Relocating to SF...

kujotx

kujotx

500+ Posts
I am interviewing for a new position within my company, and the subject of relocation came up. I could be called to relocate to the Bay Area.

I live in Houston now, so I am blessed with spending less than thirty percent on housing. For those of you in the Bay Area, where does one live out there -- Sacramento?!

I would have to commute to Market down in the Financial District, so where would you live that would not break the bank, and not require Kevlar vests in a size two toddler?
 
Would love to hear more about the city from those that have lived there or currently live there. I'll be moving there in July and will be living downtown (around Folsom and 4th). Never lived outside of Texas so this will be a change.
 
For a short time, I lived near Golden Gate Park near UCSF which seemed like a pretty good area. I then lived in Mountain View which is too far from the city for you. I had friends who lived in Pacifica which seemed like a good area and a fairly easy commute. I like San Carlos a lot but that may be pushing it distance wise. In general though, I think the commute into the city is easier on 280 than 101 so the towns along 280 IMO are preferable.

With all that said, take my opinion with a grain of salt. I worked in Palo Alto and Fremont and generally would only go into the city for meetings and fun.
 
I'm in SF right now. I'm staying at a place on 3rd and Folsom.

An opportunity might present itself to me such that I may be able to move out here for a 6 month assignment. I might do it.
 
Thanks for the advice.

To the original poster, SF is a great city. It is expensive and there are areas that are a bit shady, but they are typically few and far between. If you do move, do not ruin the beauty of living in the city by commuting in and out of it. I used to live in SF and drive 45mi to San Jose in order to live in the city. Many would kill to have a job in the city itself.
 
I am not sure if you have settled on SOMA or not. Couple of ideas bout the city:

• Pick you neighborhood based on what you want – public transportation (Noe Valley, Mission, Cole Valley, North Beach), access to the water (Marina, Pac Heights, Cow Hollow), access to the freeways south (Bernal Heights, Noe, Mission), in the middle of it (Hayes Valley, Mission, North Beach).
• The town is off the hook if you are single, and I do not care how much money you are making. The access to the Tahoe, biking, surfing, hiking, the North Coast, Shasta is unmatched. Plus, the town always has something going on. Boring hot Texas summers wondering hat to do with the heat are a thing of the past.

What else can we help you with?
 
if this is a temporary move (2-3 years), do it while you are young and single.

the worst thing you have to worry about in SF is the homeless. it is a really big problem.
 
A buddy of mine works in Silicon Valley and for 6 months he lived near work. He hated it. Like 3 years ago, he moved to South Beach area of SF (near Bay Bridge) and walks to the Cal Train. Takes the Cal Train every day to work and loves it.

I was in SF for a week for work and stayed with him for a few nights just to hang out. I commuted with him to the Valley for 2 of the days (stayed in the Valley after that, was part of the plan). I didn't mind the commute at all. Goes by fast and I was able to get some reading in.

If you work in SF, find an apt in SF. It is a fun city. Just avoid the Tenderloin. I almost got mugged there 2 years ago b/c I didn't know where I was (this was a Friday at like 5pm too so not late).
 
There's a lot of advice on this thread already, but I'll chime in.

You didn't mention rental vs. buying. Actually, it's not a bad time to buy right now as things are actually going close to asking price (versus 5+ years ago).

You can certainly live cheaper if you are farther away from SF - I know people that live as far out as Walnut Creek and BART into FiDi. If you're in IB, though, sometimes you're in trouble as it may not start rolling at the time you'd need to get in to the office.

The problem with Walnut Creek is that it could be anywhere (no offense). I would push for finding a place in SF and experiencing the city. I'm assuming you're young and single - the Marina may be your ticket, though public transportation is more or less limited to bus. Of course, the area around the Ballpark has really exploded as well, and that is now well-served by rail.

Craigslist is a great apartment hunting guide. I'd get a map of SF and circle the BART and MUNI stations, and begin your search in concentric circles from there.

We moved from Houston 7 or so years ago, and I don't plan on every going back. It took me a year to get over the culture shock (political, urban and otherwise) and my wife claims she was cold for basically the first two years. But we're never leaving. Stick with it.
 
friend of mine works for Google in Mountain View, but lives in the city. it's not that bad of a drive, plus, after Google went public, she became a millionaire (worth around $20 mil).

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i'm wondering how much real estate prices have dropped here. i bet not much in the city. probably more so in the burbs.
 
kujo:

You've been welcomed appropriately to SF above with just the right level of sanctimonious twattism.

So congrats. It's great city though - actually the best in the world - so don't let that dissuade you.

Obvously, your comment was meant to convey that you understand SF is expensive and you don't want to sacrifice safety for your kid to live near your work. So Hunter's Point, most of The Mission, and SOMA are out.

Unless you're really raking in the bucks, I'm guessing you won't be able to afford a family sized space in family friendlyish the Marina, Russian Hill, Pac Heights, or Noe Valley. You don't see a lot of kids in this city. The "middle class" is effectively comprised of single girls in their 20s and 30s. Works for me.

Rent or buy? Why don't you tell us a little more about your requirements?

I'd rather rent and be closer to the city in Mill Valley than buy and live in Castro Valley.
 
Scip- You live in SF? I'll be looking for a place to watch games and I'm assuming there is at least a few bars that will show the horns.

So South Market sounds like it used to be a hipster type area but has now been yuppified?

I've heard two schools of thought about the women in SF; Hot but can't seem to find them at night or intelligent but not as hot as girls in Texas. Someone please clarify this for me.
 
there are certain people that patrol the boards that jump on anything remotely negative about certain cities.

some of you need to get your panties out of a wad.
 
bd:

Yeah, I do live in SF.

Blue Light is the current Longhorn bar. On Union Street. Good place to catch a game. You'll find a ton of places in the Marina and Cow Hollow buzzing on college gameday.

I find SOMA boring as ****, there's no neighborhood feel, and it goes dead after dark unless you're into dancing with glowsticks and you wear ironic hats. People in SOMA get in cabs to go out. People in North Beach, Russian Hill, The Marina etc walk up the street.

There are plenty of good looking girls in SF, with a lot of variety. Fitness is a big deal here. The profusion of East Coast relos waters down the looks department by 14% compared to, say, Atlanta or Houston.

If you're into Asians, you'll be particularly pleased.
 
I just came back from a weekend in SF and loved it.

I'll go ahead and compare the cities to our local establishments.

SF = Austin but with bigger hills. Honestly, it felt really nice like back at college but with a lot more stuff to do.
LA = Houston but way bigger. Everything is sooooo freaking far away.
 
i'll throw in my 2 cents also. I made the move from houston to SF 2 years ago and never looked back. my share for rent in houston in my midtown apt was 500/month. my share in my first SF apt was 1450/month. sack it up, it is not worth moving 1600 miles away to live in some crappy place in the burbs. as other posters said, you can do that in any other city in america. I live in SF and work in walnut creek...some would call me an idiot. my wife and i have only briefly thought about moving to the east bay and then started laughing at ourselves and said no way in hell.

SOMA has good condos that are newer with better ammenities. we are in telegraph hill...very hard to find units there. north beach is fun, marina is good, pac heights is nice. browse craigslist daily and hop on stuff you like. it's like interviewing for a job. fort mason is cheap housing and lots of fun people live there too (5 people to each house, rent under 900/person).

you will want to be in the city on the weekends.
 
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