Off-topic: Moving to San Francisco area, maybe ?

[steve2470]

I apologize if this is too off-topic for this forum.

I've lived in central Florida all my life (yea I know boring and a bit uncommon). Central Florida is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too conservative for me.

It would be great to buy a condo in SF and live there, but I don't think I can afford it on my income. Therefore, I'd need to live in an area where the median condo is maybe $200K or so.

The other factor is adjusting to a almost 100% different culture. I've loved SF on my visits but of course never lived there or in the SF metro area.

Your thoughts please ? Thank you very much for your time.

Steve

[Webster Green]

1. Hopefully someone more into real estate will jump in here.

There are condos in that price range in San Francisco itself, and no doubt even more in the surrounding areas, but I'm not sure where that would be the median price range. I live dirt cheap, in the redwoods, up on a mountain in wine country north of SF.

I spent a few years in the Orlando and St. Pete areas after living in Northern California for 15 years. I hated every second of it, and kissed the tarmac upon my arrival back in SF. Any culture shock you experience will likely be of the positive variety.

Now, get your butt out here! :hi:

[steve2470]

2. Thanks, and now for a "dumb question"....

As a life-long Floridian, what would be the biggest change for me ? Obviously the weather is different, but besides that ?

[Webster Green]

3. Hmmm...

Let's see. Are you into really good reefer?

Things here are more expensive, but I find it easier to make way better money here than I did in Florida. I was doing steel framing and stuff on huge structures at Disney World, and making like $12-$14 an hour. Out here, I won't get out of bed for less than $20 hr., and usually do more like $30 or $40. (sometimes way higher).

Just being in an area where the progressives so outnumber the dumbasses is a huge factor for me.

[steve2470]

4. Reefer not so much, thanks, hmm...

I probably need to take some long trips to SF to make up my mind completely.

[CreekDog]

14. i wouldn't rely on that person's advice --at least based on the laughable real estate opinion

:shrug:

[CreekDog]

13. with all due respect how can you say there are condos at 200k in SF with such assurance

...when that's basically wrong?

even in the Bay Area, to find a condo at 200k it has to essentially be a small 1 bedroom (or studio) and many miles away from San Francisco, San Jose, save some rough parts of Oakland or far out like in Pittsburg/Antioch.

[BeeBee]

24. There are plenty of options in that range in the Santa Rosa area.

The housing bubble hit quite hard up here and he could definitely take advantage.

[vdub2197]

36. +1

[steve2470]

5. "The median asking price of these homes was approximately $441,000"

http://www.deptofnumbers.com/asking-prices/california/san-francisco/


As of August 15 2011 there were about 19,715 single family and condo homes listed for sale in San Francisco California. The median asking price of these homes was approximately $441,000. Since this time last year, the inventory of homes for sale has decreased by 17.6% and the median price has decreased by 9.1%.

Anyone wish to comment on this figure and this website ?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

12. My little 1,100 Sq ft condo in Downtown San Jose (about 50 miles south of SF

crashed in value but is still worth about $300,000.00. Good luck finding anything in the $200,000.00 range. Hell, rooms rent for $800 to a thou.

On the bright side, when we moved to Tucson (still have the SJ condo and sit on the hoa board) we joined up with drinking liberally, Tucson. They asked us if we belonged to drinking liberally in San Jose. We looked at each other and laughed! If you go out drinking ANYWHERE in the bay area, you are drinking liberally. I'm sure there are teabaggers there but they tend to keep to themselves.

[ROBROX]

6. THE BEST IN A SMALL WORLD

I have lived in the east and have been in the south. I always returned to the BAY AREA. Good weather and great people. You should think about living in the EAST BAY and taking BART to S.F. I lived in the NON CITY of Castro Valley. Over 50,000 people and it is not a city. Lots of trees and easy people with a great hospital (which has emergency service that other areas select for emergency service with helos)and everything you could find in a community. Don't think of OAKLAND. Unless you need the social closeness of the city for your every need.
I am not to sure of other places closer to S.F. My father did work in S.F. for 40 years and he commuted (two major bridges to pick to travel to S.F.) from Castro Valley.
CHEERS

[proud patriot]

7. I live in Contra Cotsa County

a quick ride on BART into the city ... lots of homes much more afforable out here.

[CreekDog]

15. Yes, but why move all the way to the Bay Area to live in a suburb?

and why live in a suburb to have a condo?

the urban side of these places is what makes them worthwhile, not the suburban.

i'm not talking about you, i'm talking about someone who is moving here from somewhere far away and is new to the Bay Area.

San Francisco
Berkeley
some parts of Oakland
San Jose (maybe)
Palo Alto (if you can swing it)
Walnut Creek (if you want to live in a cool and kind of urban suburb)

[proud patriot]

17. 122,067 is the population of a big city near me

yet it's a suburb, has an airport, ballet etc things that SF has and Money are key reasons why not.
Get to the Bay Area first anywhere, then figure out which part is best for your needs. We have such disverse micro climates and people there are definate parts I wouldn't want to live in . If the OP is looking for a more big city feel the penisula near south SF will likely be the best option for them.

