Work in Palo Alto, Where to Live? (Oakland, Fremont: affordable apartments, house)

[shooting4life]

I think the posters should get a different definition of "ghetto" if they think rwc falls under it's definition. This is the Bay Area, embrace its diversity.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

I think the problem is not that the areas are ghetto. The problem is that $2000.00/less in Palo Alto or Mountain View will most likely get you an old rundown apartment. I have a friend who pays over $1600/month for an old, completely outdated 1 bedroom apartment with paper-thin walls on the south end of Palo Alto. Yes, the OP can find a place in PA within budget, but it will probably be in an old, outdated building with poor insulation.

I think the OP should look further south in Santa Clara/Sunnyvale for a slightly better bargain, or across the bay somewhere like Fremont.

True. Fremont has some good condos within the OP's budget, and is an easy commute to PA. Good suggestion.

[countofmc]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

True. Fremont has some good condos within the OP's budget, and is an easy commute to PA. Good suggestion.

Dumbarton can get pretty backed up, no?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by countofmc

Dumbarton can get pretty backed up, no?

Depending on when the OP would be commuting. Anything in the entire area can get backed up. Unless the OP lives in PA, he's going to face traffic.

[countofmc]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Depending on when the OP would be commuting. Anything in the entire area can get backed up. Unless the OP lives in PA, he's going to face traffic.

Well yea, but there are degrees. If he lives on the Peninsula fairly close at least he can divert to surface streets and such.

I personally would rather stay on this side of the Bay, but maybe Fremont would work for OP

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by countofmc

Well yea, but there are degrees. If he lives on the Peninsula fairly close at least he can divert to surface streets and such.

I personally would rather stay on this side of the Bay, but maybe Fremont would work for OP

I would personally always recommend the peninsula commute over the East Bay commute, but the commute from Fremont isn't bad. The dumbarton is the best bridge to have to commute over, and is rarely backed up.

As a priority, I would suggest to the OP (not in order, although for disclosure, I have an apt in downtown San Mateo):

San Mateo, Burlingame, San Carlos/Belmont, Redwood City, Mountain View, Sunnyvale.

Menlo Park and Palo Alto are overpriced for what they offer, especially since they don't really offer anything superior to the surrounding towns I listed above. Commutes on 101 can be bad, but 280 is a great commute option any time of the day.

One can definitely find one bedrooms for less than 2000 a month, and very nice ones at that. The building that I split my living time in is in downtown San Mateo. It has one bedrooms for less than 2,000, and it is not an old and dumpy building.

If nothing in these areas looks satisfactory, I'd recommend looking at Fremont, as well.

Craigslist is your best option. www.padmapper.com is a great site that maps out the craigslist ads for you.

[countofmc]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

I would personally always recommend the peninsula commute over the East Bay commute, but the commute from Fremont isn't bad. The dumbarton is the best bridge to have to commute over, and is rarely backed up.

As a priority, I would suggest to the OP (not in order, although for disclosure, I have an apt in downtown San Mateo):

San Mateo, Burlingame, San Carlos/Belmont, Redwood City, Mountain View, Sunnyvale.

Menlo Park and Palo Alto are overpriced for what they offer, especially since they don't really offer anything superior to the surrounding towns I listed above. Commutes on 101 can be bad, but 280 is a great commute option any time of the day.

One can definitely find one bedrooms for less than 2000 a month, and very nice ones at that. The building that I split my living time in is in downtown San Mateo. It has one bedrooms for less than 2,000, and it is not an old and dumpy building.

If nothing in these areas looks satisfactory, I'd recommend looking at Fremont, as well.

Craigslist is your best option. www.padmapper.com is a great site that maps out the craigslist ads for you.

I like San Mateo (and also Foster City) and OP probably can find something decent within their budget there, but man that commute is going to be brutal both ways.

[ZorbaTheGeek]

Originally Posted by countofmc

Well yea, but there are degrees. If he lives on the Peninsula fairly close at least he can divert to surface streets and such.

I personally would rather stay on this side of the Bay, but maybe Fremont would work for OP

It depends on the dude's work schedule. I know a dudette who lives in Fremont and cruises right across the bridge, no muss no fuss, to PA. And living in Fremont, she's close to good nightlife in Oakland and Berkeley. Choice location for both work and play. Let the OP decide what's best for him. Fremont could work.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by countofmc

I like San Mateo (and also Foster City) and OP probably can find something decent within their budget there, but man that commute is going to be brutal both ways.

Commute to Palo Alto from San Mateo is pretty easy. I rarely drive (opting for Caltrain), but when I do, it takes me ~20-25 minutes to get to Stanford from my downtown San Mateo Apartment (El Camino -> 92 W -> 280 S -> Sand Hill). The only backup that I sometimes encounter is the first mile on 92. After that it's pretty smooth. The commute back is pretty simple, too. Slow parts sometimes occur near Woodside and the 92 intersection if you commute between 5-6. After 6, it's pretty smooth.

Honestly, I have no clue why anyone would ever take 101. Getting to many places in Palo Alto, specifically downtown or Stanford, from 101 is a ridiculous pain. Even though 280 is further distance-wise, it always takes me more time to go the 101 route (I've even compared drive times at 10PM sans any traffic).

Caltrain (my usual commute from San Mateo) takes 20-30 minutes door-to-door (depending on which train I get on, and if I bike or shuttle to campus).

Foster City isn't a bad option, as well. Although I've always felt it was pretty overpriced for what it was, and there aren't many walkable areas (although downtown San Mateo and Burlingame aren't far). That's more a reflection of my personal preference for walkable areas, though.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by shooting4life

I think the posters should get a different definition of "ghetto" if they think rwc falls under it's definition. This is the Bay Area, embrace its diversity.

Oh you know for some people "ghetto" equals too many taquerias or the "wrong" ethnic people.