Might be moving to the Bay area...

[Mookie]

I got offered a job down in SFO (downtown) and I'm considering taking it.  It probably won't pay that great but more than I'm making now (will it cover the increased cost of living?  doubtful) and I could use a place with less shitty winter and better riding.  Plus my GF has been bugging me to move to California for a couple years now.

So, my question for y'all is, where should I move?  I've got a dog and several bikes, so having a little yard and some off street parking is pretty essential.  I'll be renting and would like to live in a spot that's conducive to walking.

I'm thinking Oakland or Berkeley would probably be my best place to find a house or condo but am unfamiliar with the neighborhoods, though I have spent a little time in Oakland. Also, I know that at least in SF the weather changes based on what part of the city you're in.  I want sun.  

Advice?

[DogBoy]

You might find a rental house with a small yard on the Peninsula. I've got friends with multiple bikes that live in Daly City or South San Francisco and they acceptable size garages and small yards. Further down the Peninsula can be more reasonable or mind blowingly expensive every few miles. More sun the further south you go. Upside is that your commute is easier than the Bay Bridge and less crime than Oakland or Berkeley. You're close enough to all the interesting stuff in San Francisco. Downside is that it can get chilly every evening but you do get some sun. I have a friend that grew up in Pacifica and he didn't even know they made short sleeve shirts until he was six years old.  

Let me know when you hit town so I can get you some seat time at the kart track at Sears Point for some Supermoto riding.

[vitaminC]

You should repost in Region 1...

Where you live will be greatly affected by how much you are willing to spend. If you go to Oakland, triple check the neighborhood first so you're not in gang land. Consider also the proximity of your work and home to public transit, as commuting into the city everyday and dealing with parking may not be worth the hassle- bike or otherwise.

You can find all sorts of rental opportunities via http://sfbay.craigslist.org/

[Blunder]

If you want sunshine in SF the best neighborhoods would be the Mission, Potrero Hill and Bernal Heights. Every 'hood in the city has enclaves of peace and tranquility interspersed with areas of trouble. Well, except maybe Seacliff but then you'd have Robin Williams as a neighbor. The Marina might be worth checking out.

The east bay is ok as long asyou stick to the hills, but the higher up the hill the higher the cost of real estate. You could look to the other side of those hills towards Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasonton, Livermore and such. They've got BART out there, the sun always shines and the temps are about 20 degrees warmer than SF and the northern peninsula. It's real suburbia out there.

As mentioned, the peninsula can have some good deals just as it can be outrageously expensive. If you're working in SF I wouldn't look farther south than Redwwod City. The commute's a bitch, especially on 101 near Oracle and mass transit is not so mass.

For a laugh, check out Marin. Then move on. Or you might get lucky. Who knows?

You'll have to see for yourself.

[Orson]

Back in the late 1980s I wuz paying $500 a month rent for a passable shack in Napa.

But, hey I had a motorcycle and lived around the best roads in the world, so life wuz good  

Lane splitting will get you from SF to Napa in a little over an hour  

[JonS]

The last place I lived in was in East Richmond heights. Richmond itself is pretty awful, but as mentioned, the hills are a different story. It was a short ride to Berkley and a commute on the Bay Bridge.  The best thing is not to have a bridge between yourself and your work, which means the Peninsula, or taking BART, the rail system.
I loved living there!

[bluepoof]

.  The best thing is not to have a bridge between yourself and your work,

Quoted for truth!!  

[Andrew]

+1  on not having to cross a bridge

[bsd43]

Where in SF is this job? How will you be commuting? And, how much are you willing to pay? These will be key questions, especially if you ALSO want parking, yard, dog AND conducive to walking.

General rule in Berkeley: draw a straight line between North Berkeley BART and Rockridge BART. North of it is OK.

There're nice parts of Oakland, but there's also the world-famous parts. Probably requires some scouting time after you arrive to familiarize yourself with the 'hoods.

Emeryville may be OK too -- it's right at the bridge, so it cuts down on sitting in traffic if you have to cross it. I lived there for 7 years, and commuted to San Francisco by car for 4. And it's very well policed, for being so close to the shit parts of Oakland.

To get real sun on the Peninsula, look south of Millbrae.

[Mookie]

Where in SF is this job? How will you be commuting? And, how much are you willing to pay? These will be key questions, especially if you ALSO want parking, yard, dog AND conducive to walking.