[Ignis]

8. SF is nearly as expensive as Manhattan.

If you want to escape Red-State Hell, you should definitely move to the Bay Area. But you're not going to find a decent house for $200k, even in this crappy market.

I suggest the East Bay, Berkeley/Oakland area. Great place, great people, short BART-ride to the City.

[mbob731325]

19. i agree

[roody]

9. I live 100 miles north of SF.

There are many towns with a lower or not-much-lower cost of living between here and SF. The public transit is not as good as east or south of SF.

[Auggie]

10. Even if you rent you'll pay throught the nose in S.F.

That and the summer weather is going to be the biggest adjustment, IMO. It's damn cold and foggy June through August. I lived in the city 18 years and loved it, though. Depending on where you settle in S.F. you probably can get along without needing a car (I did for many years), so consider putting that savings towards a nicer place.

Culture? Hey, it's one of America's great melting pots. No one gives a shit what you are -- just enjoy being whatever you want to be.

Contra Costa County, as suggested elsewhere, would be a good alternative to San Francisco. Let us know what you decide.

[proud patriot]

11. I live 33 miles east of SF and the temps

are in the 80s and 90s in the summer. anywhere east of the tunnel is warm in the summer.

[CreekDog]

16. SF itself is cold during the summer and rainy during the winter

summers are even colder in recent years than normal.

away from the ocean, it warms rapidly with 80-90 degree temps even 15 miles inland the norm, while the beaches are 60-65 and the shores of the bay generally around 75.

it's expensive here.

but it's a forward thinking area and as progressive of one as you'll find in the USA. lots of Obama supporters here, lots of people to the left of him here...few admitted Republicans, even in the suburbs --which are as solidly blue as most cities in the US.

people are really into their work/jobs here, perhaps too much so, the place attracts professionals and there are a glut of them and then they work their asses off and live in cramped apartments and old houses for the priviledge.

but it's kind of an amazing place, as is California (LA too). it's an experience worth having.

:hi:

[proud patriot]

18. +1

[woolldog]

20. You can find something decent in Oakland for that price.

I'd look in the parts of Oakland that are about to be gentrified. That area south of Berkeley, but north of MacArthur, adjacent to telegraph and shattuck avenues. I was going through that area recently and thinking what a good 10 year or so investment property in that area would be.

[KamaAina]

21. Roger that

The Temescal neighborhood described above is a picture-postcard exhibit of a walkable urban neighborhood, with lots of cafes, ethnic restaurants (several Ethiopian!), boutiques and the like.

[XemaSab]

22. What do you do for a living?

Would you consider the Valley?

You could buy a nice house for that amount in Sacramento. The Bay Area proper... that's a really tight budget.

Also, are you handy?

It might even be worth your while to just rent something in the Bay Area and see if something you like comes up.

[steve2470]

23. Not handy and yes I may want to rent first, good idea

I can't move for a few more years, so in that period of time I'll need to pay some long visits and do my research and think it over. Thanks !

[proud patriot]

25. With our son getting older we may have a room come up for rent

it's a small house but for a DUers eager to joing the Bay Area. let us know if you need a place to crash while you visit.

We have dogs .. big dogs but nice dogs.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cleita]

27. San Francisco is really expensive.

You might want to find another, smaller city along the coast that has less expensive real estate. Many of the smaller communities have the same vibe you probably liked in SF and similar weather, but are cheaper to live in.

[Kerrytravelers]

28. How are you doing with your research?

[steve2470]

29. Everyone here has been so nice and helpful

I need to take some long (2 weeks or more) trips to the Northern California area to scout out real estate and really firm up my decision.
It's a huge decision and I can't really make it until my son gets out of high school here locally, so I have tons of time to think it over.
Thanks for asking.

Steve

[Kerrytravelers]

30. I grew up in Northern California.

There are TONS of areas in and out of San Francisco that you might really like.

Best of luck!

[proud patriot]

32. let me know if you need a couch to crash on

:-)

[steve2470]

33. ok thank you kindly

I do need to visit for at least a few weeks or more.

[proud patriot]

34. Well my Family will welcome you anytime

We vacation in July otherwise we are here. and I've learned that DUers are wonderful people
who have helped me in the past so I will forever pay it forward as I can.

[KamaAina]

35. She's a sweetie, but

her place is very small. The kind realtors would describe as "cozy".

[The Green Manalishi]

31. check out Sonoma County.

ROhnert Park/Cotati, prices have crashed.

The Russian River area, about 30 miles west of Santa Rosa is cool.

Just played a gig for a really nice cohouseing development in Cotati.

Good reefer abounds, very progressive area, nice weather. 4000 wineries within a decent drive.