What's the positives of living in the Bay area? (Oakland: rent, how much)

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by jupiler

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

No.

[jupiler]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

No.

Well, let me turn your question around.

Why would you pay above-SF price to live somewhere with mediocre weather, rude and cold people, not much natural beauty (certainly not compared to SF), and just rush rush everywhere?

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by jupiler

Well, let me turn your question around.

Why would you pay above-SF price to live somewhere with mediocre weather, rude and cold people, not much natural beauty (certainly not compared to SF), and just rush rush everywhere?

NYers are not rude and cold people. We're not "warm and fuzzy" either, but we're not intentionally disrespectful either.

This isn't a battle between NY, SF, and Boston. I realize it's a landlord's market in SF now, but they really haven't done anything to improve their rental spaces to make it worth the money. I've read threads here where people are spending more than $2000 for old stoves, refrigerators, still have pests, and structural damage are issues.

You can get much better rental units outside of the city for less money.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

NYers are not rude and cold people. We're not "warm and fuzzy" either, but we're not intentionally disrespectful either.

This isn't a battle between NY, SF, and Boston. I realize it's a landlord's market in SF now, but they really haven't done anything to improve their rental spaces to make it worth the money. I've read threads here where people are spending more than $2000 for old stoves, refrigerators, still have pests, and structural damage are issues.

You can get much better rental units outside of the city for less money.

Some of the rental horror stories are a bit exaggerated. Some aren't. Just like in NY and, I suspect, Boston.

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Some of the rental horror stories are a bit exaggerated. Some aren't. Just like in NY and, I suspect, Boston.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Esthetically and visually, SF is stunning to look at. It's very old worldish and I do like that. NYC is losing some of that old world charm with all the new, overly done hi rises. There's nothing wrong with keeping a bit of the old and new worlds together, if possible.

I know for NYC it's very difficult due to decades of roaches and rats living buried in many of the old tenements, so sometimes, a bulldozer is necessary.

[jade408]

As someone who grew up for part of childhood in the bay and then moved back after a detour to the south, here are my opinions as a black woman:

1. The bay area is very diverse in many parts. Not diverse in the sense where many types of people live here. But in the way that many types of people live here, interact, and socialize in the same social circles. Actually have personal relationships with diverse people. Generally speaking, no one is going to look at me like I am crazy if my best friend is Japanese, Mexican, Indian or Egyptian. Or I am having dinner with a group of people like the aforementioned.

2. Unlike other places in the US, I can claim to be from pretty any neighborhood from East Palo Alto to San Leandro to Rockridge to Piedmont, and no one will give me the side-eye (especially in Oakland)

3. I love the weather here! No snow, but I can travel if I want to have it. No humidity.

4. Excellent food choices, especially in the mid range price point. Easy access to great ingredients so you can replicate at home.

5. Lots of communities for different lifestyles. And any type of person can join any of those types of communities. If I was a Buddhist, it wouldn't be that weird. [This can be a drawback too, there are a lot of niche-y communities in different areas, so it can be hard to find your place if your niche isn't well represented in the city you choose to live in]

Those are my big ones. The Bay is weird, but it feels like home!

[ramedud]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Don't forget Wine Country and the close proximity of the Sierra.
Also the unique combination of laid back California style with real big city energy and opportunities.
The neighborhoods and ethnic enclaves are charming, diverse in their offerings and appeal.
There are national parks located within the city limits of SF, with stunning scenery.
The street food culture is vibrant and offers cheap access to fine food.
The City is largely local in its restaurants, giving it a special appeal unmatched by most cities.
The air is crystal clear.
The tap water, drawn from the Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite is clean and pure and runs cool right out of the tap. The weather is: 9 months of Spring and 3 of Fall. No A/C or bug repellant necessary. Ever.
Festivals happen almost every weekend.
Silicon Valley adds an air of ingenuity that drives the economy and contributes to an entrepreneurial mindset.
Fresh seafood, bread and produce unlike anywhere else in the country makes for farm-to-table creativity in even mid-range restaurants...oops I started talking about food again.
Seriously, it's the most intriguing mix of culture, energy, earthy, excitement, relaxation, scenery, romance and ambition available in the country. That's why I'm here.

If you can afford to do all that in this economy.

The tap tastes terrible depending on where you live, and air quality is heavily dependent on location. The weather gets wackier every year (I affectionately call it Tourette's weather). Don't get me started on the politics. It just isn't the same place it used to be when I moved here. The Bay Area is a playground for rich people, that's about it. It can be pretty and it can be fun, if you have the money. In this terrible economy most people I know are broke and unemployed. People spend and live in excess to escape reality- the Bay Area in a nutshell.

Originally Posted by Natural510

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

I beg to differ. There's been a lot of anti-intellectualism going on in the Bay Area, even in the wealthier (and therefore more educated) places.

[EdJS]

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.

Besides the great weather and scenery, and all the cultural stuff there is to do around here, one thing hasn't been mentioned but sure is the case for most people who have had long careers here: Yes, when you're just starting out you need roommates to survive. But eventually you get promotions and raises so you start earning enough to move out on your own. At my level -- senior software developers and above, mostly with over ten years of experience -- nobody has roommates anymore.

[rparz]

Originally Posted by jupiler

Well, let me turn your question around.

Why would you pay above-SF price to live somewhere with mediocre weather, rude and cold people, not much natural beauty (certainly not compared to SF), and just rush rush everywhere?

I would love to head to NYC. I miss the hustle of a big city, the density and diversity, the changing seasons, and the people this type of environment attracts.
And, it's New York, quite likely the most important city on the planet.
I'm over California. It's nice and all, but it makes a better place to go on vacation then to live. Plug me back into the matrix. I'll come visit when I have time off work.

[bentobox34]

Originally Posted by jupiler

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

For one thing, it's a place where walking and transit ACTUALLY work to accomplish just about anything you want to do. That would be a huge plus for me. I always assumed high NY rents are partially offset by affordable transportation.

Not so in SF. Despite what some may say that "you don't need a car in SF", the fact remains more than 2/3 of San Franciscans DO own a car which means it is far from a "normal" lifestyle in the city to not have one (compare to 85% of Manhattanites). Anywhere else in the Bay Area forget it, unless you are in your early 20s and get a thrill from almost dying on your bicycle every day.