Possibility of migrating from UK and need some advice (San Jose: rental, house)

[exploringtim]

Hey guys,

This is my first post here and I was hoping to get some first-hand advice on a few bay-area questions. I currently live in the UK but may have the opportunity to move to the US next year, so I'm doing some research.

The possible opportunity is based in Palo Alto, but i've read a range of mixed things about the area, in that either East Palo Alto is full of crime, and the renting prices in Palo Alto itself are sky high. Not having first hand experience of the various suburbs near Palo Alto, I wondered if you kind people might be able to lend me some of your insights?

I'm 26, unattached and fairly outdoorsy. Ideally i'd like to live somewhere that was reasonably close to Palo Alto so the commute was not horrific, but that also had the opportunity to get outdoors at weekends (climbing, kayaking or maybe even some skiing!).

So, given this sort of person, what types of areas might be good to look at? And what sort of budget would I need for any suggested?

Thanks for any/all advice in advance!

Tim

[dnb925art]

Palo Alto is a great city to be in, but very expensive, since it is home to both Stanford University, one of the top universities in this country, and also near the heart of Silicon Valley. However, a city like Mountain View, which is right next to Palo Alto, have lower rents and are a short commute to Palo Alto. Figure about around $1000/month for rent. Other cities next to Palo Alto with short commutes are: Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Santa Clara, Redwood City, San Carlos San Mateo, San Jose, which can vary in rent from $800/month to upwards of $2000, so it pays to shop around.

Palo Alto is right in between 2 of the larger cities in the bay area, San Francisco and San Jose, which are great when you are young and single to explore. Also the beaches and bay are a very short drive away, and along Interstate 280 (one of the major freeways for commuting) there are hills, reservoirs, and trails for hiking. Also within a few hours drive are the rivers and delats in the Sacramento area for kayaking, The Sierra Nevadas and Lake Tahoe for skiing, and Yosemite National Park for climbing,

[mayorhaggar]

Really depends on your budget, it's definitely an expensive area. Since you're young, you could live with roommates and probably afford anywhere around there, Palo Alto is especially expensive though, Mountain View is probably a better bet. Keep in mind you'll probably want a car because it's a suburban area and especially if you want to be able to drive to state parks in the area and Tahoe for skiing, so budget for that.

[exploringtim]

Originally Posted by dnb925art

However, a city like Mountain View, which is right next to Palo Alto, have lower rents and are a short commute to Palo Alto. Figure about around $1000/month for rent. Other cities next to Palo Alto with short commutes are: Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Santa Clara, Redwood City, San Carlos San Mateo, San Jose, which can vary in rent from $800/month to upwards of $2000, so it pays to shop around.

Palo Alto is right in between 2 of the larger cities in the bay area, San Francisco and San Jose, which are great when you are young and single to explore

Thanks for this - quite helpful. For example, take Menlo Park and Mountain View; Google reckons they are about a 10 to 15 min drive from Palo Alto. Is that reasonable even with traffic? Or is that more like a 30 - 45 min drive before work as everyone is flooding into the area?

Is it feasible to go out in the larger cities or is it too impractical to get back to the suburbs after a night out? I imagine its kinda difficult considering the distances. I'm not a huge party goer or anything, but i'd like to socialise with people my age (or those around their 30s) if possible :-)

Cheers, Tim

[exploringtim]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Really depends on your budget, it's definitely an expensive area. Since you're young, you could live with roommates and probably afford anywhere around there, Palo Alto is especially expensive though, Mountain View is probably a better bet. Keep in mind you'll probably want a car because it's a suburban area and especially if you want to be able to drive to state parks in the area and Tahoe for skiing, so budget for that.

Good point about the car - whats the deal with parking? Might i be better of doing some kind of car pool system (assuming those exist there, i guess they do)?

As for sharing a house, i'd much prefer to live alone as I have a pretty big place here in the UK which I live alone in. I know i'd be downsizing for sure, but I wouldn't like to live with some random folks.

Cheers, Tim

[jade408]

Originally Posted by dnb925art

Palo Alto is a great city to be in, but very expensive, since it is home to both Stanford University, one of the top universities in this country, and also near the heart of Silicon Valley. However, a city like Mountain View, which is right next to Palo Alto, have lower rents and are a short commute to Palo Alto. Figure about around $1000/month for rent. Other cities next to Palo Alto with short commutes are: Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Santa Clara, Redwood City, San Carlos San Mateo, San Jose, which can vary in rent from $800/month to upwards of $2000, so it pays to shop around.

