Moving from MD to CA- City suggestions for a 20-something on a budget? (San Francisco: apartments)

[CAbornMDliving]

Hi Everyone!

I grew up in Concord and moved to the Baltimore area about 10 years ago. I went to college here and live in Baltimore city now but I've been dying to get back basically since we left.

I know San Fran is out of reach and I'd actually be more into something that has a little more of a suburban feel. Are there any areas you can recommend that I look into for relocation?

What we're looking for:

-I know prices are outrageous out there- but we need an area that is still semi-affordable for apartments. Don't need a house- still renters.

-Plenty of things to do- whether that be places to hike, parks and things to do outside or restaurants and bars.

-Not too far away that the commute is more than 45 mins- or close to BART.

Am I being totally unrealistic? I'd love any insight you have

[bobby_guz_man]

What's your income? Where will you work?

[CAbornMDliving]

Income is 45k- will be living with my boyfriend (combined incomes will be about just under 100k) and potentially a friend if she moves as well. My job has an office in San Mateo; however, I may look for other employment instead of transferring and staying with this company. Either way I would make sure I at least had this job!

[dogandcat]

Originally Posted by CAbornMDliving

Income is 45k- will be living with my boyfriend (combined incomes will be about just under 100k) and potentially a friend if she moves as well. My job has an office in San Mateo; however, I may look for other employment instead of transferring and staying with this company. Either way I would make sure I at least had this job!

$100k combine income is totally not bad amount of money to rent somewhere close to your work! You can try to search Craigslist web-site in Redwood City and some parts of San Mateo itself (you do not need good schools for kids as I understand). Wonderful transportation options, small nice downtowns, close to SF and Palo Alto vibes, close to nature and the ocean.

The most cheap options to rent in your case are probably on East Bay (near BART line), buy personally I do not recommend them because of waisted time for transportation. Good thing that it is easy to reach to San Francisco using BART, but you spend tons of time in traffic driving to San Mateo through bridge.

[Chuck5000]

Straight up: If one decides to stay long term and doesn't have reasonable prospects for getting to 200k+ income (for two people), homeownership with any decent commute (less than 75 minutes) to either the south bay or SF will be out of reach.

In a place as expensive as the Bay Area, you need to commit to career and income progression, or you'll basically be poor. It's not so awesome to be worth living a crappy life here when it's much easier to make it almost everywhere else.

[SportyandMisty]

I recommend:

• California City
• Baker
• Needles
• Boron
• Visalia
• Bakersfield
• Barstow

[bobby_guz_man]

With that combined income, I would suggest to stay put where you are if you want a quality life.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Pennsylvania.

[Azmordean]

Lots of pessimism here! For the most part, it is warranted, but not entirely. It really depends on where your jobs will be exactly, as well as your income potential down the line.

If you don't foresee a significant upward trajectory in income / career opportunity after moving here, I wouldn't recommend it. Put another way -- you can certainly get by on combined income close to 100k. But you probably won't be saving much, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it long term -- prices will only continue to rise. That said, if it's a situation of not making a lot initially, but having lots of room for growth, it may be worth doing.

As far as where. The most affordable places will be in the East Bay. But depending on where your job is, that may or may not be an awful commute. If it's San Mateo, you are likely looking at driving, as BART doesn't extend that far south. The peninsula is a very expensive place to live. You might look around somewhere a little more up and coming so to speak, like South San Francisco. But I'd say, you really need to know where you'll be working before you pick a place to live.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by CAbornMDliving

Hi Everyone!

I grew up in Concord and moved to the Baltimore area about 10 years ago. I went to college here and live in Baltimore city now but I've been dying to get back basically since we left.

I know San Fran is out of reach and I'd actually be more into something that has a little more of a suburban feel. Are there any areas you can recommend that I look into for relocation?

What we're looking for:

-I know prices are outrageous out there- but we need an area that is still semi-affordable for apartments. Don't need a house- still renters.

-Plenty of things to do- whether that be places to hike, parks and things to do outside or restaurants and bars.

-Not too far away that the commute is more than 45 mins- or close to BART.

Am I being totally unrealistic? I'd love any insight you have

Concord is affordable. You could move back there. And look for a job closer to Concord after you get settled.