East coaster needs relocation advice near San Francisco

[lindysalsagal]

Gonna retire and my kids are in san fran area. I want to rent a small house for $1700/month and be in or near a liberal cultural center. Got any advice? I'm a total newbie to CA. Where to look and where to avoid?

[Cartoonist]

1. You need more $

$1700 might get you a 1 bedroom apartment in the suburbs. Forget about SF, you'll only get a room for that.

[still_one]

2. Unless you are looking for a place in Lodi, Stockton, Sacramento, Los Banos etc.

you will have problems finding a house to rent for 1700/month, let alone an apartment

My advice, come out here for a two week visit, to see what you are getting into.

If your kids are out here, they should be able to tell you what it is like

If you are considering the areas I pointed out, keep in mind that traffic congestion is a problem the closer you are to the SF bay area, but you really need to come out here for two or three weeks to see what you will be dealing with

[democratisphere]

3. The greater SF bay area has some of the highest prices in America.

I would reconsider the move unless you have available resources of this magnitude.

Checkout this info:

https://smartasset.com/mortgage/what-is-the-cost-of-living-in-san-francisco

[wasupaloopa]

4. No way you are going to rent in San Francisco for $1700. I suggest living in Salinas and driving a

bit to visit.

[iangmac]

5. Davis, CA

nt

[lindysalsagal]

6. Thanks, everyone. I can be like 2 hours or even 3 away from Palo Alto. Sorry. Should have clarified

I found some in little towns south of San Jose. What say you?

[California_Republic]

7. Those pushed out of SF

Are living in the area town pushing up prices in places like Petaluma.

[Mr.Bill]

8. I live in Lake County

about 150 miles north of Palo Alto. You can rent a very nice 1500 sq ft three bedroom house here for 1700. Beautiful scenery, small town atmosphere and the largest natural lake in California. Not ultra liberal, but Hillary Clinton won here. Turning more liberal over the three decades I've been here. We've had some big fires here, but there are areas that are relatively safe from that.
PM me if you have any specific questions.

[ROB-ROX]

9. Bay Area : EAST BAY

I lived in Alameda County in the Castro Valley/Hayward area. Castro Valley has over 50,000 people & is NOT a city (the people have voted NO to becoming a city for years.) Quiet and nice with rapid transit (BART) Excellent freeway access and very good traffic in the non town.

[lindysalsagal]

10. Thanks. Keeping all this information handy to make my move!

[CaptainTruth]

11. For $1700 you might consider a townhouse.

That's what I did when I first moved to the East Bay, a 4-unit building with an enclosed garage, a nice arrangement.

Keep in mind that unless you're moving from Manhattan everything is going to be more expensive than you're used to, food, gas, utilities, etc.

When I left CA about 8 years ago my neighbors with air conditioning (I didn't have it) had PG&E (gas & electric) bills over $300 a month. Where I'm at now in FL my gas bill averages about $14 a month & electric is $50-$80 a month depending on the season.

[lindysalsagal]

12. Yikes!

[LuckyLib]

13. Read a recent article in the San Jose Mercury News about

housing prices in the Bay Area. Very sobering. I grew up out there and would like to move back near our daughter, but the cost of living is very high and the traffic unreal. It’s discouraging.

[lindysalsagal]

14. My daughter's paying a lot for rent.