Need a neighborhood recommendation / broker advice (starting the relocation process)

[mayorhaggar]

Lofts and unique houses are more of an Oakland thing, most buildings in the sunny part of SF are pretty standard apartment buildings, though there are some loft conversions in SOMA and the Eastern (and more crime-ridden) part of the Mission. Maybe Potrero Hill would work for you, lots of Victorian houses and flats and probably some lofts. Also Bernal Heights has a lot of houses and they are often pretty funky.

[surftb15]

Thanks.
Looks like Soma/Ballpark, Potrero Hill, Bernal Heights is a good starting point. Then Russian Hill, Noe Hill, Nob Hill, Lower Pac Heights.

Fabulous Loft in Potrero Hill/Dogpatch
Good place, but small.'

Now if my fiance comes (which she wil), I am going to need to rent a place that is safe at night, for her to walk alone. That my eliminate the industrial type areas.

[surftb15]

I did speak to Berendt Properties

They charge you a one month fee, with $1000 to begin the search. $1000 is nonrefundable. Just doesn't seem worth it.

[humboldtrat]

South Beach / Mission Bay

This site lists apartments/lofts/condos in the area either for rent or for sale with links to some of them.

There is also light rail in the area for easy access to other parts of SF.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by surftb15

The job will be based in SoMa, but Foster City for meetings on occasian.
I definetely don't want to live where I work, so Soma is out.
I am just starting the research, I hope to come up with a few neighborhoods so I can look at select areas at the end of this month.

I would like a place with character...either a loft or unique house.

Glen Park might suit you. It's on BART, so it's within easy reach of SOMA, and it's right on the 280 freeway so getting to Foster City would be a breeze too. And I've occasionally seen some cute/funky houses for rent there. For example:

Home-Pano Views!-2Br/1ba Up-1bd/1ba Down-Frplc-Hrdwd-2 Decks.Dog OK** <-- though note that this house isn't really too close to Glen Park proper; it's about a 15-minute walk from both West Portal or Glen Park.

[surftb15]

Is GlenPark walkable to restaurants?

Ill be up tehre Halloween weekend to look.
I like Mission Dolores, although there are not many apartments to view on Craigslist in that area.

[mayorhaggar]

The area around the Glen Park BART station is pretty dense and has a bunch of local shops and restaurants and a library and bars and an indie grocery store. It just depends on how close to that area you are. I'd say if you're within half a mile of the BART station you're good to go. The area west of 280 is really best, east of there it can be hit or miss. Also don't worry about the proximity of the highway, it is not that intrusive as long as you're not right by it.