San Francisco living... best areas?

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

Hello all

This is totally a weird question for me to be asking, but where are some of the best areas to live in SF? Not necessarily in terms of wealth, but in terms of hipness/student budget/convenience to things. I am considering living there in the summer of 2007 for an internship if I get it, and wanted to get some CA insight on the living situation over there. I've never visited, but I was looking at the Haight and Panhandle areas for apartments. I'd be making around 550 a week, every week, so I'm looking for something under 1400 a month.

Where/yes/no/pros/cons?

Thanks!

[CountAllVotes]

1. try the Richmond or Sunset districts

I lived in both (primarily the Richmond) for many years. They are safer and less congested than other parts of the City but close to bus lines, etc.

Cost of an apartment in SF is $$$$$$$$$$$. Be prepared. As for the panhandle and all of that, a place that was very cool and hip about 30 years ago. Nowadays, I hear its very much a yuppie hell.


:kick:

[proud patriot]

2. Wow let me know if you get it

:D we'll have to have a welcome party .

I don't live in the city , but I live close .

:woohoo:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

6. definitely!

i can't wait to meet some Cali DUers. what i really would like to do is rent an apt. with my brother and split costs... but he's a jazz musician and income would be sort of unsteady for him, methinks

[treefrogjohn]

3. I enjoy Noe Valley

Lots of small shops and street activity. Good neighborhood restaurants. Buses run through it and not too far from a BART station. Center is at Castro and 24th but it stretches all the way to Church Street. Apartments are probably costly but a lot of young adults seem to live in the area so there must be some affordable. And its just over a hill from the Castro district, if that is of interest.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

4. Thanks!

I heard about Noe Valley, too... but didn't know where it was in relation to the areas I mentioned before.

Also in terms of getting to and from the internship (901 Mission St.?)... I have no idea how the transportation system is in SF, is it like New York's? Or do they stop less frequently?

[treefrogjohn]

5. SF is very people-friendly re: public transportation

You will find frequent buses from Noe Valley running down Castro and Church to Mission and then down Mission to downtown. And there are other ways around too. Cycling is big and the hills are a good workout. :-)

[XemaSab]

8. SF has excellent transportation!!!

If you can't find anything affordable in San Francisco proper, consider the East Bay too.... BART (bay area rapid transit) runs all day every day, if you don't mind riding through the tunnel under the bay!!!!!

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Cole Valley - Cole Street is small, cool, and friendly

Small area close to good public transportation. Lots of good restaurants, coffeehouses, markets, cool music nightclub scene, etc. I lived in the Sunset but often visited Cole street and was never disappointed. As for cost? haven't a clue.

http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/colevalley.shtml

[EFerrari]

9. I think the Sunset is less expensive than Cole valley.

And we have students and painters and assorted whackos (like us!) 'way out by the end of the Earth, too. The Sunset is big, but in the few blocks by the beach, we have a hood going. When we got here about 2.5 years ago, we paid less than $1000 for a tiny one bedroom. I think you can still find something for that price range.

[bliss_eternal]

10. I wanna move there--

(whiny voice) Wah!

:( We get sick of Socal...

[EFerrari]

11. That's funny -- I had a forced move to SoCal and was

completely turned around for about two years -- the mountains run in the wrong direction! As soon I got settled in, we had to move back up here.

This would be a good time to move here. The rental market is pretty good. On the other hand, our hood is in a tsunami zone. :)

[bliss_eternal]

12. What are the rental rates like?

Tsunami zone?

:hi: Good to see you!

[EFerrari]

13. You can find a one bedroom for under a thousand dollars if you

look. Studios, definitely. And it goes up from there.

Good to see you, too. :hi:

[bliss_eternal]

14. Wow--

are you in the east bay or the bay? I can't wait to tell dh! We pay OVER a thousand here! It's a nice building, but it would rock to be in a city and community that we love, as well as one that has more people that share our beliefs.

[EFerrari]

15. I am one block from Ocean Beach in San Francisco.

And, the East Bay seems to have a similar rental market in the parts of Berkeley and Oakland that I know, anyway.

[cally]

16. I think some of the Colleges rent their dorms for

the summer. You may want to look into those. Let me know if you get it. I live close to SF. I would contact the housing offices and look for summer sublets or rentals. The coops at UC Berkeley are inexpensive and they used to rent during the summer.

[davidinalameda]

17. check Craigslist

I found my current apartment on there--I'm in the East Bay

[slutticus]

18. Hayes Valley/Lower Haight

My new home.

:party:

[Kablooie]

19. The Tenderloin

Cheap digs with friendly neighbors.