Relocating

[NoCoastFocus]

I may be relocating to the San Francisco Bay area. I know that living expenses are higher there, however I would like to know exactly how much everything costs. I have found 2 bedroom apartments for around $2,000, but what other expenses can I expect to pay once I move gas prices, parking, utilities, what else? The more information the better, thanks all. Also, I will be earing about $80k, is this enough to live comfortably out there, thanks.

 

[Bryan C.]

I may be relocating to the San Francisco Bay area. I know that living expenses are higher there, however I would like to know exactly how much everything costs. I have found 2 bedroom apartments for around $2,000, but what other expenses can I expect to pay once I move gas prices, parking, utilities, what else? The more information the better, thanks all. Also, I will be earing about $80k, is this enough to live comfortably out there, thanks.

Where in the bay area are you thinking about moving to? 80K should be enough to get by, just depends on where you want to move to. I heard on the news the other night that the bay area has the highest gas prices in the country right now. Most stations in my area are around $3.20 a gallon right now.

 

[NoCoastFocus]

My job should be in Foster City and this is where I have looked at apartments and such. I don't need to be centrally located and I don't need a luxury condo or something either. I just wanna be able to buy the occassional jeep part and take my fiance out to dinner. She will probably make at least 80k as well being a Sonographer so we should be able to do alright. But I am just trying to see how far ahead we will come out if at all.
Are there good areas versus bad areas? Any recommendations for easy commuting? Thanks.

 

[sharpie1k]

Where in the bay area are you thinking about moving to? 80K should be enough to get by, just depends on where you want to move to. I heard on the news the other night that the bay area has the highest gas prices in the country right now. Most stations in my area are around $3.20 a gallon right now.

Davis is at 3.27/gallon at chevron, higher at shell, and ARCO, the lowest, is at 3.13

My job should be in Foster City and this is where I have looked at apartments and such. I don't need to be centrally located and I don't need a luxury condo or something either. I just wanna be able to buy the occassional jeep part and take my fiance out to dinner. She will probably make at least 80k as well being a Sonographer so we should be able to do alright. But I am just trying to see how far ahead we will come out if at all.
Are there good areas versus bad areas? Any recommendations for easy commuting? Thanks.

Pretty much all of the South Bay is pretty dang expensive, including Foster, San Carlos, Redwood City, and the like(my girlfriend's parents live in San Carlos). I'd try San Mateo, or try across the bridge in Hayward.

 

[Slonopotam]

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Sunnyvale/Santa Clara
We were paying 1250 a month for 2 bed apt 1200 sq ft for a few years, a year ago manager increased it to 1400, today got a letter about a next increase in 2 months - 1600. Feels like moving.

Our friends live very close and pay 1100 for 2 beds, about the same footage, but in a quadruplex, no pool, one parking space, Santa Clara.
Another couple pays 1700 in Cupertino, but I am not quite sure what for. I thought they rent a house, but now my wife says it's a triplex, just a big one.

80K in Peninsula/South Bay is not much at all. 2x80K should be fine, unless you are going to buy a house, then I am not sure

Anyway,
www.craigslist.org should help you with search for housing.

Andrey

 

[NoCoastFocus]

Excellent. Thanks for all the info, I am going to keep searching for housing. In the mean time I am going to try and figure out if this move will be worth it in the end...How is the wheelin scene? How far must one drive?

 

[sharpie1k]

Hollister is an hour from San Carlos (If I remember correctly), and Frank Raines is about 40 minutes. Also, about three or four hours from the Rubicon, Fordyce, etc.

 

[Smittty9785]

around here gas is about 3.50 now for regular.

 

[Bryan C.]

My job should be in Foster City and this is where I have looked at apartments and such. I don't need to be centrally located and I don't need a luxury condo or something either. I just wanna be able to buy the occassional jeep part and take my fiance out to dinner. She will probably make at least 80k as well being a Sonographer so we should be able to do alright. But I am just trying to see how far ahead we will come out if at all.
Are there good areas versus bad areas? Any recommendations for easy commuting? Thanks.

I think you guys should be fine at 160K per year. Depending on your financial situation you may even be able to buy a house. Housing is really expensive, but with the down market going on right now you can get a great deal from a motivated seller and a sub-prime loan to buy it with makes it a viable option. Just like everything in life, if you look around you might be able to find a great place to rent for reasonably cheap just to get your feet wet and see if you like the area. The commute is tough in places, but not that bad if you find somewhere close to where you work. If you are really that worried, come out and visit for a weekend and see for yourself, you could even find a few locals to show you around a bit if you wanted. Lots of great places to see and weather is beautiful too.

 

[NoCoastFocus]

Sweet. I may take you up on that offer. I am going to be coming out there in the next few weeks for a few days so I will be in touch. I love microbrews so that might be a good place to start.

 

[Bryan C.]

Sweet. I may take you up on that offer. I am going to be coming out there in the next few weeks for a few days so I will be in touch. I love microbrews so that might be a good place to start.

Cool man, send me a PM before you come out.

 

[Letterman]

Traffic can be really bad in the bay area, if you know where you are going to work try to get close to it.

Stay out of East Palo Alto, Hunters Point in SF is bad too! That is unless you are already in a gang or need to buy drugs . . .

 

[NoCoastFocus]

^Haha. I will avoid those areas and try and get a less thuggish hook up...
I am sure it will take some time to get used to traffic but I guess traffic is the one thing I figured would be most interesting. I think most of your bad drivers have already moved to Colorado though...jk.

 

[firefight343]

Im 18, living in Milpitas (a suburb just north east of san jose) and trying to support myself in the area as I am training to be a firefighter. generally the name of the game around here is commuting, unfortunately its seems to be every one's 'game' and thus, traffic. Slonopotam and sharpie1k are right, the south bay is expensive where ever you look (especially around the penninsula), but if two of you make around 160K a year, you should be in decent shape i also extend an offer if you do decide to come down, let me know. Ed

PS the drive to Hollister OHV is more like an hour and a half...without any traffic

 

[NoCoastFocus]

Thanks for all the support. I did get the job and I will be relocating within the next few months. My next question are the laws regarding 4x4's. I have trimmed fenders with no flares, lifted with 32's. What problems am I going to have? Should I invest in some flares? What are some of the problems I am going to have with DD my XJ? Thanks in advance.

-Bryan & Fire, I will let you know when I am planning on settling in and we can have a brew.

 

[selarep]

you wont have any issues with the law and your rig. the law applies to larger tires... 32's are just fine. trimmed fenders, no worries. I'm in the police academy and we're told not to mess with anything 4x4 related unless its super big.

 

[NoCoastFocus]

^Thanks alot! One less thing to worry about.

 

[selarep]

sure thing, if you ever have any vehicle code questions feel free to contact me (or any law enforcement codes what so ever) and I'll be glad to help ya out!

 

[Gary E]

I have never been to hollister, but I beleive its a OHV park, to me that means limited space and quite a few people. You would be 3-4 hours to the con, fordyce and barret, and 5 ish hours to swamp lake area. I can't stand the gay area, but I am small town country boy from Idaho. I currently live in rural area just outside of Sacramento.

 

[sharpie1k]

hollister is a ton of acres. It really is very big.