$1000 in Mountain View? HAHAHAHHAHA MV is almost as expensive as Palo Alto. One of my friends is renting a 2 bedroom place for $2400. Considering MV is the home of google and other tech companies, it is no bargain.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by exploringtim

Good point about the car - whats the deal with parking? Might i be better of doing some kind of car pool system (assuming those exist there, i guess they do)?

Carpooling isn't really popular in that part of the Bay Area. There isn't one central job center, thing are spread out all over the place in different office parks and campuses miles apart. Some office buildings have shuttles from the train station.

Everyone drives, and pretty much any rental will include a parking space, so it should be easy.

As for sharing a house, i'd much prefer to live alone as I have a pretty big place here in the UK which I live alone in. I know i'd be downsizing for sure, but I wouldn't like to live with some random folks.

Cheers, Tim

One idea is to live across the bridge from Palo Alto: like Newark or Fremont. Prices are much cheaper in Newark. A 1 bedroom in Palo Alto/Mountain View would easily be $1600-1800, but an equivalent place in Newark would be more like $1300. The Bridge Toll is $5.

[dnb925art]

Originally Posted by jade408

$1000 in Mountain View? HAHAHAHHAHA MV is almost as expensive as Palo Alto. One of my friends is renting a 2 bedroom place for $2400. Considering MV is the home of google and other tech companies, it is no bargain.

A friend of mine lives in a 1 bed/bath in Mountain View and pays $1000/month. Of course you have to shop around. I think as I said in my post, you can pay upwards of $2000 month depending on where you live.

I do agree with the post about having a car because the only public transportation option to/from Palo Alto would be bus or CalTrain, depending on where he decides to live and work.

Newark or Fremont would be a bit cheaper, commute time isn't too bad across the Dumbarton Bridge ($5 toll).

As far as commute times, it really depends on where you live and what route you take. The 101 Freeway which runs north/south along the bayshore (think of the M-roadways in the UK) gets really crowded during commute times, but Interstate 280, which runs parallel to Highway 101, but runs through the hilly area of the peninsula is surprisingly light during commute hours. Sometimes going through the major roads, such as the El Camino Real or Middlefield Road can yield shorter commute times than Highway 101.

[Cruithne]

Hi there,
I just moved here from the UK myself. Just be aware that it is hideously expensive to live here. I would compare it very much to living in London or London suburbs, price-wise. If you want to live in a nice area you are not going to get a lot of house for your money. As long as you come here with that in mind, you will be okay. I think they call it sticker shock.
Make a list of what you want and prioritise. There will be a lot of compromising to do. You may only get the top one, two or three on your list of priorities. For us as a family, we went for good schools in a safe family area. Pretty much everything else dropped off the list: gone: short commute to work, walking distance to amenities, spare bedroom, large garden for the kids.
But you will find you will gain in other unexpected ways once you move here. I have found people to be incredibly friendly, genuine and welcoming. There are endless things to do and see and the weather is great.
It is a great opportunity for you. My advice would be to take it.
Good luck.

[exploringtim]

Originally Posted by Kentmum

Hi there,
I just moved here from the UK myself. Just be aware that it is hideously expensive to live here. I would compare it very much to living in London or London suburbs, price-wise. If you want to live in a nice area you are not going to get a lot of house for your money. As long as you come here with that in mind, you will be okay. I think they call it sticker shock.
Make a list of what you want and prioritise. There will be a lot of compromising to do. You may only get the top one, two or three on your list of priorities. For us as a family, we went for good schools in a safe family area. Pretty much everything else dropped off the list: gone: short commute to work, walking distance to amenities, spare bedroom, large garden for the kids.
But you will find you will gain in other unexpected ways once you move here. I have found people to be incredibly friendly, genuine and welcoming. There are endless things to do and see and the weather is great.
It is a great opportunity for you. My advice would be to take it.
Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I'm living in one of the most expensive parts of the UK right now, so i'm used to being casually ripped off as a part of the general course. My expectation was that SV would be more of the same and you've just confirmed that :-D

Which rental sites would people advise looking at to get an idea of costs of homes in various areas? There seem to be a whole bunch of them; which is the most major / most reputable? (equivalent of "right move" in the UK?)

For a 26 year old chap, which suburbs etc would you guys actually suggest? I mean, i'd like somewhere safe but also with a little big going on so there is at least some prospect of doing the social thing every now and then. I take on board the suggestions about traveling over the bridge - sounds like that'll need more investigation.

Cheers, Tim