New move to San Jose/Sunnyvale (Santa Clara, Alameda: apartments, for rent, car insurance)

[trooper1414]

Hi Everyone,

I have long read threads on these forums but never posted. Anyways glad to be finally a part of the community. So here goes my dilemma like everyone else:

1. I have been offered a job in SJ for 90-98k (Not finalized yet), but lets say around 95k to be safe. As everyone one of us knows COL is a lot higher in the bay area, but here are my questions:

1. Can i survive on 2 member family within that amount (Consdiering i would want my own place(For rent)/ studio/1 BDR is more than enough)
2. I have no education loans but a car payment and car insurance to go with it.
3. Apart from that I have my standard charges including cell phone, cable (I am open to getting this disconnected), utilities, gas.
4. Mostly eat out @ 10$ and below restaurants (Like N&C, Chipotle, Thai), so as you can see not a lot of fancy dining but maybe 2-3 times a week for now.
5. Any chance of getting an apartment for rent under $1800 (In a nice safe neighbourhood, in San Jose/Sunnyvale)
6. Could someone recommend a few apartment communities within that area?


Secondly I have a cousin in San Ramon, with whom I could potentially share my apartment, how is the commute from San Ramon to downtown San Jose?

[cardinal2007]

Originally Posted by trooper1414

Hi Everyone,

I have long read threads on these forums but never posted. Anyways glad to be finally a part of the community. So here goes my dilemma like everyone else:

1. I have been offered a job in SJ for 90-98k (Not finalized yet), but lets say around 95k to be safe. As everyone one of us knows COL is a lot higher in the bay area, but here are my questions:

1. Can i survive on 2 member family within that amount (Consdiering i would want my own place(For rent)/ studio/1 BDR is more than enough)
2. I have no education loans but a car payment and car insurance to go with it.
3. Apart from that I have my standard charges including cell phone, cable (I am open to getting this disconnected), utilities, gas.
4. Mostly eat out @ 10$ and below restaurants (Like N&C, Chipotle, Thai), so as you can see not a lot of fancy dining but maybe 2-3 times a week for now.
5. Any chance of getting an apartment for rent under $1800 (In a nice safe neighbourhood, in San Jose/Sunnyvale)
6. Could someone recommend a few apartment communities within that area?


Secondly I have a cousin in San Ramon, with whom I could potentially share my apartment, how is the commute from San Ramon to downtown San Jose?

Will you be working in downtown San Jose? The commute from San Ramon to DTSJ is tough, probably 1h:20m, based on what people that live there tell me, but that is based on the traffic 3 years ago, probably a little worse now, you can pay for the express lanes on 680 now though.

I can recommend areas near DTSJ if that is where you will be working, most people work toward the NW part of the valley, so there is a premium to live closer to there (Palo Alto/Mountain View), which makes Sunnyvale significantly more expensive for comparable apartments.

1. Yes
2. Okay, what are those rates, those can vary significantly.
5. If you're open to a studio, I would say yes.
6. Where are you going to be working?, I don't want to recommend places too far west if you will be working downtown, but if you will be working further west there is something to say for a short commute in the valley.

[prestipaca]

Originally Posted by trooper1414

Hi Everyone,

I have long read threads on these forums but never posted. Anyways glad to be finally a part of the community. So here goes my dilemma like everyone else:

1. I have been offered a job in SJ for 90-98k (Not finalized yet), but lets say around 95k to be safe. As everyone one of us knows COL is a lot higher in the bay area, but here are my questions:

1. Can i survive on 2 member family within that amount (Consdiering i would want my own place(For rent)/ studio/1 BDR is more than enough)
2. I have no education loans but a car payment and car insurance to go with it.
3. Apart from that I have my standard charges including cell phone, cable (I am open to getting this disconnected), utilities, gas.
4. Mostly eat out @ 10$ and below restaurants (Like N&C, Chipotle, Thai), so as you can see not a lot of fancy dining but maybe 2-3 times a week for now.
5. Any chance of getting an apartment for rent under $1800 (In a nice safe neighbourhood, in San Jose/Sunnyvale)
6. Could someone recommend a few apartment communities within that area?


