Oakland Neighborhoods (San Francisco, Long Beach, Brea: real estate, apartments, leasing)

[Risiko]

I'm currently a student in the Sactramento area. I'll be graduating soon and will likely set up shop in Oakland. Though I'm not from Northern Cali originally, I'm a city person and San Francisco and Oakland are my top choices. I've visited both for extended periods a few times, though I've only been in the Downtown area of Oakland. Since cost of living is a particularly important concern at my age, Oakland seems a likely choice for now, especially since it has virtually all of the positives of SF (in my view). More research has confirmed my assumptions.

However, I don't know much about how Oakland differs by neighborhood, so I'm hoping I can get some advice here. Where would be the best place to live in Oakland for a young person, given the following priorities:

-An area with a higher proportion of 20-30 year olds than the city as a whole
-An area with active artistic (music, visual, etc.) communities ("low-brow" is ok).
-Very good access to public transit facilities (buses, bike lanes/routes, BART, etc.).
-Relatively low crime rates (the lower the better but I have some wiggle room here)
-Low rent (sub-$750 per person with roommates)

I'm sure a lot of people would like to know of the parts of Oakland that are most ideal in those characteristics.So, whatdaya have?

[Yvetta]

Oakland is a very friendly, cultural and diverse community. The second most diverse city in the country. ( Long Beach CA being # 1)
There are 150 languages spoken.
The city itself is gorgeous. The hills, the waterfront, the greenery is all breathtaking.
The neighborhoods I would recommed are Lake Merritt ( the lake is beautiful) Rockridge, Oakland hills, Downtown and North Oakland aka Temescal
Try to avoid EAST Oakland. That is the Oakland the media reports about and where the major criminal activity occurs.


Here are a couple of links for you. You will love Oakland. Good luck and please feel free to contact me if I may be of any help to you.

Oakland, California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

City of Oakland - Official City Website

p.s. Rent in Oakland is not that cheap. A studio will run you about $ 900 a month in one of the neighborhoods I mentioned.

[artemis78]

You might check out Uptown (the up-and-coming arts district near downtown, where the galleries and music venues are clustered) or Adams Point---Uptown has better transit access but rent is cheaper in Adams Point. Both have a lot of apartments and condos and thus tend to have younger folks living there versus the hills or Rockridge, which are pretty family-oriented. Temescal would be another good bet, though it's getting a bit more expensive there. (Southern end near MacArthur BART is cheaper than northern end near Rockridge BART.) In any of those areas you should easily find a place with one or two roommates (or more) in your price range.

Good luck! There's a vibrant and growing arts scene in Oakland (due in part to the lower cost of living there relative to other parts of the Bay) so it's a great place to be for that.

[nutleynut]

The area east of Peidmont avenue for several blocks is a very dense apartment community with most of the requirements you indicate. Rockridge also fits but you may have to pay more. I'd also look into something around the Grand Lake Theatre.
Honestly practically anywhere sans some parts of south and east Oakland will be just fine for you. It all depends on you really. look for roomate situations in houses that'll get you into the best areas.

Good Luck

[WesternGulf]

Originally Posted by Risiko

-An area with a higher proportion of 20-30 year olds than the city as a whole

neighborhoods around the lake definitely have more renters than homeowners. it is inevitable to be around more students and a younger population.

-An area with active artistic (music, visual, etc.) communities ("low-brow" is ok).

Uptown is your best bet for more of a concentration of artist but you will find folks that are part of the "creative class" all over Oakland even in some parts of East Oakland such as parts of Fruitvale, Laurel and Dimond.

-Very good access to public transit facilities (buses, bike lanes/routes, BART, etc.).

neighborhoods near BART are your best bet. Chinatown, Uptown, Temescal along Telegraph and Rockridge although the latter can be quite pricey. neighborhoods close to Fruitvale BART can be kind of shady.

-Relatively low crime rates (the lower the better but I have some wiggle room here)

I hate to paint East Oakland with such a broad brush but east of High Street south of 580 would be what you would expect from Oakland as far as stereotypes go.

-Low rent (sub-$750 per person with roommates)

if each roomate is willing to pay $750 each, you should be set. there should still be plenty of studios you can find for around $750. i pay $750 for a studio in between Park Boulevard and Lakeshore near the Parkway Theater.

[ssmaster]

this building in old oakland (downtown)was going to be condos but because of the real estate bust is now leasing the units.a two bedroom sounds as if its in your price range with roomate
the units i viewed seemed very nice
BEAUTIFUL, NEW APARTMENTS NOW RENTING!
Open House this Saturday and Sunday between 12:00 and 4:00PM.
901 Jefferson Street, Oakland
Call: (510)715-5360[/SIZE] or email: David@mpfcorp.com
for more information.
Click here Available Unit Summary for updated unit availability! COME SEE why this is WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom units starting at $1550 and including gated parking, all water paid, relaxing courtyard and self storage unit FREE for the first year and only blocks away!

(at the Press Building)

• Non-Smoking Building
• Stainless Steel Appliances
• Black Granite Counter Tops
• Natural Maple Cabinets
• Laminate Wood Flooring & Berber Carpet
• Built-in Microwave
• Washer and Dryer
• Dishwasher
• Noise Deadening Windows
• Integrated Media interface
• Pet Friendly!

Also Available!
ONE BEDROOM
ONE BATH units
and
SPLIT-LEVEL LOFTS
with
TWO FULL BATHS

Located in the HISTORIC OLD OAKLAND part of Downtown you'll be close to everything: 12th street BART, Buses, Chinatown, Jack London Square, MOCHA, Housewive's Market, Oakland Convention Center, City Center and a wide variety of great shops, cafes and RESTAURANTS including Levende East, Le Cheval & Breads of India. Every Friday there's a Great FARMER'S MARKET only blocks away. We also have a WONDERFUL PUBLIC PARK right across 10th Street, LaFAYETTE SQUARE. [CENTER][SIZE=3]Have questions or want to schedule a tour?
Contact David Wingate at (510)715-5360 or email: David@mpfcorp.com [/SIZE][/CENTER]
[Bring along a completed application if you are interested. [/SIZE][/CENTER]
http://www.901jefferson.com/images/pic3.jpg (broken link)http://www.901jefferson.com/images/pic2.jpg (broken link)http://www.901jefferson.com/images/pic5.jpg (broken link)http://www.901jefferson.com/images/pic1.jpg (broken link)http://www.901jefferson.com/images/pic4.jpg (broken link)

[City Boy]

Where are the inside photos? ^^^^

[ssmaster]

when i went only a few models were finished with flooring cabinets and appliances
the models looked nice but i can't say how the other units will turn out