Oakland - The good, the bad and the ugly (neighborhoods, transit)

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by StrangeAsAngels

Yes but is it doable in Montclair, Piedmont or any of the other nice areas of Oakland? I don't really need a huge place--500 square feet is fine. I prefer a studio (a one-bedroom is just another room I have to decorate). What's important to me is location, safety and a view would be nice. I've lived in ghettos in both NYC and LA and cannot go back to that at this point in my life.

I'm also looking into Alameda which seems surprisingly reasonable. What's the catch?

It's easily doable by Lake Merritt, Adams Point, Temescal, and nearby Piedmont Ave which are all great areas of Oakland. Frankly, Montclair and the Oakland Hills, and the autonomous city of Piedmont are for wealthy families, not people trying to live in studio apartments. Not sure why you'd want to live there, as they aren't very walkable and are pretty 'suburban' parts of Oakland. It sounds like you want to live in the most exclusive and expensive parts of Oakland for dirt cheap, which isn't going to be easy to find.

On the other hand, there really isn't a 'catch' to Alameda. It's a great little town that's got a lot of charm and character. It's not ritzy, very trendy, or all that exciting, and it feels very sleepy and suburban. It's definitely safer than many parts of Oakland, so that makes it appealing to a lot of people. If I were straight and trying to raise a family, I'd place it high on my list of places in the East Bay, along with Albany, Castro Valley, Kensington, and parts of San Leandro.

Honestly, people move to the vibrant areas of Oakland (Uptown, Grand Lake, Jack London, Piedmont Ave, Temescal, Rockridge, etc) because they want an urban, walkable, and everything the 'city lifestyle' has to offer type of neighborhood. If walkability, transit and BART access, and local flavor don't matter all that much to you, you probably won't 'get' Oakland. Not everyone does, but that's OK.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Are you unfamiliar with Craigslist?

Just do a search for your maximum rent, etc., with the search feature included for the neighborhood you want. Then you will see how much you can get for the money:

east bay area apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

[StrangeAsAngels]

"It sounds like you want to live in the most exclusive and expensive parts of Oakland for dirt cheap, which isn't going to be easy to find."

Not the case. I only asked about those neighborhoods because people in this thread said they were good neighborhoods. Remember, this thread was started because I don't know Oakland and therefore would not know by perusing Craig's List (@NoMoreSnowForMe) which place is in a good part of Oakland or a bad part of Oakland.

[04kL4nD]

It's weird how only one person recommended the hills and Montclair, but somehow Piedmont made it onto your list...

[StrangeAsAngels]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

It's weird how only one person recommended the hills and Montclair, but somehow Piedmont made it onto your list...

Um, Piedmont is listed on Craig's List as being part of the Montclair neighborhood. I have never been to Piedmont or Montclair. I came here seeking advice and help given I do not know Oaklan. Not sure what your point is or what you're getting at but I'm not playing.

Thank you.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

OP, you asked if a particular rent amount was do-able in particular neighborhoods. So, do a Craigslist search and find out.

That's like asking, can I get a $100/month apartment where the cheapest apartments are all $1,000 on Craigslist?

Maybe you need to re-phrase.

If you're asking if we know of a magical apt in a $1,000 neighborhood for only $100, the answer is no.

Oakland is a tricky town to find good housing for a great price. If you are moving from afar to an apt you want to rent ahead of time sight unseen, then rent in Alameda or Walnut Creek. Then start looking for the perfect apt in Oakland after you get here.

[StrangeAsAngels]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

OP, you asked if a particular rent amount was do-able in particular neighborhoods. So, do a Craigslist search and find out.

That's like asking, can I get a $100/month apartment where the cheapest apartments are all $1,000 on Craigslist?

Maybe you need to re-phrase.

If you're asking if we know of a magical apt in a $1,000 neighborhood for only $100, the answer is no.

Oakland is a tricky town to find good housing for a great price. If you are moving from afar to an apt you want to rent ahead of time sight unseen, then rent in Alameda or Walnut Creek. Then start looking for the perfect apt in Oakland after you get here.

Actually, I didn't. Please go back and read my OP. I asked what areas of Oakland should be avoided and what areas were nice, affordable and safe. When someone asked what I considered affordable, I then contributed that information.

How would going on Craig's List tell me what neighborhoods are safe and what neighborhoods are not? Sure, since some people in this thread actually contributed some useful information (like neighborhoods that were nice), I now can search Craig's List for any CURRENT listings to see what's available in my price range.

I live in the Bay area and have for five years (also mentioned that in my OP). I just don't live in the east bay and was hoping to get some input from people who know a little something about rentals. I didn't ask for any magical anything.

[04kL4nD]

LOL

People in this thread are actually trying to help you by providing you with suggestions and all you've been is defensive, skeptical, and dismissive. Go back and re-read the posts carefully and perhaps do a search for other threads.

[StrangeAsAngels]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

LOL

People in this thread are actually trying to help you by providing you with suggestions and all you've been is defensive, skeptical, and dismissive. Go back and re-read the posts carefully and perhaps do a search for other threads.

Some people have been very helpful in this thread. Unfortunately, they haven't posted recently.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by StrangeAsAngels

Yes but is it doable in Montclair, Piedmont or any of the other nice areas of Oakland? I don't really need a huge place--500 square feet is fine. I prefer a studio (a one-bedroom is just another room I have to decorate). What's important to me is location, safety and a view would be nice. I've lived in ghettos in both NYC and LA and cannot go back to that at this point in my life.

I'm also looking into Alameda which seems surprisingly reasonable. What's the catch?

Am I missing something?

Good luck.

BTW: If you are already in the Bay Area, why don't you go look?