General rule in Berkeley: draw a straight line between North Berkeley BART and Rockridge BART. North of it is OK.

There're nice parts of Oakland, but there's also the world-famous parts. Probably requires some scouting time after you arrive to familiarize yourself with the 'hoods.

Emeryville may be OK too -- it's right at the bridge, so it cuts down on sitting in traffic if you have to cross it. I lived there for 7 years, and commuted to San Francisco by car for 4. And it's very well policed, for being so close to the shit parts of Oakland.

To get real sun on the Peninsula, look south of Millbrae.

I'm not entirely certain but I believe the work place is on 5th street and Bluxome.   What sort of average times are we looking at if I were to live across the bridge?  I'm definitely more of an urban type and if I could I'd like to live in the Mission or somewhere in the city proper.

[Blunder]

The Bay Bridge comute depends on time of day and mode of transport. Inbound to the City is pretty jammed up by 7 AM, lasting 'til about 9. Fast Pass and a motorcycle greatly ease the hassle. Be brave and lane split like a demon.

Garage space might be hard to come by in the Mission. Not impossible, but could be difficult. I used to live on Guerrero between 16th & 17th in a typical 6 unit building. It had garage space for 2.5 cars or however many motorcycles my roomies and I could fit. We paid extra for the entire space. Most residents parked on the street or didn't own cars. Real cityfolk. Lots of corner markets, some decent bars and a nice variety of eateries. Motorcycle stores, too. I think I'm talking myself into moving back.

5th and Bluxome? South Beach/China Basin. Near the ballpark in a revived neighborhood that used to be sweatshops and small industries like printers, machine shops and the like. A nice, mostly flat bicycle commute from the Mission. Just a few blocks, too.

[bsd43]

The Mission is gritty and hip, if that's what you want. Dogpatch and Portrero Hill are the next up-and-coming neighborhoods that are right there where you'll work, and probably better areas to find places with parking. You'll be working right at the end of 280, so that will open a whole range of commuting possiblities from the Peninsula.

As for the Bay Bridge, it depends. In a car, during the rush, expect 30 minutes, sometimes 45, from the Maze (80/580/880 split in Emeryville) to 5th Street. You can pick up casual carjackerscarpoolers from various places in the East Bay and hit the carpool lane, and it'll cut down the metering lights wait. I can't speak for lanesplitting, as I commuted westbound before I was a rider. Add the time you'll need to get to the Maze.

Personally, I'm happy that I don't have to do the Bay Bridge commute anymore -- did 9 years of it, 4 years westbound, 5 years eastbound. If I were you, I would look at all the mid-Peninsula cities (Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, San Carlos, Belmont, maybe even San Bruno). Each have a CalTrain stop that would take you right across the street from your work, and each have a cute lil' "downtown" of their own for you to walk to.

Or hell, my wife did the 15 minute drive from Brisbane (where we are now) to 4th and Brennan (1 block from your potential work) for 3 years. Waaaay better than the Bay Bridge.

[bluepoof]

Also, our STN monthly dinners tend to be in the mid-peninsula which, of course, is the most important consideration when choosing a place to live.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Also, our STN monthly dinners tend to be in the mid-peninsula which, of course, is the most important consideration when choosing a place to live.  

She has a valid point here  

[Mookie]

Also, our STN monthly dinners tend to be in the mid-peninsula which, of course, is the most important consideration when choosing a place to live.  

 It's been a long time since I've hung out with a bunch of crazy STNers (or maybe I was the crazy one).  I don't really know anyone down there so it'd be awesome to catch up with the ole' crew.  

[Playinthestreet]

The Mission and West Mission are good spots for urban living, but I don't know where you'd find a yard and/or reasonably priced off-street parking.

[5OUTTA6]

If you can walk  you don't need  personal power transportation in SF.  Buy yourself a good pair of walking shoes and a  transit pass (clipper card) .  

[Mookie]

I'm flying down tomorrow!  The company is putting me up in a fancy hotel for the night and I have an interview on Thursday.  

[Orson]

I espouse the George Constanza interview method...

Act like you could care less whether you get the job or not. It will leave them with the impression that you have multiple job offers and therefore are highly desirable  

[Mookie]

I espouse the George Constanza interview method...

Act like you could care less whether you get the job or not. It will leave them with the impression that you have multiple job offers and therefore are highly desirable  

That really does work