Help in deciding: Inner sunset or east bay?

[oaktownchris]

I would choose living in San francisco first not necessairly because its better than Alameda or Palo Alto or Walnut Creek or wherever but as a newcomer you'll meet far more people living and working in the city. And if you eventually get tired of the city after a year or 2, you'll know the area better and can then decide to go to Alameda or wherever. I used to live in the inner richmond on Fulton and took the 31balboa express bus to work in the finacial district - 30-35 minutes was pretty typical. For the inner richmond area I'd suggest anywhere from the USF campus west to park presidio blvd.

As for the inner sunset, I'd try the area bordered by 12th street heading west to Stanyan along the lincoln, irving, judah corridor. West of Stanyan is Cole Valley, another nice area.

WHen its time to live in Alameda, you can take a 20-25 minute ferry ride to the foot of market street.

[kander63]

The inner Sunset and inner Richmond are nice, but be aware that they are not at all like Marina Del Rey. They are not that close to the beach, plus the beach in SF is cold and foggy most of the year - which can be nice if you learn to appreciate it for what it is, but Southern California it's not. The housing stock is also very different - much older, and you will get a lot less space for the money than what you are used to.