Moving from Florida, excited and terrified. Give me some advice.

[wingnut1000]

I'm moving to the bay area from Florida next month and I'm pretty frustrated as I don't know anything about the area. I'm flying out this week to try and find and apartment but honestly I don't even know where to begin, so I'm reaching out to the only community I'm really familiar with.

Looking to live in the bay area, under San Francisco, above San Jose
What areas are safe but have affordable housing? (2-3k/mo)
What areas should I avoid?
Any online resources that show a good overview of good/bad areas?
How long is your commute, does it really take 2 hours to get in and out of SF?
I'm bringing 2 cars and a bike.
Know anyone looking for a good System Administrator?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't know anyone out there, so this is quite daunting.

 

[ALANRIDER7]

Bring lots of money.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

I'm moving to the bay area from Florida next month and I'm pretty frustrated as I don't know anything about the area. I'm flying out this week to try and find and apartment but honestly I don't even know where to begin, so I'm reaching out to the only community I'm really familiar with.

Looking to live in the bay area, under San Francisco, above San Jose
What areas are safe but have affordable housing? (2-3k/mo)
What areas should I avoid?
Any online resources that show a good overview of good/bad areas?
How long is your commute, does it really take 2 hours to get in and out of SF?
I'm bringing 2 cars and a bike.
Know anyone looking for a good System Administrator?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't know anyone out there, so this is quite daunting.

You questions are way too general. You're asking about an area 50 miles long with hundreds of towns and areas. There are typically no general "areas" to avoid, though all towns have bad sections. Have you done any research yourself? How are you moving here without knowing anything about it at all?

It could take 2 hours to get in and out, but depends on how far outside the city you live. Hell it could take 30 minutes once you exit to reach your destination depending on where it is.

2 cars and a bike? Yikes. Good luck with that parking situation.

Also you won't easily find a place to live without having a job first.

Your best bet

1. Find a job
2. Find out where that job is
3. See how much that job pays
4. Decide on your area based on #2 and #3

Then get back to us.

Seriously if you show up to rent a place with no job they'll give it to the guy who has a job.

http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/3202-where-can-you-afford-to-live-in-the-bay-area

Also this isn't really a motorcycle question so I suggest you request it be moved to the Sink.

 

[Pking]

Florida has no helmet law so have fun riding in the wind if you dare. I tried it when I went to visit family and didn't last a mile before putting helmet back on. Too many damn bugs slapping you in the face even at 10mph. So screw that! They can have it. Other than that, if you get over the humidity factor, then it'll be home sweet home. IMO

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Florida has no helmet law so have fun riding in the wind if you dare. I tried it when I went to visit family and didn't last a mile before putting helmet back on. Too many damn bugs slapping you in the face even at 10mph. So screw that! They can have it. Other than that, if you get over the humidity factor, then it'll be home sweet home. IMO

He's moving from Florida.

 

[hyo650]

You questions are way too general. You're asking about an area 50 miles long with hundreds of towns and areas. There are typically no general "areas" to avoid, though all towns have bad sections. Have you done any research yourself? How are you moving here without knowing anything about it at all?

It could take 2 hours to get in and out, but depends on how far outside the city you live. Hell it could take 30 minutes once you exit to reach your destination depending on where it is.

2 cars and a bike? Yikes. Good luck with that parking situation.

Also you won't easily find a place to live without having a job first.

Your best bet

1. Find a job
2. Find out where that job is
3. See how much that job pays
4. Decide on your area based on #2 and #3

Then get back to us.

Seriously if you show up to rent a place with no job they'll give it to the guy who has a job.

http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/3202-where-can-you-afford-to-live-in-the-bay-area

Also this isn't really a motorcycle question so I suggest you request it be moved to the Sink.

VERY true!!

 

[wingnut1000]

You questions are way too general. You're asking about an area 50 miles long with hundreds of towns and areas. There are typically no general "areas" to avoid, though all towns have bad sections. Have you done any research yourself? How are you moving here without knowing anything about it at all?

It could take 2 hours to get in and out, but depends on how far outside the city you live. Hell it could take 30 minutes once you exit to reach your destination depending on where it is.

2 cars and a bike? Yikes. Good luck with that parking situation.

Also you won't easily find a place to live without having a job first.

Your best bet

1. Find a job
2. Find out where that job is
3. See how much that job pays
4. Decide on your area based on #2 and #3

Then get back to us.

Seriously if you show up to rent a place with no job they'll give it to the guy who has a job.

http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/3202-where-can-you-afford-to-live-in-the-bay-area

Also this isn't really a motorcycle question so I suggest you request it be moved to the Sink.

