Why are these areas cheap? (San Jose, San Francisco: apartment complex, house, quality of life)

[calitonc]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Hayward is not the greatest area. You wouldn't call it a slum...but it has it's share of ugly/industrial/ticky tacky areas. I don't think the crime is that bad there, but probably nothing to brag about.

As far as that $1200 rent for Santana Row...I find that hard to believe. It's probably not in the Santana Row complex proper...It's very likely the apartment is in a dumpy complex nearby (and there are lots of dumpy complexes in that area).

This is so true. You could go 1-2 blocks away and be in a real dumpy area, but then again be in a great neighborhood, just depends on which way ya turn, you just never know until you see it.
In San Jose you really have to investigate the neighborhoods first hand......only way IMHO. I have lived here for 46 years and have lived in Cupertino, Mtn View, Sunnyvale, Downtown San Jose, East San Jose, Evergreen, still would not even venture to guess about an area until I physically see it.
Before you pick a place sight unseen.....make sure you have someone here you can trust their judgement on.
Please dont misunderstand my post......San Jose has many more wonderful areas to live than not, but it is also very expensive to live here and from afar ie: internet...... the cheap deals really need to be checked out.
Deals can be had but only if you do the legwork.
Good Luck !

[tdo12]

agree with mysticaltyger. are you sure that it's in Santanna Row? or is it near Santanna Row. the neighborhood is a bit older and some of the buildings aren't in that great an area. if you're looking for a 2 bdrm - nicer areas are going to be 200-300 dollars more. but for 1500, you should be getting a really nice place.

[DestinyKane]

Originally Posted by tyronen

I am moving to a new job in Mountain View, and have been looking at rents to get a feel for what's cheap and what isn't. And several areas stand out:

- Hayward. Long commute, but struck by the very low rents - 2-bdrm for $950! Is this a high-crime area?

- Valley Fair / Santana Row - this again is like a low-rent oasis. $1200 for 2-bdrm not uncommon. Why? I'm pretty sure it's not a high-crime area, and it's very close to shopping.

Hayward's got its issues. Nothing really special about it. But then, it's right below Oakland, and its demographics are more akin to Oakland than, say, a city in Santa Clara county.

[kvbanga]

Santana Row is a good area but there are some apartments around there that are facing a cemetery. Maybe that's why it is cheaper....
Mountain view also has some good apartments and it is a nice place to live. There are some apartments around castro for 1400-1500 if your budget is that much

[Wisteria]

Jump on the Santana Row one if you can!! Sounds too good to be true! But if it is, then go for it!!

[Palindromed]

Hayward is mostly industrial. What else is there to say?

Santana Row itself is an upscale shopping center, but the 1/2 mile radius around it is mostly retail/commercial. There are no apartments near Santana Row so don't be fooled and create the wrong impression.

Standing in Santana Row, as you go towards 880, its mostly older homes with a small pocket of a newer home development done in the late 90's. As you go towards Valley Fair, its mostly older homes and medical centers near O'Connor Hospital. Go further east and you hit san carlos area where the ugliness of San Jose starts to creep in. As you go west towards Santa Clara, its mostly retail shopping and auto dealers along with older homes.

Now there are pockets of apartment complexes off Winchester Blvd south of Moorpark. But that is mixed in with older homes.

Santana Row is NOT a neighborhood but a 4 city square block mixed usage development for retail, housing, and commercial usage. There are no apartments within Santana Row.

[sonarrat]

Santana Row residential is all about super-expensive luxury condos. If you can rent one for $1200, that's just more proof that the bubble is about to blow and soak everyone.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by Palindromed

Go further east and you hit san carlos area where the ugliness of San Jose starts to creep in.

What? That stretch of San Carlos is much better than the sterile, new strip/shopping/auto malls of Stevens Creek. Sunol-Midtown is a great neighborhood compared to Santa Row (a stucco Los Gatos in San Jose).

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

What? That stretch of San Carlos is much better than the sterile, new strip/shopping/auto malls of Stevens Creek. Sunol-Midtown is a great neighborhood compared to Santa Row (a stucco Los Gatos in San Jose).

Right, when I think of the bad parts of San Jose I think East San Jose (Story, Alum Rock, King, Capitol Ave area) and the zone around the Oakridge Mall (Cottle, Snell, Blossom Hill area). And then there's the downtown area around SJSU. West San Carlos is all right.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Right, when I think of the bad parts of San Jose I think East San Jose (Story, Alum Rock, King, Capitol Ave area) and the zone around the Oakridge Mall (Cottle, Snell, Blossom Hill area). And then there's the downtown area around SJSU. West San Carlos is all right.

There are really very few bad parts of SJ. Even Story/King looks pretty nice now. Crime stats are relative to other parts of the valley, but on a national scale they're still very low.