Help! Moving to Oakland from Boulder (San Francisco, Berkeley: relocating, apartments, salary)

[bouldergal]

I am relocating to Oakland for a job - and need advice on good neighborhoods. I am a single, female in her 30s who does not know the area. I have been reviewing apts. for rent on Craigslist, but don't want to be in a dangerous area. Any advice??

[Ultrarunner]

Depends on where you work and whether you plan to use public transportation and/or walk.

Oakland has nice and not so nice areas. The rents run from low to high, although not as high as San Francisco.

I know a lot of people that live in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek as well as Dublin and San Ramon that take Bart to Downtown Oakland for work.

I believe the City still has a crime stat website through the Oakland Police Department.

Generally, the higher the physical elevation the lower the incidence of Crime. Not many apartments in the Oakland Hills though.

One Bedrooms start around the mid $600 range in the Flat Lands and go up from there.

[jeevcy]

Check out Alameda

[patriciakmoore]

I would suggest moving to Alameda. It is 5 minutes from Oakland and you really dont run the risk of getting a bad or unsafe neighborhood. I am a realtor in the area and work in both and find this to be true.

[sonarrat]

If you do want to live in Oakland (hey, why not?), the area just north of Lake Merritt is fairly safe and a lot of fun. I would seriously consider living there just for the blend of cultures - classical musicians, African dancers, artists, etc.

[El General]

I lived in Berkeley/Oakland for 6 years. I was the assistant manager of an apartment building on Alcatraz Ave. It's a lot of fun and real stylish, with tons of the best restaurants. However, it is a very dangerous place, make no mistake about it. Car break-ins are more common than rain. Aggressive pan-handlers are abundant. The sale of two dollar crack rocks nearby only exacerbates these problems. College Ave is nice, but a terrible place to keep your car. It is close to the Rockridge BART. Go thru the tunnel and it is a totally different world. Orinda is great; but as the other poster stated--few rentals. You may consider a shared house. Emeryville is a safer haven wedged in between Berkeley and Oakland. Many criminals avoid it, as it is only one square mile of policed territory. While living next to UCB is great; the students pump up rents and deflate wages. Nothing quite like a PAC 10 game from Tight Wad Hill, though. Rent control is all but history as the landlords took over the rent control board a long time ago. I had a place in Berkeley for 225 (inc. utils), in the early 90's, but I understand that the small studio now rents for 850. You will miss Boulder, after a few car break-ins, but you will love the Bay. Go A's.

[c.mego]

Originally Posted by bouldergal

I am relocating to Oakland for a job - and need advice on good neighborhoods. I am a single, female in her 30s who does not know the area. I have been reviewing apts. for rent on Craigslist, but don't want to be in a dangerous area. Any advice??

It all depends on your salary honey...I just left the Boulder area, let me tell you, you will miss it there. Anyhow, Walnut Creek and Pleasanton is always nice.

[mariomariani]

Alameda is the place to go

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by c.mego

It all depends on your salary honey...I just left the Boulder area, let me tell you, you will miss it there. Anyhow, Walnut Creek and Pleasanton is always nice.

LOL....Boulder is better than most places, but not the Bay Area. Sorry...been there.

[18Montclair]

Anyway,
Around Lake Merritt on up to the Berkeley border has lots of hipster and yuppie areas that collectively are far more interesting for a single person than Alameda. Sure, Alameda is great if your married with kids, but I dont think you are married or have kids to worry about.

Check out Rockridge or the Lakeshore/ Grand Area. The Telegraph Av corridor is also booming right now with tons of new housing and even more importantly, a burgeoning and very vibrant arts scene.