Possible move to the Bay Area **input requested**
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Sarasota, FL
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Been here since mid 1970 save for around 3 years I took a job in MO. I have lived in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Milpitas, Dublin, and now Livermore. I can tell you rent is going to be a real pain. Best advice I can offer is search for apartments for rent online and get a feel for prices.
You can have as many cars here as you can afford. I have 2 Porsches: A Boxster and a Turbo. Both are parked off street, one out in the open the other under a car port. But I live out in Livermore. Most of the time for commuting I drive the Boxster. Unless the Boxster is in the shop I only use the Turbo maybe one day a week to commute. Wednesdays then I drive the car again on the week end to keep the battery topped up and make sure the fluids get good and warm and circulate some.
Insurance isn't bad. Gas prices suck. We pay around $1/gallon more for gasoline here than the national average. There was an article in the last week or so stating this price difference was going to be "investigated" but those investigations are just to make the suckers feel like the government is working for them instead of against them. Nothing will come of it.
Sales tax just went to 10% here in Alameda County. Was 8.75%.
Traffic is pretty bad on that side of the bay. Bad on the other side, too, but I think it worse on the west side. Try to get a place as close to work as you can so you don't spend too much time in the car in traffic. I commute 30 mostly freeway miles but it takes me 40 minutes to an hour (or more) each way. The shorter commute times are if I can leave the house later -- like 9:30am and then leave the office 7pm. However, it seems once a week there's an accident or something that screws up the morning or evening commute. Oh, and wait until it rains. Then the streets become a bumper car playground. Most CA drivers can't drive worth a damn even in dry conditions.
You can have as many cars here as you can afford. I have 2 Porsches: A Boxster and a Turbo. Both are parked off street, one out in the open the other under a car port. But I live out in Livermore. Most of the time for commuting I drive the Boxster. Unless the Boxster is in the shop I only use the Turbo maybe one day a week to commute. Wednesdays then I drive the car again on the week end to keep the battery topped up and make sure the fluids get good and warm and circulate some.
Insurance isn't bad. Gas prices suck. We pay around $1/gallon more for gasoline here than the national average. There was an article in the last week or so stating this price difference was going to be "investigated" but those investigations are just to make the suckers feel like the government is working for them instead of against them. Nothing will come of it.
Sales tax just went to 10% here in Alameda County. Was 8.75%.
Traffic is pretty bad on that side of the bay. Bad on the other side, too, but I think it worse on the west side. Try to get a place as close to work as you can so you don't spend too much time in the car in traffic. I commute 30 mostly freeway miles but it takes me 40 minutes to an hour (or more) each way. The shorter commute times are if I can leave the house later -- like 9:30am and then leave the office 7pm. However, it seems once a week there's an accident or something that screws up the morning or evening commute. Oh, and wait until it rains. Then the streets become a bumper car playground. Most CA drivers can't drive worth a damn even in dry conditions.
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From: San Francisco
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SF and the Bay Area is a terrible place to live. Do not come here, you are making my commute worse... 
On another note, we should all have a Bay Area gathering.
On another note, we should all have a Bay Area gathering.
Last edited by Ms4cd; Apr 5, 2015 at 12:42 AM.
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From: San Francisco
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Then there's nothing to do when you get out here with your Porsche...not!
SF Car & Coffee and Blackhawk C & C attracted over 500 cars each in March...
Monterey and Laguna Seca is 1 1/2 hours drive down coast Hwy 1...home of Monterey Historics, Pebble Beach etc...This year it will host Rennsport V! Last year it was Werks...
Sonoma Raceway is 40 minutes from the City!
SF Car & Coffee and Blackhawk C & C attracted over 500 cars each in March...
Monterey and Laguna Seca is 1 1/2 hours drive down coast Hwy 1...home of Monterey Historics, Pebble Beach etc...This year it will host Rennsport V! Last year it was Werks...
Sonoma Raceway is 40 minutes from the City!
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From: BURLINGAME
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I live on the SF Peninsula, in one of the cities they say you can't afford. Yes, it's expensive on the Peninsula. It has become worse with the success of Facebook, Google and all the other tech powerhouses paying and rewarding stock options to their workers. I was born and raised here and, I still love it. There are so many great things nearby. Ocean, bay, SF, Tahoe 3-4 hours away, Monterey, Napa, Marin.
Are you committed to suburban living? If not, may I suggest you look at the San Mateo Coast. It is cheaper there than on the bay side of the peninsula. Great views, really pretty. There are suburban areas like Half Moon Bay and more rural, but still great areas like El Granada, Montara and Moss Beach. Since you own a Porsche, another area to look is the Skyline Boulevard area. Highway 35 is a great driving road. The Kings Mountain Community is only 15 minutes from Foster City. But you are at 2000 feet in a Redwood Forest.
I would not suggest you live in the East Bay. You are slave to the bridge for work and it's around $4.00 per crossing. You will be with all your other commuters morning and night. Highway 92 is a virtual parking lot during commute time. Other areas to consider are perhaps Belmont, San Mateo (there are some relatively inexpensive areas) and Redwood City. If you find a possible place, PM me with the address and I can give you an opinion if its high crime (I work in Law Enforcement). Try Craigslist SF Bay area and other online sites. You can find deals. Most homes in the area have at garages, usually 2 car. Good luck and post up when you arrive. I know we can get some 6speeders to provide a familiarization tour.
Are you committed to suburban living? If not, may I suggest you look at the San Mateo Coast. It is cheaper there than on the bay side of the peninsula. Great views, really pretty. There are suburban areas like Half Moon Bay and more rural, but still great areas like El Granada, Montara and Moss Beach. Since you own a Porsche, another area to look is the Skyline Boulevard area. Highway 35 is a great driving road. The Kings Mountain Community is only 15 minutes from Foster City. But you are at 2000 feet in a Redwood Forest.
I would not suggest you live in the East Bay. You are slave to the bridge for work and it's around $4.00 per crossing. You will be with all your other commuters morning and night. Highway 92 is a virtual parking lot during commute time. Other areas to consider are perhaps Belmont, San Mateo (there are some relatively inexpensive areas) and Redwood City. If you find a possible place, PM me with the address and I can give you an opinion if its high crime (I work in Law Enforcement). Try Craigslist SF Bay area and other online sites. You can find deals. Most homes in the area have at garages, usually 2 car. Good luck and post up when you arrive. I know we can get some 6speeders to provide a familiarization tour.
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Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Raritan NJ
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I knew posting here would get me great resposes, thanks all. I think my main goal is going to be short commute to work but I am single and 27 and would like to live in walking distance of some sort of downtown if that is possible.
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From: San Francisco & Pt Reyes Station California
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I've got an '04 TT x50 and live in SOMA in SF. We own our condo, but a 1 br in this neighborhood with indoor parking is going to cost you about $4000/month in rent. It gets cheaper the further South (or North or East) that you move.
If you have a convertible, in NorCal, you can have the top down 97% of the time. That's more than worth the cost of admission.
If you have a convertible, in NorCal, you can have the top down 97% of the time. That's more than worth the cost of admission.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: rocklin ca
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spent 5 years in the stanford area . sun is out when it cold and foggy in foster city and way less wind .... not far from the city and close to the coast (santa cruz) . great driving on skyline and fun food spots .... you will love it !!!!
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