Might be relocating to Bay Area - need constructive advice. (Fremont: 2013, apartment)

[kotodama]

Hello,

Would anyone out there be willing to spare some useful advice about moving to the Bay area? Frankly I've seen so many cynical replies to similar questions. They don't do anyone any good. I'd like some constructive advice about areas that are safe and affordable (at least as affordable as possible for Bay Area). We want to rent a house that accepts cats in a quiet and friendly neighborhood. We plan to rent for at least 1 year. We're not as concerned about view or other amenities as we are about safe livability.

Thank you for helpful suggestions.

[clongirl]

It doesn't do any good to ask a question like this without giving us more detail.

Sorry if this sounds cynical.

[humboldtrat]

Where in the Bay Area and how big a house are you looking for?

[beb0p]

It's impossible to give good recommendation without knowing where you need to travel for work, how far you're willing to travel, what your budget is, size of the house, type of climate, good schools, etc, etc.

The Bay Area is too big to narrow down without being specific. Clayton is safe and affordable, but if you work in Cupertino, Clayton would be too far away. Get my drift?

.

[mayorhaggar]

Originally Posted by beb0p

It's impossible to give good recommendation without knowing where you need to travel for work, how far you're willing to travel, what your budget is, size of the house, type of climate, good schools, etc, etc.

The Bay Area is too big to narrow down without being specific. Clayton is safe and affordable, but if you work in Cupertino, Clayton would be too far away. Get my drift?

.

Yup, we need this info or we can't really help. The Bay Area might look small on a map but it's a pretty big area, and you don't want to live somewhere that is inconvenient for getting to where you work, and we don't know where you will work. All those mountains and bridges create a lot of traffic bottlenecks.

Also landlords in the Bay Area tend to be very anti-pet, especially in SF, but less so as you get out into the burbs, so keep that in mind.

[carigennarelli]

Hi There,

I am partial to Marin County for an all around positive living experience. Warm, mild summers, access to outdoor/open space, centrally located for travel to the beach, mountains, skiiing, wine country. It's not the most diverse community but there is a lot of variety in terms of housing styles and neighborhoods.

Rents range from $1,800 for a 2 bedroom up to $5,000 or more depending on the city. Check Craigs list in the areas you are interested in to get an idea of the rents. Marin is pet friendly in general compared to SF. Landlords usually ask for an increased deposit no matter where you live.

If you have to be in SF there are hoods that are more pet friendly than others. Mission, Potrero Hill, Sunset, Richmond are a few.

Obviously a City if never going to be as safe as the counties surrounding it.

You can email me off line if you have questions or need more info. I don't know as much about the East or South Bays but happy to give you some direction.

[jade408]

Just to give you an idea. The "Bay Area" is about 100 miles North to South and 40 miles east to west.

In a geographic area that size, you are bound to find some of everything. And everyone one has a widely different definition of safe and affordable.

So to get the best answers, we need some detalls on your budget, the type of environment/amenities you like. How far you would like to be from said amenities, and as mentioned work location.

A 30 mile comute in the Bay typically takes 45-90 minutes, depending on where you are headed.

[Ruth4Truth]

Safe areas, East Bay: Berkeley hills, Kensington, Rockridge.
North Bay: anywhere in marin county. Some parts are more affordable than others.
Fremont is relatively affordable, pretty safe (my brother raised a family there).

That might be it as far as "safe and affordable" goes. Maybe El Cerrito. You could look into Lafayette and Walnut Creek. Craigslist for East Bay and Marin County will give you an idea of prices for renting a house.

[ttocs99]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Safe areas, East Bay: Berkeley hills, Kensington, Rockridge.
North Bay: anywhere in marin county. Some parts are more affordable than others.
Fremont is relatively affordable, pretty safe (my brother raised a family there).

That might be it as far as "safe and affordable" goes. Maybe El Cerrito. You could look into Lafayette and Walnut Creek. Craigslist for East Bay and Marin County will give you an idea of prices for renting a house.

Just from my own experience, I lived in Walnut Creek for 7 years (1999-2006), and I loved it completely. Beautiful area, extremely safe, close to the City (30 minutes on BART). I was pretty close to the Walnut Creek Bart, and equally close to the downtown Walnut Creek area (great shops and restaurants). I had a 70 pound dog and 2 cats, so I'm sure you can find a place for rent that will allow a cat. I would guess my former apartment, a small 2 bedroom, is probably going for about $1500. When I left in 2006, it was $1300.

I can not say, there was one day where I was unhappy living in Walnut Creek. Being a transplant from NYC, it was quite an improvement as far as the laid back way of living, the weather was wonderful, and getting everywhere was easy, a 45 minute car ride to Napa, one of my favorite places, and maybe an hour or less drive to Sausalito, another of my favorites. Walnut Creek is a GREAT walking town too. I didn't have a car when I first moved there, and I walked everywhere, especially with so much to do in the downtown area.

As far as Marin County, I never lived there, but it sure is beautiful there. I had friends that lived there, and it was very safe and beautiful.

Whenever I go back to the Bay Area, I always spend a day in Walnut Creek, which should tell you how much I loved it. I also always go to Napa and Sausalito. Man I miss the Bay Area, July 2013 (my next vacation to the Bay Area) can't come soon enough.