Considering a move from the east coast, looking for renting advice. (San Francisco: apartments, health insurance)

[le0p]

Hey all,

I've been reading these forums for a bit and I know there's a ton of these types of posts but please bear with me.

I'm considering a position in San Francisco and currently living in PA. I have a very good friend that recently moved to the area (and loves it) so although I've never visited, I trust his opinion that I'd like it. I plan to live with him for a while until I get settled but having heard that getting an apartment can be tough, I'd like to get an idea of where to start looking.

To give you some idea about me, I'm 27 and single. I am not very particular about apartments, i.e. I am OK with a half decent studio, but would like to live in a decent (relatively safe, easy access to food, gym, entertainment, etc...) neighborhood. I like to live simply so I don't need/want a fancy apartment in an upscale neighborhood.

I run and bike A LOT, so having access to a park or a runner friendly neighborhood is important. Putting together 60 mile bike courses is always tough so I know I'll just have to figure that out when I get there.

The job will be in the city, but I've not decided if I want to try to live there or commute from the burbs. I've been a suburbanite all my life, so I don't know if it'll make much of a difference to me to be right in the city itself. I'd like to be reasonably close to my friend though, I believe he's somewhere on the peninsula (?).

Finally, I'll be making around 100K+ and would like to keep rent to $1800 or less.

Thanks for any responses, my final interview with the place is today so I'll likely be making the decision very soon.

P.S. How's the tech job market in the area? I've heard it's great but so many here claim that the market sucks. I'm not sure what to believe!

[hsw]

Suspect many would like to only pay for a simple studio....problem is most safer bldgs are in upscale settings...would view steeper rent as a form of health insurance...injuries in a mugging/assault can be far more expensive than any incremental rent...

SF region (incl City) is paradise for many outdoor activities incl jogging/biking....on wkends, many car (and biking) nuts head from City to hills West of PaloAlto for some of best driving roads (and biking) anywhere....a very enjoyable, scenic 35min drive from SF to Stanford hills and points West...

Chk out topography of region on Google Earth, etc (and consider the near-perfect yr-round weather) and you'll quickly see why it's a uniquely enjoyable region in which to live/work....and why it's one of US' 3 most costly regions (alongside Manhattan and LA's Westside)....