Possible move to the East Bay area
 

Some may have seen my post on a possible move to Seattle, but now I've also gotten an offer from a company in Alameda. Still hoping for the offer in Seattle any day.

California pilots, especially those that relocated with your plane, any tips, thoughts, etc.? Particularly any ideas on hangar options, cost and availability, tax ramifications, etc. Also, any suggestions on neighborhoods to check out in that area. I don't think I can stomach a major commute, so nothing too far away, unless, perhaps, in an Airpark.

Thanks,

For airports, you should probably consider KOAK and KHWD. Both generally have hangars if you ask around. My plane is now at KSQL (closer to my house on the peninsula) but when I was keeping my plane at HWD a few years ago it was about $360 rent for part of a group hangar. I really liked that airport.

I agree on staying close to work - much nicer to be at a not huge house and not in traffic than a big house out in the boonies.

If you want to do the urban living thing I have a bunch of friends who live in Jack London Square and really like it. For more 'suburb' style living the hayward hills/castro valley is nice.

There's a nice group hangar at concord airport that quoted 280 for my 3b. I plan on storing it outside under a nice cover because the weather is so nice out here. You should research the use tax that you'll have to pay when you register your plane in ca.

Our weather can be nice, not lately.... but when the winds kick up and grit gets under your cover......:eek:

I live in Castro Valley. Depending on where you work in Alameda, it's a tolerable commute from here (30 minutes at rush hour).

HWD (Hayward) is the closest airport by miles, but LVK (Livermore) is just as close by time in the car. LVK has much better weather than HWD, has an ILS (HWD does not), and you don't need to deal with the OAK class C and SFO class B at LVK like you do at HWD. Hangar at LVK is $300/month. A few years ago the waiting list was about 3-4 years but with the economic downturn I hear it's much shorter now.

You should NOT have to pay use tax as long as you owned your plane at least 6 months before moving into the state. You will have to pay property tax, 1% of value every year. Oh, yes, they also make you pay the property tax on the hangar even though you lease it! (around $200/yr).

Closest fly-in community that I know of is Cameron Park. But then you still need to make your way from OAK to your workplace.

BTW, in case you're not aware OAK is really 2 airports. All commercial traffic goes to the south field, general aviation to the north field, so you never have to compete with B-737's for runway (or ILS) space.

Thanks but...
 

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info, but I ended up taking a job in Seattle rather than the Bay area. Hopefully this thread will help someone else in the future.

Just to tag onto and update this thread.
I'm contemplating a move to the Bay area. Would like to be close to a nice GA airport with lots of EAA/ RV activity. North, East, West Bay all possibilities, preferably within one hour of SFO.
Comments, suggestions etc appreciated.

Livermore, CA
 

KLVK is a great GA airport located about 50 miles east of SFO. We have very good weather, and a very active EAA, with about 25 flying RV's based here.

Danny

Small correction
 

KLVK is 29nm from KSFO.

It just seems like it's 50 miles when you drive it during rush hour.:p