What's the positives of living in the Bay area? (San Francisco: refrigerators, unemployed)

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by gone down south

So, you want a big apartment in good condition, in a desirable neighborhood, with easy access to public transit.

In any city in the world, that would be the most expensive apartment out there. What gave you the impression you could swing that in SF on a starting salary? This is one of if not the most expensive rental market in the USA. You've got to work your way through all the crappy apartments first.

His starting salary is $97,000. Why wouldn't he believe he could find SOMETHING to rent in that amount?

After reading many of the threads here, finding an apartment affordable or not is like hitting the lottery. It's not worth it in my opinion when you can find something in other areas without the hassle. The only problem is the commute.

[jupiler]

Originally Posted by gone down south

So, you want a big apartment in good condition, in a desirable neighborhood, with easy access to public transit.

In any city in the world, that would be the most expensive apartment out there. What gave you the impression you could swing that in SF on a starting salary? This is one of if not the most expensive rental market in the USA. You've got to work your way through all the crappy apartments first.

It doesn't sound like affordability is the problem. From what he said and what most such posts here I've seen allude to, it's the stiff competition (far more demand than supply).

[rparz]

I got the first apartment I looked at in the Bay area, and it had everything I wanted.

This was back in May when padmapper still worked with Craigslist quite well. I made a couple of calls and when the 'agent' couldn't even tell me simple things like square footage, I knew that was an exercise in stupidity.
I found a private owner, had recent copies of my credit I pulled from transunion an equifax, (I think one was free, the other was a buck) and came ready to (and did) cut a check with two months security deposit along with the first month's rent. Not sure if he liked me, or if the fact I wasn't messing around, but it wasn't too painful.
My only concern is that my lease was only for 6 months (I offered to go as far as 2 years if he wanted) and I'm a little worried my rent may get jacked up when the lease is up. Then again, I'm in, no complaints, and always pay on time.

[Natural510]

Great food & drink. Nice weather. Intellectual population. Not worth New York prices though (so far only SF has reached that level).

[tstieber]

I agree with many of these responses as to the draws of this beautiful area. I grew up near Mt. Diablo state park, and the scenery alone touches you and stays with you in a way that's almost spiritual. Driving into Marin or San Francisco is heart-stoppingly beautiful. The way the sun rises over the hills and sets over the bay. The islands in the bay. The golden, grassy hills and their California oaks. It's like living in a Steinbeck novel.

Throw in an amazing food culture, endless activities (both indoor and outdoor), and interesting people, and you can't beat it.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I agree with many of these responses as to the draws of this beautiful area. I grew up near Mt. Diablo state park, and the scenery alone touches you and stays with you in a way that's almost spiritual. Driving into Marin or San Francisco is heart-stoppingly beautiful. The way the sun rises over the hills and sets over the bay. The islands in the bay. The golden, grassy hills and their California oaks. It's like living in a Steinbeck novel.

Throw in an amazing food culture, endless activities (both indoor and outdoor), and interesting people, and you can't beat it.

Beautiful post! Couldn't rep you. Though I grew up in the Bay Area, I've only relatively recently discovered Marin, and I'm in awe! I hope to move there sometime (currently living out-of-state).

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

Seriously. I'd like to know.

From my research, it's super expensive, need to have several roommates to survive, travel a distance to get to your job, unless you're lucky enough to live close to it and the homeless situation rivals LA, except San Francisco has better programs in place to help them.

What are the POSITIVES? I don't care about "diversity". I come from NYC, so diversity isn't new to me.

If you don't care about diversity then you should consider the flyover country!

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

If you don't care about diversity then you should consider the flyover country!

I didn't mean that it's not important, it is. I notice it's said quite a lot to describe SF, but since I'm from NYC, "diversity" isn't something "foreign" to me like it is from people who reside in the red states.

It's overpriced like Manhattan, but...WHY?

I mean I can understand why Manhattan is, but I'm not understanding why SF decided to raise their prices. The apartments are old, not renovated, hardly any skyscrapers or new buildings, so WHY is $3,000 for a rinky non renovated one bedroom apartment?

[5thgenSF]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

I didn't mean that it's not important, it is. I notice it's said quite a lot to describe SF, but since I'm from NYC, "diversity" isn't something "foreign" to me like it is from people who reside in the red states.

It's overpriced like Manhattan, but...WHY?

I mean I can understand why Manhattan is, but I'm not understanding why SF decided to raise their prices. The apartments are old, not renovated, hardly any skyscrapers or new buildings, so WHY is $3,000 for a rinky non renovated one bedroom apartment?

because they CAN.

[jupiler]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

It's overpriced like Manhattan, but...WHY?

I mean I can understand why Manhattan is

I can't. Can you explain Manhattan for me?