Moving To Bay Area. Need Advice.

[NullUnit2000]

Some of you may have read my thread a while back about me being offered a job up near San Jose. Well, I accepted and now I need to worry about finding a place to live.

The job is in Redwood City. I have been looking for something in Redwood City or near by. San Mateo, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto. I would like to avoid SF proper and San Jose is pushing my commute limit.

My question is, can anybody comment on the above mentioned cities or suggest any others? I am not very familar with the area and would like to avoid any scary neighborhoods.

Thanks!

[welfareloser]

i'm sure lots of people will have helpful advice to narrow your search, but no matter what anyone says... visit the areas first before you make any final decisions. a year long lease can be a jail sentence if you don't do your research...

[zenbooty]

I used to work in Redwood city. I lived in Palo Alto for awhile. Its a short distance commute, made longer by heavy traffic. Avoid East Palo Alto, its the most dangerous part of the peninsula. I'd avoid anything on the East Bay, as well. Commuting across the bridges is ridiculous. Other than that, you shouldn't have trouble finding something nice most anywhere. You might want to look at Foster city. Its a tiny little area near Redwood city with a lot of nice neighborhoods. Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and San Jose are all a bit far IMHO.

[ray]

Some of you may have read my thread a while back about me being offered a job up near San Jose. Well, I accepted and now I need to worry about finding a place to live.

The job is in Redwood City. I have been looking for something in Redwood City or near by. San Mateo, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto. I would like to avoid SF proper and San Jose is pushing my commute limit.

My question is, can anybody comment on the above mentioned cities or suggest any others? I am not very familar with the area and would like to avoid any scary neighborhoods.

Thanks!

My friend lives in that area, and I was actually just up there visiting him. He currently lives in Redwood City in a studio apartment. From what I saw, Redwood City was very nice. Nice suburban area with all of the necessities you would need (ie: food, supermarkets, dry cleaning, blockbuster, etc).

Basically all of the forementioned cities are part of Silicon Valley. Passwird is from San Mateo (i think), so I will let him comment on that area. Palo Alto is where Stanford's campus is located, but I do know that the real estate there is more expensive than other cities (my brother lived in Palo Alto for about a year).

Shoot me a PM and I can put you in touch with my friend who lives up there. He should be able to give you some pointers/advice.

~blue

[verve247]

Redwood City is nice. I know many 20-somethings that live in apartments down there. Traffic can be hectic, especially if you have to take the 101. Try and find a place that lets you avoid that highway completely if possible. That and el camino real.

[DaFunkyUnit]

keep in mind the BART. it would help out the commute (if its conveniant for you to use).

[irwin]

keep in mind the BART. it would help out the commute (if its conveniant for you to use).

Bart doesn't go any farther south than Millbrae, son. Why not live a little closer to SJ? Like Mtn View or Sunnyvale?

edit: nm, i can't read

[psycho-]

Wait wait wait...redwood city....are you working for EA?

[NullUnit2000]

Wait wait wait...redwood city....are you working for EA?

No. That would be...bad. :ugh:

[kimchicowboy]

hahaha.

actually, east palo alto isn't so bad anymore. my friends parents live there and they're korean (who used to live in very suburban los gatos). it's been developing quite a bit with an ikea, home depot, etc. i'd check it out. i've visited my friend's parents' home there and it's not bad. a small, two-story unit (3 bed, 2.5 bath i think) with a tiny backyard. but it's real close to 101.

other than that, foster city seems pretty nice. right along the water. must cost a bit though. :)

[speedracer120]

If I were you I'd stay close to Redwood City. Definitely stay away from taking the 101 or 280 to work and try to stay local.