Moving to Oakland (San Francisco, Berkeley, Richmond: cul-de-sac, sales, real estate)

[kman]

Hi Everyone.

I just took up a new job in SF. I'm going to be working in the financial district. I'm not sure where to live.

I'm thinking about renting out a place in the East Bay rather than the city because I'd prefer not to spend more than $800 on rent. I'm willing to live with a roommate or two. I would really prefer to be able to get to work in under 25 minutes. And ideally I'd like to not have to drive too much, but still be able to go to bars, clubs, restaurants, bookstores, ect.

Do apartments in Alameda, Lake Merritt, or areas of West Oakland fit what I'm looking for or am I asking for too much?

Thanks.

[kettlepot]

Alameda will meet your budget with a roommate. Older 2 bedroom apartments in a 4-plex from the 40s and 50s run in the 1300-1800 range.

Alameda is a great walkable town, and is it's own little cul-de-sac in the bay. Does not have the issues Oakland has. Within the city of Alameda you can reach many destinations by walking. The issue with your commute will be getting to the Bart station. But most everyone else in town will be going to the same place. You might even go to the park and ride, where drivers pick up passengers to so they can take the car pool lane.

[BearBranch]

Adams Point just North of Lake Merrit in Oakland might fit the bill. There is a new Whole Foods you are a 20 minute walk to Bart and really close to Lake Merrit. Cafes, Sushi, 15 minute walk to the Grand Lake theater.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by kman

Hi Everyone.

I just took up a new job in SF. I'm going to be working in the financial district. I'm not sure where to live.

I'm thinking about renting out a place in the East Bay rather than the city because I'd prefer not to spend more than $800 on rent. I'm willing to live with a roommate or two. I would really prefer to be able to get to work in under 25 minutes. And ideally I'd like to not have to drive too much, but still be able to go to bars, clubs, restaurants, bookstores, ect.

Do apartments in Alameda, Lake Merritt, or areas of West Oakland fit what I'm looking for or am I asking for too much?

Thanks.

If you are willing to have a roommate or two, you shouldn't have any problems finding a place within you budget in any of the locations you've mentioned. The advantage of Lake Merritt and West Oakland are that both are serviced by BART Stations. Although Alameda is a pleasant community, a downside is its lack of a convenient BART Station.

[kman]

How much would I have to pay to live in comparable apartments/areas in the city with 2 roommates?

I'm thinking if I live in the city I can get away with having to bring my car, which can save me on parking, insurance, repairs, ect, ect. While if I'm living in East Bay I'm going to need a car. Is that reasonable?

[BearBranch]

Here is an example from Craigslist.com for large English Tudor duplex for rent:

$2100 / 3br - Super Nice 3+ Bedroom/2Bath House In Adam Point Area (oakland lake merritt / grand)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: hous-384469007@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-07-29, 9:18AM PDT


Part Of Duplex 1900 SQF House which locate in Adam Point Area, close to lake merrit,easy access to HWY 580,880,80,it's about 10 minutes to Berkeley,15 Minutes to San Francisco,5 Minutes to Downtown Oakland,etc

This Beautiful English Tutor Style House has:

3 Bedrooms, 2Bathrooms, 2 large livingroom, one of them is with fireplace, another same size one is easy to convert to another bedroom

2 recently remodeled full Bathroom, one is in upstair, and another is in downstair

1 beautiful kitchen with granite floor and lot of windows

1 breakfast room

1 laundry room

Also you are going to have two designated off-street parking

It’s equipped with: Refrigerator, stove/oven, washer, dryer

*****NO PETS, NO SMOKER, NO LOUD MUSIC IS ALLOWED*****************

It will be available after 21, July

If you are interested, please call Raymond at 408-9108256

[nooneknowsmyname]

Consulting this site will give you an idea of what apartments cost in San Francisco.

city of san francisco apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

[NC2Cali]

Kman...I just relocated to the Bay Area from NC...A BIG MOVE..for my family (My 9yr old daughter...and my husband will be out in late August)....about 3 months ago.

Here is my first advice:

You will hear HORROR stories about Oakland...don't ignore them...but you have to visit Oakland yourself. I actually found my 2 br 1 ba...small little apartment in Oakland in the Lake Merritt area on Craigslist so the idea about Craigslist is a GOOD one.

I used this crime map.... I did and it helped me out a lot.

http://http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/crimewatch/ (broken link)


2nd advice:

There are really bad areas in Oakland and there are some good areas in Oakland. You can't keep the sketchy folks off your street, but tr to at least know your neighbors to the left and to the right .

Whichever apartment that you choose to look into...I suggest that you walk through it. Driving does it no justice. Park and walk. I feel that if you can walk through it midday (just as the sun is setting)...you can live in it.

I also noticed from being in this area...the higher the numbers on the blocks...the worse it gets...It is nice to shop/eat in during the day but I wouldn't want to come home to it at night. So try to be careful in Oakland going past 11th. Try to stay down in the Lake area if Oakland is where you want to stay.

The Lake Merritt area is beautiful to me...and if you want to get a good taste of the city life...that is it.

Be careful answering ad for $800 a month though...for $800 a month in this area...you are destined to be in the not so good areas....YOU WILL NOT find an apartment here NOR in SF for that price in a decent area.

My rent in $1300 and I hear that I gotta a deal...only because I live in duplex and the owner did not want it empty.

If you are willing to take in roommates...look for apartments around $2100 a month and you should be able to find something nice. I think that craigslist has roommates too...just screen them carefully...that ALWAYS makes my skin crawl to think of living with someone I don't know. (Haven't done that since college.)

3rd advice:

ENJOY the area...there is so much to do and see here...I love it...
As with any city as large as Oakland...and it is big...just know your surroundings...BEAWARE...and be careful and you will be fine.

Good Luck to you!

[porsche]

kman-

800 bucks won't get you a mailbox in the East Bay unless you have multiple roommates and are willing to live in the dicier areas.

Rents are increasing here b/c of the flattening of sales and burgeoning inventory in the local real estate scene.

I've lived in the Bay Area (including the East Bay) pretty much all my life and you are not going to get to SF in a 25 minute commute these days unless you live within walking distance to a BART station and memorize the timetables. You certainly cannot depend on driving to SF from the East Bay in that time frame unless you arrive at work before 7AM.

The SLIGHTEST snafu on the highways creates jams the type of which you probably have never before suffered through.

And parking your car in SF is almost impossible (and very expensive, if you do find a spot).

My suggestion is to find a place in SF. You'll be a roommate. If you have a lot of money, you can find a place to rent in SF and then screen for your own roommates--just be very careful--get credit checks and references from past roommates.

Otherwise, you'll be looking for a roommate situation yourself (and it's harder to know about those who are screening you than the other way around).

There are areas in SF where it will take longer than 25 minutes to get the Financial District--The Sunset, Richmond, et cetera...

Good luck and be prepared for sticker shock!

[BayAreaFan]

If you are okay with a studio, you can get a nice one as low as $900, and that is from a recent listing of a unit I saw just this past week or so. And in a perfectly good area with easy commute to the city.

I find that many times the numbers I hear quoted by residents are often higher than I've ever paid living in the east bay. Of course high rents exist and may even be the norm but I know for a fact that while $800 might be too low for living alone, $900 something is not, and if you do a share you can expect to pay even less.

Maybe start with a short term lease if possible while getting to know the area and looking for these good deals that may not be as common but are definitely out there and not really so hard to find.