Moving to San Francisco and I could use some advice (Oakland: apartments, for rent)

[fusethenoise]

I will be moving to the San Francisco area next month. I have a budget between $1000 and $1200 for renting a small studio. Most of the apartments in my price range seem to be around the Tenderloin, Downtown and Lower Nob Hill area..which would be fine except that I have a car and the added expense of paying for parking would be too much. I was interested in the Richmond area or Sunset but for some reason almost every ad I see for those apartments don't allow cats. If I do find a place in the Richmond or Sunset areas will parking be easy on the streets? What areas within the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula can I find a studio apartment for around $1000 and where I won't have to pay for parking? Or am I better off living in the Berkeley area?

[04kL4nD]

Parking is usually much easier in the sunset. It really depends on what part of the Richmond you are talking about, the inner-Richmond is a lot more difficult. Generally parking can be tricky in many parts of Berkeley if you're anywhere close to campus, but I'd say it would be far more difficult to find a nice studio for your price range than any parking spot.

[mayorhaggar]

You should be able to find a good studio at that price range anywhere in the city. Definitely don't go to any areas listed on craigslist as "Downtown" or "Lower Nob Hill" because 95% of the time they are in the heart of the Tenderloin and the landlord is trying to trick people.

In the Sunset and Richmond street parking will be easier than further east in the city but it could be harder around busy commercial streets like in the inner sunset around 9th ave and Irving or in the Richmond around Clement. The vast majority of landlords in the Bay Area unfortunately do not allow pets for some reason, I guess because they know they can get away with it because apartments are always in demand here. Sometimes you'll see places listed where the landlord allows a cat or small dog if you pay a fee, like $200 or something.

Around Berkeley and the Rockridge area of Oakland you should be able to find a studio for around $800-1200, in fact you might be able to find a 1-br or 2-br for around $1100-1200.

[mr bolo]

I wouldnt recommend bringing a pet to San Francisco, better not to have a cat or dog, not worth the time and trouble in the city

[SickOfCalifornia]

Avoid the tenderloin. It's seedy and no way I would street park a car there overnight. The penninsula will be more expensive. The Richmond is largely Asian (and non english). Sunset is your best bet, but street parking in SF is a nightmare no matter where you are.