college grad moving to SF where to live east and south (San Jose: sales, real estate)

[Boston Traveler]

My daughter, a newly minted college grad, has a sales opportunity that would assign her to East Bay / South Bay. What safe affordable neighborhoods are good for apartment rentals?

[mayorhaggar]

That is a huge area and "affordable" means different things to different people and doesn't mean much in the Bay Area where most real estate is pricey.

I would maybe look at Fremont since it's basically where the East Bay meets the South Bay. It's not super exciting but it's safe and fairly affordable.

[Boston Traveler]

I appreciate the suggestion! Now to check things out. Thank you.

[gone down south]

LOL, "Fremont" is the answer a Mom would want to hear. Unless your daughter is a middle-aged Indian tech worker with a young family, Fremont isn't going to be high on her list!

The question is whether your daughter wants urban or suburban living, how important nightlife and culture is to her, etc, and most importantly what's her rental budget. In your 20s, the odds are you're going to want to live in the city (in this area, that would be SF, Oakland or San Jose). SF is more expensive than either, but it's a bigger city* and offers more things to do. Oakland is hit-and-miss in terms of neighborhoods and safety.




* you know what I mean, San Jose pedants!