty of very FAMILY things to do. FC definitely encourages walks, rollerblading, etc, because they have the levi. On a nice day you can bike ride along safe "trails", and in safe neighborhoods!

FC is also connected by third ave in San Mateo, which is great because you can take a back-way to get to it during rush hour and it doesn't take nearly as long if you were to take 92 to 101.

Bowditch has some great teachers, Brewer Island is a GREAT elementary school, not so hot for Audohban, Foster City School is okay (I've been to all three).

Also, there are a LOT of parks in FC, so if your daughter or son wanted a bouncy tent for their birthday you could just set up at a park! And they're like mini beaches! I wouldn't recommend swimming in the lagoon though.

I agree that Foster City has a lot going for it. But '89 earthquake was not on the Hayward fault, so no indication of safety for FC.

Is it true that the Foster City Safeway is a killer hook up spot?

I thought that was the SF Marina Safeway. At least, it used to be.

Lets see.....it is 40 years old....that mans it survuved the Loma Prieta Earthquake without problems....new one untested.....hmmmmmmmm

Thanks guys.

Kay.. hope to see you at FC. Good luck with your decision and move.

Abe, we are not sure. Let's see.

Almost all the buildings in the Bay Area survived Loma Prieta, so surviving Loma Prieta means nothing. What you want to plan for is the real deal, which will be much more destructive.

RWS is a very nice area.  There are walking paths through most of the neighborhoods, and running paths along the Bay.  The existing elementary school (Sandpiper) is very good, and a new one will be opening in September.  There is a brand new library, probably within walking distance of your development.  The downside is that it is indeed boring, if you're looking for nightlife or even good restaurants.  Mistral is not bad, especially given that you can walk to it, but a little overpriced.  The places at the Nob Hill shopping center are not bad (especially if you can walk there), but let's just say they're not exactly setting the Yelp reviews on fire.  You might also think about the traffic -- I heard that one of the downsides of Foster City is that almost everyone exits the development through Hillsdale during rush hour -- that's a lot of traffic through one outlet.  Redwood Shores is smaller, and the traffic is divided between two Ralston and Holly, so it's not too bad.

Kay, one sort of buzz kill suggestion is to look at the Megan's Law database, which tracks convicted sex offenders.  As far as I've seen, there are no sex offenders listed in Redwood Shores.  It's the only Bay Area city that has none.  I've never understood why.  Maybe it's because everyone lives in an HOA (and the HOAs are somehow able to keep convicted sex offenders out).  Maybe it's because there are no cheap rental homes.  Maybe the cops are just bad at getting the offenders registered.  All I know is that if the database is accurate, it's a good thing for RWS residents.

I wouldn't put too much faith in sex offender registries; they only list the guys who've been caught and convicted, and who bother to keep the government informed of their whereabouts.