Is San Fran Bay Area possible for me ? (San Diego, San Francisco: apartments, rentals)

[18Montclair]

Its a damn shame that this region is so inhospitable to building all the housing units needed to sustain newcomers and middle to lower income folks.

I wonder if these NIMBYs realize that they are making it impossible for many of their own children to afford to live here in the future.

[Ultrarunner]

Many projects simply go no where...

There is a chill in Oakland right now as 3 new fees are being considered on new construction.... one report said the total wouldn't be more than $25,000 for expensive homes.

For better or worse the SF Bay Area can be a very smug place for those that already have their piece of the pie...

[Chuck5000]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

I wonder if these NIMBYs realize that they are making it impossible for many of their own children to afford to live here in the future.

Exactly, everyone thinks that by saying 'no' to development, they are helping themselves. Except, what all parents want most of all is for their children to be nearby. Children of locals who aren't high earners themselves leave the state or region.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Chuck5000

Exactly, everyone thinks that by saying 'no' to development, they are helping themselves. Except, what all parents want most of all is for their children to be nearby. Children of locals who aren't high earners themselves leave the state or region.

In a few years high earners will be SOL unless you are I the top 2%.

[Chuck5000]

Originally Posted by tfriss92

I don't mind cold and snow as I grew up in a nor Easter highway but I wouldn't mind to not have to deal with it ever again either , I do however do not want high humidity heat Summer's so that gets rid of pretty much everything east of the Rockies. I don't mind dry heat but somewhere like Phoenix is not attractive to me

I think that at your level in your working career right now, you should not be prioritizing "lifestyle" choices like weather; that's a luxury. You need to build to the point where you actually can do that. You didn't say what field you're in - retail? You need to get beyond that entry-level, acquire some skills that are in-demand and then you can start being picky.

If it's much easier for you to build in, say, a city or region that has some humidity, boo hoo, you gotta do that. Much smarter choice. Time is precious.

If you pick a place that is ultra competitive for your level, but has nice weather and lifestlyle you want, you will be suffering. It will take longer to get a job, and will be harder to advance.

If you found a place where you could easily find work and advance, you'd get to a point where you *could* discriminate much more quickly in your life and live in a nice "lifestyle place." I'm talking about years here.

I mean, I'd personally love to live in, say, Santa Barbara. Or live well in San Francisco. Or even Manhattan. But it is way above my station, and probably always will be for reasons of career advancement that I don't need to get into - my trajectory is just not going to be that good, I'm too old, don't have enough time, and I'm OK with that.

[eureka1]

Build up your earning capacity , then visit, then possibly move.

[tfriss92]

Originally Posted by Chuck5000

I think that at your level in your working career right now, you should not be prioritizing "lifestyle" choices like weather; that's a luxury. You need to build to the point where you actually can do that. You didn't say what field you're in - retail? You need to get beyond that entry-level, acquire some skills that are in-demand and then you can start being picky.

If it's much easier for you to build in, say, a city or region that has some humidity, boo hoo, you gotta do that. Much smarter choice. Time is precious.

If you pick a place that is ultra competitive for your level, but has nice weather and lifestlyle you want, you will be suffering. It will take longer to get a job, and will be harder to advance.

If you found a place where you could easily find work and advance, you'd get to a point where you *could* discriminate much more quickly in your life and live in a nice "lifestyle place." I'm talking about years here.

I mean, I'd personally love to live in, say, Santa Barbara. Or live well in San Francisco. Or even Manhattan. But it is way above my station, and probably always will be for reasons of career advancement that I don't need to get into - my trajectory is just not going to be that good, I'm too old, don't have enough time, and I'm OK with that.

you couldn't pay me enough to work retail. i am in the transportation industry, and have an option of a job oppruntiy in pretty much every major city in the country which is why I'm narrowing my research to places i would actually want to reside it

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by tfriss92

you couldn't pay me enough to work retail. i am in the transportation industry, and have an option of a job oppruntiy in pretty much every major city in the country which is why I'm narrowing my research to places i would actually want to reside it

I think that poster was saying you need to be higher up in the food chain in your particular field, be it retail or transportation. The pay you spoke of in the opening post say lower level, as do most jobs that you can transfer around to whenever and wherever. Career type positions mean you are more important wherever you are, they won't want to loose you and there isn't always a comparable position in a city you want to live in.

I hope I'm making sense with this because you need more money to live in the Bay Area. It's not a knock on you or your job, my own kids can't live here either.

[Chuck5000]

Ceece, I feel for you. I rent in Palo Alto, and I literally know several people on my block, who as parents are sitting on $3 to $4m properties, are not rich otherwise, and their kids live out of state for cost reasons.

Moving here making $15 an hour, or less than, say, 80k, seems insane to me.

[SportyandMisty]

Originally Posted by tfriss92

Thank you for the advice , I'm from upstate New York so I'm well aware of the nyc conditions I take many trips down to the city in the summer but it is nice to know it's more or less the same in Frisco ...

My daughter attended Columbia in NYC, then after graduation moved to SF. She says SF is more expensive than NYC.

In SF, she lives in a 3rd floor walk-up in a building that is 106 years old and effectively has no insulation. It is a 2 bedroom apartment where the owner converted the dining room into a 3rd bedroom. One bathroom with a 20 gallon water heater (I didn't know they came that small). People sleep in the alcove just outside the entrance to her building. Public urination in doorways. There is an electric train just outside her door, with many people who have the appearance of homelessness. Rent is $5900/month split 3 ways.