Moving from (Far) East Bay to SF (San Francisco, Oakland: apartments, rentals)

[ARahman]

Hey Everyone.

So here is the breakdown. I currently live in Oakley in East County. My current commute to my job is 7 miles to Antioch but now with a promotion, I am moving to my company's HQ in SF.

I am looking for a 1 bedroom for my wife and I. I am looking to spend up to $2500 with car parking (hopefully). Since HQ is in the financial district, that would be my focal point. I don't have any specific neighborhoods in mind that I would like or avoid. Except for Nob Hill, my buddy lives there so I know the area well. I really like it. I would prefer BART/MUNI/Bus to be nearby.

So any suggestions? I am able to find decent places within that price range. However, one look at the east bay (Emeryville, W. Oakland, Berkeley) and you get so much more bang for you buck. Obviously I would like to concentrate my search in SF (commute easy areas) and then the East Bay.

[jade408]

Your budget would put you by the Ocean making your commute to FiDi about 1 hour. You would be better served to look in Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda which will have more in your budget and offer a shorter transit commute.

The 1 bedroom places with an easy commute to the financial district cost around $3300 without parking.

[Ruth4Truth]

OP, you'd get the info you need much faster by looking on Craigslist rentals for SF. You're right, you definitely get more bang for your buck in the inner East Bay; check El Cerrito, Albany and Fremont, for the most bang, all on BART lines. However, you'd be surprised. You can sometimes find 2-br. apts. and even an old 2 br. craftsman house for rent in SF below your budget. It depends on how close to work you want to live, and whether you want amenities, like a gym in the building, and such. Obviously, the farther out you live, the more space you get for your money.

[LakeLifePA]

I would look at East Bay over San Francisco proper any day. San Francisco is overrated. The commute via BART from San Leandro is like 20 minutes. If you're in the Financial District you'll have a 5 minute walk from BART easily. I loved living in San Leandro, and the weather is so much better.

[Ruth4Truth]

There are quite a few apt. well within your budget in Glen Park, near a BART station, but they're not "contemporary" units in big apt. buildings. They're in-law units or in large houses that have been subdivided. Here's one example, to give you an idea. There doesn't seem to be anything livable at your price point in neighborhoods near the FiDi. The Civic Center area has some nice units, though. Take a look on Craigslist.

Quiet, comfortable convenient ground level apartment

[ARahman]

Thanks for the replies.

I have been tirelessly looking through CL ads for the past week. Just so I can educate myself with the prices in various areas. I've found some decent places for 2200-2500 within a mile walk of my office. I just haven't had the chance to actually go and inspect the area and the building. I'm not looking for a modern building with all the amenities. I just want a nice living space to come home to after working.

Question: Is the loin as bad as I hear/read? Look at the following deals...only a mile from where I work

347 Eddy st. - 1BD - Updated and Ready for MOVE IN
895 Sutter St. 1BR Ground Unit w/ Tons of Closet Space!!

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by ARahman

Thanks for the replies.

I have been tirelessly looking through CL ads for the past week. Just so I can educate myself with the prices in various areas. I've found some decent places for 2200-2500 within a mile walk of my office. I just haven't had the chance to actually go and inspect the area and the building. I'm not looking for a modern building with all the amenities. I just want a nice living space to come home to after working.

Question: Is the loin as bad as I hear/read? Look at the following deals...only a mile from where I work

347 Eddy st. - 1BD - Updated and Ready for MOVE IN
895 Sutter St. 1BR Ground Unit w/ Tons of Closet Space!!

I wouldn't call Sutter St. the Tenderloin. I'd snap that apt. up, if I were you! You could commute to work on the California St. cable car.

[gnomatic]

I strongly suggest you visit the area at different time of the day if you are considering those apartments. i.e. before 8 am, past 7 pm. Sutter, west of Powell (east of Van Ness) gets sketchy. I wouldn't feel comfortable in living in that neighborhood, and definitely not a first floor apartment.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by gnomatic

I strongly suggest you visit the area at different time of the day if you are considering those apartments. i.e. before 8 am, past 7 pm. Sutter, west of Powell (east of Van Ness) gets sketchy. I wouldn't feel comfortable in living in that neighborhood, and definitely not a first floor apartment.

Isn't that "lower Nob Hill"? Not exactly the "TenderNob", but around the St. Francis Hospital? I've stayed there many times, and had a friend (single female) living there, who never had any complaints. I wouldn't call it "sketchy", though closer to the Tenderloin, I'd agree. Good point about the ground floor location, though. Still, a convenient location. There's a supermarket and a movie theater within an easy walk. OP could take the ground unit, and wait for a unit higher up to open up.

However, the other location is out. In the heart of the Tenderloin. You don't want your wife living there, OP.

[gnomatic]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Isn't that "lower Nob Hill"? Not exactly the "TenderNob", but around the St. Francis Hospital?

Well, IMHO, lower Nob Hill, like TenderNob is just a term used because they don't want to call it the Tenderloin .
It's a block south (and downhill) of the hospital. I think Bush (where the hospital is located) is okay, but once it gets to Sutter, it's sketchy, especially earlier in the morning and after dark. A block makes a huge difference in that area. Everyone's definition of "safe" is different, so again, I recommend the OP check it out for themselves.

In building parking is also hard to find in that area. The OP would need to find an space at a nearby lot, which will be at least $300 range.