Secondly I have a cousin in San Ramon, with whom I could potentially share my apartment, how is the commute from San Ramon to downtown San Jose?

Avoid commute from San Ramon to San Jose. Its terrible.

As for job congratulations. You would be lucky if you were only yourself to support. Can the second member of your family work? That would help. As long as you get apartment for around $2000 or less you should be fine but try to stick to better and safer communities. Otherwise you won't be happy to live in California as you expect and your auto insurance will go hike (it varies by zip code). Definitely avoid East San Jose, East Palo Alto or East Menlo Park.

[thetrb]

Sure you can survive on 95k. You won't be able to afford a luxurious lifestyle, but 95k is not bad.

[Wintermomma]

Survive with your lifestyle and wish list, I think yes. But if you and the other member of your family wish to have children soon, it would be very tough. So be sure you are ready to hold off on that for a while.

[trooper1414]

Sorry for the delayed response, so the other member will not be Working. I'm completely fine with the idea of a studio. The car payment is around 350-400.

Could someone specifically list out apartment names, I could check out? Thanks for all your responses.

Finally I'll be working near downtown SJ

[cardinal2007]

Originally Posted by trooper1414

Hi Everyone,

I have long read threads on these forums but never posted. Anyways glad to be finally a part of the community. So here goes my dilemma like everyone else:

1. I have been offered a job in SJ for 90-98k (Not finalized yet), but lets say around 95k to be safe. As everyone one of us knows COL is a lot higher in the bay area, but here are my questions:

1. Can i survive on 2 member family within that amount (Consdiering i would want my own place(For rent)/ studio/1 BDR is more than enough)
2. I have no education loans but a car payment and car insurance to go with it.
3. Apart from that I have my standard charges including cell phone, cable (I am open to getting this disconnected), utilities, gas.
4. Mostly eat out @ 10$ and below restaurants (Like N&C, Chipotle, Thai), so as you can see not a lot of fancy dining but maybe 2-3 times a week for now.
5. Any chance of getting an apartment for rent under $1800 (In a nice safe neighbourhood, in San Jose/Sunnyvale)
6. Could someone recommend a few apartment communities within that area?


Secondly I have a cousin in San Ramon, with whom I could potentially share my apartment, how is the commute from San Ramon to downtown San Jose?

$1700/mo 400sqft studio, Colonnade, Downtown San Jose, might have too many SJSU students for your taste though, walkable area, plenty of cheaper food options, walkable to any place in DTSJ, so you wouldn't have to monopolize the car, on the OTOH, if you take the car your partner (spouse?) can still go to places like the grocery store.

$1744/mo 474sqft studio, Miraido Village, Japantown smaller walkable area, less sketchy areas in comparison to downtown, less noise, does still have restaurants and a grocery story right there, 1 mi north of DTSJ.

Unfortunately it is a low budget, so almost everything else is not the big corporate apartment names that people would know, instead smaller apartments and apartment companies, I only really know of those neighborhoods specifically, and I have heard good things about Miraido Village, I live the next building down from Colonnade, don't know the management there.

I would've loved to see something near The Alameda west of Diridon, but both Avalon communities I know there are too expensive these days, I think your best bet is Craigslist and then Google to see if you can get information on the apartment. If it is closer to DTSJ, I can tell you something about the neighborhood.

SF bay area apts/housing for rent - craigslist

[trooper1414]

Thanks for the update. Any other suggestions for apartments. Also strangely i have noticed whichever apartment has a good rating on yelp generally dosent have a great rating on apartment ratings and vice versa.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by trooper1414

1. Can i survive on 2 member family within that amount

For sure. No problem.

5. Any chance of getting an apartment for rent under $1800 (In a nice safe neighbourhood, in San Jose/Sunnyvale)

Yes look in Santa Clara. Craigslist your best bet.

Secondly I have a cousin in San Ramon, with whom I could potentially share my apartment, how is the commute from San Ramon to downtown San Jose?

Long and dreary.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by cardinal2007

but that is based on the traffic 3 years ago, probably a little worse now,.

A lot worse