North Bay/Marin County - Studio Apartment Prices (San Francisco, Walnut Creek: rental, crime)

[stava]

I'm looking to move to the North Bay to be closer to my job in San Francisco. Is it possible to rent a studio apartment in that area for less than $1,300/mo?

I don't want to go farther north than Corte Madera...I was thinking Sausalito or Mill Valley.

Thanks!

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by stava

I'm looking to move to the North Bay to be closer to my job in San Francisco. Is it possible to rent a studio apartment in that area for less than $1,300/mo?

I don't want to go farther north than Corte Madera...I was thinking Sausalito or Mill Valley.

Thanks!

Check Craigslist. This one looked interesting:

Cozy, freestanding, fully furnished cottage

Otherwise, here's a generic north bay search with max $1300, highest cost first (so you don't have to wade through all the annoying $1 ads):

SF bay area apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

[ZorbaTheGeek]

Originally Posted by stava

I'm looking to move to the North Bay to be closer to my job in San Francisco. Is it possible to rent a studio apartment in that area for less than $1,300/mo?

I don't want to go farther north than Corte Madera...I was thinking Sausalito or Mill Valley.

Thanks!

Yes. Studios start at around $1000. Check Craigslist.

[stava]

Thanks to you both. Are there any areas that I should avoid, aside from the obvious, Marin City?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

That I don't know. I'm familiar with the east bay and south bay areas, but not north bay.

You can check some crime report websites to get ideas of crime in particular areas:

https://www.crimereports.com/

SpotCrime Crime Map

[ttocs99]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Check Craigslist. This one looked interesting:

Cozy, freestanding, fully furnished cottage

Otherwise, here's a generic north bay search with max $1300, highest cost first (so you don't have to wade through all the annoying $1 ads):

SF bay area apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

I'm digging that cottage. A perfect home.

[stava]

The search has not been going as well as expected. To get anything decent in that area (south of San Rafael), my minimum rent would have to be $1,500 - $1,600. I've been paying $1,050 for so long that $1,500 seems so high to me, but I'm trying to figure out if I can actually afford it after all.

My total monthly net income is around $3,300, so if I were to pay $1,500, that's about half of my income right there. Is that a normal ratio?

[Radio Flyer]

Originally Posted by ttocs99

I'm digging that cottage. A perfect home.

It is cute... no kitchen though. That could get challenging.

[mayorhaggar]

Originally Posted by stava

The search has not been going as well as expected. To get anything decent in that area (south of San Rafael), my minimum rent would have to be $1,500 - $1,600. I've been paying $1,050 for so long that $1,500 seems so high to me, but I'm trying to figure out if I can actually afford it after all.

My total monthly net income is around $3,300, so if I were to pay $1,500, that's about half of my income right there. Is that a normal ratio?

a) San Rafael is where Marin rental prices start to get way more reasonable. South of there is super expensive, it's the most expensive part of one of the most expensive and wealthiest counties in the US. San Rafael or further north is going to be what you can afford.

b) No, half your net income would be bad. Do 1/3rd or less and you'll be WAY more comfortable.

c) Any reason you couldn't live in the East Bay? Yeah South Marin is cute and scenic but I'd get tired of being surrounded by uber-wealthy ex-hippie investment bankers and their yoga trophy wives.

[stava]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

c) Any reason you couldn't live in the East Bay? Yeah South Marin is cute and scenic but I'd get tired of being surrounded by uber-wealthy ex-hippie investment bankers and their yoga trophy wives.

East Bay is a headache of a commute. I'd want to live someplace safe like Lamorinda or Walnut Creek, and that would mean I'd have to deal with the Caldecott every day PLUS the Bay Bridge. I would take the GG Bridge over those two any day.

Is San Rafael generally safe? I've seen that the prices there are more reasonable, but I've also heard bad things about the Canal area. Where are the safe neighborhoods in San Rafael?