Singer Chase Coy (you might not know him--we didn't) sings that, for now, he'll "just enjoy my life on Fairview, soaking up the view," and while we're not sure he's singing about Fairview, California, he sure could be.
Nestled in the increasingly popular East Bay, Fairview is a quiet, hilly home to around 10,000 people (per the 2010 U
Singer Chase Coy (you might not know him--we didn't) sings that, for now, he'll "just enjoy my life on Fairview, soaking up the view," and while we're not sure he's singing about Fairview, California, he sure could be.
Nestled in the increasingly popular East Bay, Fairview is a quiet, hilly home to around 10,000 people (per the 2010 U.S. Census) that will give you the respite you need from bustling Bay Area life without taking you too far away from the action. Fairview is a foothills community located within easy and convenient commuting distance to Hayward, Fremont, Oakland, and the South Bay, which explains its largely bedroom-community character. With parks, trees, and the easy East Bay climate, Fairview is an attractive destination for those looking to move to a new rental home or apartment.
Fairview is a well-established community. Homes for rent are available, but you'll need to carefully watch listings. Three or four bedroom homes are available at rental rates you'd expect to find in the highly populated San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area. Fairview is more affordable than San Francisco, in most cases, and you can expect a bit of a break if you elect to rent a house in Fairview.
If detached homes aren't your thing, you'll find available studio, 1-, and 2-bedroom apartments available as well. Some may fall just outside of the technical Fairview borders, but life here frequently takes you across community boundaries--and you'll be glad it does.
It's always a good idea to give yourself a day or so in town before you commit to a rental apartment or house so you can become familiar with the streets and areas that match your preferences. Allow two to three months to conduct your search and to make sure you're prepared with the usual box of renter's tools: credit report, money for first and last month's rent and the security deposit, proof of income; you know, the works.
As mentioned, Fairview is a residential community. You'll wander a short way from its technical boundaries to get to Hayward's restaurants, grocery stores and most neighborhood services. Of course, at a tiny three square miles, it's not hard to pass in and out of Fairview on the course of a long walk. The area's location makes it perfect for an easy drive to neighboring cities or into the Castro Valley.
Generally speaking, you'll find denser living the closer you get to the freeways connecting East Bay communities--toward the north and west of Fairview. Higher in its hills, you'll enjoy peaceful residential streets populated mostly with detached homes or the occasional duplex.
Across the bay, San Francisco's famed fog keeps the city cool and shrouded for most of the year (or at least for a little bit of most days). On this side of the water, however, it's a different story completely. Fairview residents will enjoy a lot of sun and considerably warmer weather than their neighbors over the Bay Bridge. The year-round mild weather will give you plenty of time to explore Fairview's great outdoors, like enjoying a swim or a picnic at Don Castro Regional Recreation Area on the area's northern border. Don Castro features both easy and challenging trails perfect to get you out in the sunshine while enjoying views of the fishing lake and swimming lagoon.
If you want to learn about the flora and fauna you see along the way, head south to Sulphur Creek Nature Center, a wildlife education and rehabilitation center run by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. With programs for all ages, hosted birthday parties, and themed campfire nights, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: proximity to the urban amenities of the Bay Area and wildlife recreation--maybe all in the same day!
