Hey guys,

I'm one step away from accepting a job offer in Palo Alto, and was wondering what you guys think are the good areas to live? I'm NOT looking to pay an arm and a leg for an apartment, so was thinking about the shared living that a lot of people seem to do there (3 people share a large house etc).

I like the San Jose area, but other than that I'd prefer a short commute down 280. I'm single and most of the stuff I will be bring are race tires and such so don't need a lot of room.

Any ideas/recommendations appreciated. I'll also be out to your Z meetings so look forward to meeting you all!

Thanks!

 

make sure you get paid a lot of money the damn peninsula is expensive! I laughed when cost of living indexes said 175% over what we got in Colorado, I thought there's no way.


There's a way

 

I agree with Chris - be prepared. A colleague did the shared living thing in Palo Alto with success for years. Four of them shared a cute, but small, home in PA. Most that work in PA, like myself, do not live in PA. I lived here for one year with two buddies, but once we all settled down with our ladies, it was time to part ways. The rent for that house, a small, 3BR Eichler, just off 101 and Oregon Expressway, now goes for almost $3k/month. There are a lot of Eichler homes around (http://www.paloaltohistory.com/josepheichler.html). Living near your work in PA would be nice, but you'll be competing with Stanford students for the shared-housing gig.

I've rented in 4 places since I've lived here, and my favorite behind the shared Eichler rental was a spacious 1BR, upstairs apartment in Santa Clara that overlooked a pond. I think that was $1500/mo, but it only had a carport.

 

Not only is housing twice to 3 times as expensive but all government fees and taxes are crazy! State gas tax .47 per gallon, registration fees for your car which include a myriad of fees, drivers license fees, smog fees, 9.3% California Income tax, power utility taxes, garbage taxes, Sewer taxes, water taxes, telephone taxes, cable taxes, property taxes (forget buying a house here as all fees and taxes are too much to list), 9.250% sales tax, state alcohol tax of $3.30 per gallon, bridge tolls $5.00 a pop, California tire fees $1.75 a tire, insurance taxes, you name it and California or local governments are taxing it here. Its only going to get worse as the state is going bankrupt in a hurry. Dont get parking or speeding ticket here. Parking in bus stop, $975, Speeding tickets are over $250 if you are 25 over the limit. No front plate? $178 please.

Are you getting a huge raise? Hope so because your California living costs are going to be ginormus. California is only place I know where people making $150,000 a year qualify for financial aide at private schools!

I dont think most people truly understand how much more expensive it is here. Even when you think you are going cheap by house sharing costs of all the taxes here are huge.

I would stick fairly close to where you are working as traffic in that area can be a bear. Maybe Cupertino? Sunnyvale? Mountain View?

In 1980's I rented a 400 sq foot cottage off University in PA for $800 per month and it was a steal at the time. Cant imagine what they get now?

Also be careful about getting too close to East Palo Alto. I thought I was getting a good deal on a place that was on the border of Palao Alto and East Palo Ato for $1200 a month. for a small duplex. I had two break ins and a drug bust with guns drawn and cop was getting beaten up in my front yard, bums sleeping in my yard. Moved out of there after 2 weeks of hell!

 

Damn, after reading Grant's post I feel like moving!!!!

 

Yeah, and I feel like keeping my current job!! Haha. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

I'd move if my wife and I didnt have family here. I'm thinking of moving someplace cheaper that has fewer taxes like Sweden.

 

Shamu, Scott, and Chris summed it up pretty good op. I myself have live in Northern CA and in SoCal. In NorCal I lived in Campbell and I cannot for the life of me figure out how people can afford a house in the Bay Area. I loved living there and loved what the Bay area has to offer.
Soon I will be moving out of CA to OH op and I am looking forward to paying less for everything. I will miss CA weather and the stuff to do, but I will not miss the taxes and traffic. Good luck in your decision op.

 

I looked at one of those cottages in PA 4 years ago - $2500/mo. It was actually someone's guest home. East Palo Alto is a 1 square mile hole of horribleness. I can't believe it exists in all this ritz. You have 15mil $ homes 1/2 mile west on University - amazing.

There are some cons, but the pros have no limit. Beach, skiing, perfect weather 9 months a year. Oh, and what's humidity again?

 

Lol! Was thinking about past winter. We have had a tsunami that killed a guy and did 22 million in damage to our local harbor, and we have had flash floods and mud slides this past week. Aside from those minor issues we have earthquakes and forest fires too. we haven't had a decent earthquake in the bay area for a long time. Odds are we are going to see a bigger shake sooner than later.

Im thinking I might try to get a job with California tourism board!

 

I'm a midwest transplant too so don't let these guys scare you too much. Palo Alto I think is an excellent location, there's quite a bit of housing available within a 15 mile radius. As everyone said, just maybe not so much that is reasonable and at the same time liveable directly "in" Palo Alto.

For reference, 2BR in Foster City will run you $1500-1800 depending on amenities and length of your lease. If you are looking for value, north of PA, skip Menlo Park, look at Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, or even Foster City if you don't mind a 30 min commute.

 

If you do move there...Invest in a Beretta PX4 Storm; 9, 40 or 45

 

Everybody else is making it sound worse than it is.

 

says the guy from Modest

 

Thanks for the help guys!