Planning to move to SFO
 

I'm planning to move to SFO, Wondered what good companys there are to find a decent locaion for an apartment?

Somewhere where my wife could go out by herself and come back at night (she doesnt drive).

It's just the both of us and willing to spend over $2K a month.

if you're planning to move here
 

I'd check a couple of sites to get at least an armchair traveler feel for neighborhoods -=

http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighbo..._San_Francisco

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/nei...orhood-Map.htm

SF is a city of neighborhoods and depending on what you are doing here- work, school, etc. - where you live depends on what you like and need. I'd plan a visit here first specifically to look around before you make any big decision on location.

If you are spending 2K and don't need a garage you will be in good shape. If you need a garage or have a dog, not so much.

I don't drive in town too often and I feel safe in most areas except for famously funky ones - Tenderloin, Bayview, Sunnydale, which IMHO are not areas where you'd want to live as a ne comer.

Many people here DON'T go through agencies. In fact agencies TEND to have the large faceless multi-unit buildings. If you are looking for that kind of place, YELP has a lot of reviews of agencies.

Otherwise check craigslist etc.

NOTE It's pretty standard for rentals to require first, last and an additional deposit. The TOTAL deposit cannot be more than 2 times the rent unless you rent a furnished apartment.

If you provide a few more details, some of us locals might have ideas for you. We've got low crime and your price range, so that helps. What about your work location? Downtown? You should consider your daily commute when choosing an apt.

I lived in the Richmond District for many years, and I highly recommend it. This is a safe, vibrant neighborhood with an interesting mix of people. It's less expensive than Pacific Heights, Marina, Cow Hollow, Telegraph/Russian Hill. There are express buses to downtown during commute hours.

Working around the Wharf. Though I used to live in a BIG city and takes me 30 to 45 minutes to get to work, so living anywhere around San Francisco is ok for me.

How many bedrooms were you expecting and the age of the building? SF is very expensive to live in, especially if you choose a fashionable neighborhood and a newer building and need a garage.

One or two bedrooms, space is important to us, new apartments are always great too.

I have rached Avalon though their apartments are quite too small.

Will you have parking included at work? The area within walking distance of your work is, unfortunately, some the most expensive real estate in SF. You might still look for apartments in that area, but brace yourself for sticker shock when you see the rent demands.

If you're willing to live a little farther west, I renew my Richmond District recommendation. Take a stroll down Clement Street starting at Arguello and go west. See what you think of the Richmond. I loved living there, and it's much cheaper than the area within a couple of miles of your work.

Driving or public transit to work? That will make a big difference in where you will want to live. It takes a surprising amount of time to get around the City of SF, whether on transit or driving. The Wharf has some transit options (but it's not ideal), and while the Richmond may be a decent and affordable place to live, I wouldn't want to rely on Muni to get me to the Wharf from there.

Also, the weather is wildly different in different parts of the city. Certain parts of the city do not see any afternoon sun at all during long segments of the Summer. There's a reason why rents at the beach are so much cheaper than rents near the ball park.

It looks like i'll be staying in SOMA, How's the area?

I might get a car and it would be easy to get to the wharf using The Embarcadero correct?

SOMA varies from block to block. The areas West of 5th and North of Harrison can be pretty bad in terms of homeless populations and drug use. Anything along the Embarcadero should be fine.

In terms of commuting, driving on the Embarcadero to the Wharf is generally fine unless there is a game at the ball park. That would also be a very easy bicycle commute, if that's something you are willing to do.

I'll be in the Yerba Buena area. Seems good by your description.

Generally, yes, the dicier parts of SOMA are farther west. You'll still have the usual hassles of life in a major city, but the Yerba Buena area is relatively safe. The F-line streetcars would probably be your best commute option. Also, you'll have some of the sunniest and warmest weather in SF; rjque isn't kidding about the microclimates. On some summer days, it will be clear skies and 70 for you while it's foggy and 62 just four miles to the west.

Be careful to check for yourself on the exact location of a potential apartment. There are no agreed-upon border lines between the neighborhoods, and whoever is selling/renting out a place might put some spin on the location. For example, you'll sometimes see "lower Pacific Heights" when it's really the Western Addition. In SOMA, some blocks are gorgeous and safe while others are dilapidated and dangerous.

If you will rely on public transportation, there are some MUNI lines in SF that are more frequent than others. Older buildings tend to have larger apartments. My suggestion would be to spend a few days traveling around on MUNI or BART to get a feel for neighborhoods and to understand commute times. For $2k per month you will get a larger 1 bedroom or small 2 bedroom in the more desirable areas.

Here is a new map showing crime on a block by block basis:

http://www.trulia.com/crime/#!san-fr..._Francisco,CA/

I've actually now switched over to Nob Hill, It's 2 to 3 blocks north of Union Square.