Moving to Bay Area - next steps
As Shel Israel mentioned in his post on Naked Conversations: Why the Bay Area is still special for Tech Folk I am moving to the Bay Area.
As I write this I am subleting a loft in downtown Oakland. I spent this weekend, when not having sushi with Robert Scoble exploring housing options in San Francisco.
What I am seeking (and leave a comment or email me if you can help me) is:
- an inexpensive, furnished housing option for Dec and Jan in San Francisco, Oakland or Berkeley in a location with easy BART access. Ideal would be something for Dec in the < $1500 range.
Furnished means: clean full or larger bed, dining area, functional kitchen, internet access
- accommodation should be somewhat private as my girlfriend will be joining me at least for some long weekends…
More long term, we’re looking for something with the following features:
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< $2000/mth (ideally)
Great kitchen and some entertaing space
Bathroom with good shower and tub (separate nice but not needed)
Space for home office (bonus room or 2nd bedroom)
Laundry in unit or at least in building
Either parking for at least one car OR very short distance from City Carshare spaces
Located in neighborhood in walking distance to grocery store, dry cleaners, cafes, some restaurants, and ideally other shops, farmers markets, movie theater(s) etc.
Specific areas I’ve been exploring, but suggestions for others are welcome are:
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Berkeley (north or central, don’t love area by Ashby BART though Elmwood is good)
Rockridge area of Oakland
Downtown Oakland (esp. “Old Oakland”)
Mission by 24th st. BART
Haight Ashbury
Pacific Heights (some parts)
North Beach
Inner Sunset (near N line MUNI)
part of Noe Valley
Hayes Valley / Castro
I’d love suggestions, either of specific spaces that are available or of other neighborhoods which I should consider.
We are urban dwellers and I often keep late hours, so a neighborhood that is conducive to that is important. That also means that should my girlfriend be walking home after dark she would need to feel safe and comfortable.
While it is not our first choice, we are open to share options, though only if we would have privacy (i.e. separate bathrooms are strongly preferred, separate floors even better).
So besides the obvious suggestion of “check Craigslist” does anyone have ideas?