The wife will have a job near San Jose.
I'm having difficulty finding a job. I've had TONS of recruiters call me but the moment they find out I'm not living there yet, they hang up or "it's not gonna work out"
So catch 22, not living there = no job.... no job = can't get a place there

cool website, checking it out.

the Sink?

 

[HappyHighwayman]

The wife will have a job near San Jose.
I'm having difficulty finding a job. I've had TONS of recruiters call me but the moment they find out I'm not living there yet, they hang up or "it's not gonna work out"
So catch 22, not living there = no job.... no job = can't get a place there

cool website, checking it out.

the Sink?

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2

Kitchen Sink for general.

Unless you are in a high demand profession where they have headhunters looking for your unique skills, or know someone at the company who can refer you, or as noted, are already living there, you likely won't find one easily. Why should they pay to move you when they have tons of local people? etc.

You probably should have mentioned that you're moving because your wife has a job there. You need to decide what kind of commute you want to give your wife. If you live in San Francisco (which you can't do with 2 cars and a bike for $2000-$3000 a month unless your place is tiny and you spend the difference on parking spots), she'll be on the road 2-3 hours a day, easy.

I'd say living in /around San Jose is your best bet. You can commute on your bike and save a lot of time. My average is 35 minutes from SF to Foster City (22 miles each way), and I'm not skilled or aggressive

 

[UDRider]

Bring lots of money.

and blow.

 

[NoGall]

If your wife already has a job in San Jose, then look for a place in or as near to San Jose as possible. It doesn't make any sense to consider living closer to SF. Once you land a job, then start considering a more permanent location that would better meet your respective commute.

Good luck to your move, and welcome to Cali!

 

[dtrides]

Sell stretched swingarm and chrome rims before leaving Florida?
DT

 

[kelsodeez]

lane splitting is legal so dont get butthurt when you are caging it.


also, bring a sweatshirt everywhere even if its 80 degrees out. most likely it will be 60 degrees just 5 miles away from where you are

 

[Lester Green]

If you want a real shock (since you're from the flat swamp lands of Florida) get a place in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Easy commute to SJ (30 min, 15-20 miles away from SJ) and being from Florida the trees and mountains will take your breath away. Plus all the awesome local mountain roads will be in your back yard. 2,000-2500k a month will get you a fairly decent place up here.

 

[elbacalao]

Between SF and SJ, the only place I would avoid would be EAST Palo Alto and to a lesser extent, Redwood City. Those two cities have the highest crime rate in the peninsula. Neither of them are as bad as Oakland. For 2-3k you should be able to find a place in the peninsula. (the area between SF and SJ)

 

[wingnut1000]

Between SF and SJ, the only place I would avoid would be EAST Palo Alto and to a lesser extent, Redwood City. Those two cities have the highest crime rate in the peninsula. Neither of them are as bad as Oakland. For 2-3k you should be able to find a place in the peninsula. (the area between SF and SJ)

Good advice thank you

 

[wingnut1000]

If you want a real shock (since you're from the flat swamp lands of Florida) get a place in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Easy commute to SJ (30 min, 15-20 miles away from SJ) and being from Florida the trees and mountains will take your breath away. Plus all the awesome local mountain roads will be in your back yard. 2,000-2500k a month will get you a fairly decent place up here.

The Mountains sound awesome but too far north

 

[wingnut1000]

lane splitting is legal so dont get butthurt when you are caging it.


also, bring a sweatshirt everywhere even if its 80 degrees out. most likely it will be 60 degrees just 5 miles away from where you are

Will do, thank you!!!

 

[ScottRNelson]

There are typically no general "areas" to avoid, though all towns have bad sections.

Pleasanton doesn't have any bad sections. You probably can't find a bad section in Dublin, San Ramon, or Danville either. But that's a bit of a drive in to San Jose. At least you have the option to take the ACE train.

The original poster needs to be a bit more specific about where the wife's job is at. I would expect more system administrator jobs in Silicon Valley (San Jose to about Redwood City or so) than in San Francisco. Now is not the best time to be looking for a job in that profession, though. Some companies are currently downsizing a bit.

 

[pregrid]

Fremont is a good place to live and just coincidently Tesla is in Fremont. they're in the midst of a huge rampup, lots of jobs available soon if not right now. 'bout 15 min to San Jose.

 

[sanjuro]

Serious bit of advice: near the Bay or ocean, it will be chilly. If you have only mesh gear, make sure you bring your windproof liners.