Oakland (San Jose, Redding, Montague: to rent, houses, buying)

[bexy11]

Thank you Tallys and Artemis!

I'm going to place an ad for my 3rd cat here in Philly and see if I can find a kind soul to take her. I think the last thing she wants to do is spend 4 days in a car with the woman who trapped her in a cage 2 years ago (hey, it was late Fall and I was worried her soon-to-be-born kittens could die out there!) and who she has feared ever since.

If that doesn't work, I will still have 3 cats and still be constantly cleaning up their hair (#3 is long-haired :-( )... but at least I'll be cleaning up in a small apt. instead of my big house.

As for apartment buildings... I'm concerned that giving myself 3 days to find one means I won't be able to be too picky, but I'm going to try and get a 6-month lease and then find something else later if I want to. Do you all think it's possible to find a place in the span of a 2 1/2 day visit?

Oh... I'll be commuting to downtown SF... Market St... 400-something I believe.

[artemis78]

If it helps, I know people who've done it. I'd do as much research as you can in advance so you're not wasting a lot of time looking at places in neighborhoods you wouldn't live in, etc. And set up lots of appointments--invariably some of them will fall through or be rented before you get there, so it's good to pack your schedule.

Downtown SF is actually an easy commute from most East Bay neighborhoods, so that's good. Check out AC Transit's website to see where their Transbay buses go--from many areas these are the best way into the city if, as it sounds, your office is in walking distance of the Transbay terminal. They open up a lot of neighborhoods that aren't super close to BART, so you have many more options (and may not have to pay a BART premium).

I'd add the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood to my original list with that info, too. It's walkable from BART in a pinch, but has great Transbay access and many rentals.

[daepro]

Hi Bexy 11 I don't think that 3 days is unrealistic there are sites like rent.com which helped us find a nice spot that took our two dogs and gave us a short term lease which is what we needed.
So I do think that you can look at at three maybe four places in a day which at the end of three days you can be either totally confused or sitting pretty in a place that will do for now.
My strategy has been to narrow things down to where I just find the place that I want to be in the interim. Realizing what your criteria helps and not losing sight of that is key.
I hope this is helpful and it just my way doing thihngs.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[alcookart]

My husband and I bought a 2-3 bedroom, 2 bath Victorian in West Oakland which we' ve been refurbishing to use as a second home. But, as it turns out, we can't afford that luxury and will rent it out for $1,600.
If we find someone who will lovingly care for it we may be able to make a small reduction in the rent!
It is close to pretty much everything and has a garage.
If you'd like more info please email aLcookart@comcast.net
ps. the L in the email address isn't capital but people confuse it for a number one!

[jaynetarzana]

Renewed Oakland theater brings hope to Uptown

[daepro]

This post is morphing into all things Oakland which is great and I do so enjoy reading all the posts and commenting on them when the inspiration hits.
I still am living in Alameda and loving it but I want to be across the Bay in Oakland. I am getting closer as I now have a job right in the heart of the city.
We are getting close to clinching a deal on a fixer and I hope this all works out. So many intricate important details to resolve. The interim time between offer and closing can often be like a bad movie so keep your fingers crossed and as time goes by I will update you on how events unfold.
We may get our chickens yet.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by daepro

This post is morphing into all things Oakland which is great and I do so enjoy reading all the posts and commenting on them when the inspiration hits.
I still am living in Alameda and loving it but I want to be across the Bay in Oakland. I am getting closer as I now have a job right in the heart of the city.
We are getting close to clinching a deal on a fixer and I hope this all works out. So many intricate important details to resolve. The interim time between offer and closing can often be like a bad movie so keep your fingers crossed and as time goes by I will update you on how events unfold.
We may get our chickens yet.

Just no roosters -- I think there is an anti rooster law. But if you move anywhere near me we won't report you -- we sort of like hearing the rooster crow. We had one in our neighborhood that crowed all sorts of times. He was funny. But around here I think chickens are raised for food. (don't get me wrong -- I eat chicken, but I couldn't raise them to kill them. I'm a few too many generations away from the farms, and I anthropomorphize animals.)

I just went into Mikes Feeds and Pets for Innova for the cats -- they don't have chicks yet, but last year they did have auracanas..... and if it weren't for my feral cat colony, I'd have me some chickens, too -- I'd love some "Easter Eggs"!

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

Just no roosters -- I think there is an anti rooster law.

There is a rooster or 2 that lives near the corner of E. 21st and 24th Ave-I kid you not.

Waking up to the sound of roosters at the crack of dawn reminded me of my time in rural Brazil. Except this was in the middle of East Oakland.

[bayarea-girl]

Oakland is changing and all of Oakland is not like Jack London Sq or Lakeshore. But if you move to those areas you should be ok just make sure you have parking in your building (getting low-jack is not a bad thing either). The Rockridge area and the Piedmont St area is ok too. I'd avoid running too late at night around the lake. There aren't a lot of late night opportunities if you are young and that is important to you. You'll have to go to SF for that.

Good luck to you.

[daepro]

Thanks for the ideas. We are zeroing in around Lake Merrit and Lakeshore with a house that overlooks the freeway that has so much noise a rooster will have some competition but will most likely not be heard.
Mostly we have laying hens and would never consider making a meal out of our girls.
I am a runner and usually head out early morning around 6am and I guess that should be too early for the muggers. I hope.