Planning to move to San Fran - Needing some advice!!?

Question

I'm planning a move in about a year and a half to San Fran. Can anyone suggest either a good/somewhat affordable apt. complex to me? Any tips about moving to Cali from Ohio? This isn't going to be a spur of the moment move, so any planning advice would be great. Also, if you're familiar with the living style of the area, would what you say an income should be to live comfortably? THANKS!!

Answer 1

Bring lots of money
Plan on a culture shock
And, a rent price shock
Don't even think of commuting...4 hours a day out of your life just driving slowly in traffic.
Golden Gate park is the most fun place to be on a weekend.
Bring roller blades
A winter jacket for the month of June
Warm clothes for foggy damp nights.
Comfortable walking shoes
Shop at Cost Plus near Pier 39 before anywhere else. Three bldgs of affordable stuff.
Window shop and eat in Chinatown or North Beach.
Learn to relax and enjoy yourself. Read all books and artilcleson SF. Attend SF 49er games at Candlestick park.
Allow yourself time to adjust.

Answer 2

You should study a map of the city to research and determine which areas are financially available for you to live in. To live comfortably as a single, you should be making $65,000 a year. If you make less, be prepared to work 2 jobs to live in California. You wouldn't be the only person having to.

Learn self defense and how to NOT act like a person out of their element so you don't get mugged. California has a huge crime rate but I suppose you know that already.

Save alot of money because rent is crazy here. Month to month is very hard to find so you will probably be stuck with a 2 to 5 year lease. Read them carefully!

Be respectful and look homeless people in the eye if you say No to their asking for money.

Learn how to ride a motorcycle and sell your car before you move here. Pick up a good cheap motorcycle when you arrive. Cab fare will drain your finances quickly so save them for dates and emergencies. Having a car in SF is a nightmare.

Be prepared for culture shock like they said. San Francisco is very diverse and you need to be accepting of all types of people.
If you can not tolerate alternative lifestyles then you should not come here. Climate shock too as the summers are cold and mostly foggy and mild winters.

Answer 3

Actually in SF or nearby Marin or immediately south, Best to have a double income or at least in the $ 100K + range if you are alone. I managed to afford a 1 bedroom rental in the east bay on $70K. ( the landlord jacked the rent to $1200 when I left . . . inadequate heat, no ventilation and only a tiny kitchen ) People under the 6 figure incomes generally commute from about 60 miles out, if they actually want to own a home. The median sale price in the bay area did just drop however . . . down to about $650,000 for a house.

Answer 4

Wow, after reading the other responses, you might change your mind.

My husband and I moved from the midwest about five months ago and love it here. We are on the peninsula, in Mountain View, and only ten minutes from my office. We are a 40 minute train ride from SF. Yes, the rent is higher. Yes, SF has some crazy micro-climates with unpredictable fog and a surprisingly cold summer in the city. BUT this is a beautiful part of the country. The mountains! The ocean! The opportunities in SF! Plan, save, and enjoy your move. :)

Answer 5

The site you want to look at for the SF Chronicle is www.sfgate.com. You'll be able to check out rents and get used to the housing prices for budgeting.

Bring money.

Also, the site probably can tell you about BART/MUNI and other public transportation options. Try to avoid driving whenever possible.

Bring more money.

And stay away from Richmond or Oakland. Unless you want to get shot.

Bring even more money.

But it's a really beautiful area. Our rent for a 2BR house in Napa Valley is around $1100, and that's excellent for the area.

Did I mention the money thing?

Answer 6

It will no doubt be a lot more expensive than OH. But your pay should be higher too. You won't need $150,000 to live here, but you should probably plan on having roommates if you make less than say $55,000. Remember, this is not LA with palm trees and plenty of sunshine, it's normally pretty foggy and cool. It is a fun city though full of surprises and tons of things to do and see.

PS Check out http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/ for a preview of apartment prices. Don't waste time on neighborhoods like western addition, bayview or "lower nob hill" (aka the tenderloin), they're largely unsafe.

Answer 7

All i could say is that housing is VERY expensive! I think it would be cheaper to move somewhere else near SF you can take bart to SF. You should really take bart or muni instead of driving. Taking the bart is easy, you'll learn in time, it's easier than the subway, Oh and oakland is not that bad I live there and nothing bad has ever happened to me

Answer 8

First, it is very expensive in the bay area. Second, crime and murders are at an all time high this year. make sure you have plenty of backup money, and a very good job before you move here. Feel free to email me with anymore questions, and I will be glad to help.

Answer 9

if you go to SF a 400 sq ft studio is going to be at least 1000$ in the tenderloin and that is not a place you want to be, you could pull it off but id advise carrying a gun cause it gets rough. Its possible for you to put yourselfs trough college in SF but you will have to pull out massive student loans that are going to crush you into submission. you'll both have to get a side job and really really work together as a team to pull that one off i'm tellin ya

Answer 10

I have one word. Don't.
It is expensive and a depraved cesspool of immorality. Unless you are into that sort of thing. As far as income, at least $ 150,000 a year.