considering moving to SF

[hihhs]

I think we need rent a house instead of an apartment. Our dogs are accustomed to a "dog door" & a yard.
I would feel terrible restricting them after they've had that freedom their whole lives.

Been cruising CL all day. There are some definite "maybes" out there.

It seem like my price point needs to be$2-3k. Which is OK.

If anyone has any other specific areas to look at, I'd really appreciate hearing about them.

[Popeye the Sailor]

I got nothin', but definitely post up where you're considering, and one of us can probably scope out the neighborhood for you. We can also warn you if the place you're looking at is the suck.

[Spidey]

This list might help with your CL search in SF.  Also, note that often one apartment will have exclusive use of the backyard, so if you're not having luck with houses, keep that in mind. 

Good areas in the City that will probably have houses available with yards:

The West Side-- Sunset, Richmond, Stonestown, anything around there.
South Side -- Bernal Heights (south part of SF), Portrero (South east, some parts good, some parts sketch).  Anything around those areas be sure to ask.  Some are really nice, some are really not nice at all.

Places in SF that are probably going to be too expensive or will be mostly apartments:

Russian Hill
Pacific Heights
Presidio Heights
Laurel Heights
Marina
Castro
Cole Valley
Noe Valley (*may* be able find a house on the outskirts, but it'll be on the upper end of where you're lookin')
North Beach
Twin Peaks (I don't really know what the housing stock is -- I think it's
mostly apartments and if it's a house, it's gonna be expensive and not have a backyard (it's on the side of a hill).
Duboce Triangle/Hayes Valley -- mostly apartments.  Some parts nice, some parts sketchy.
Oh yeah, and Seacliff.  ($$$$$$$!!!!!)

Areas you don't want to live:

Bayview
Hunter's Point
Tenderloin/Parts of Western Addition
SOMA -- you won't find houses there, just yuppie lofts and homeless people.  It's all near Tigre, which depresses land values and draws in all sorts of riff raff
Parts of Mission (other parts are nice -- ask about specific locations)

Outside SF, I don't really know that well.  I'd definitely look in Alameda, Berkeley and in parts of Oakland.  Oakland is hit or miss.  Some areas are like a war zone.  Others are really nice (Lake Merritt).  Make sure to ask here if you are looking at something. 

Just keep posting up as you cruise CL and we'll tell ya what it's like.

[hihhs]

Thanks so much guys. This info is really helping me narrow the search. Now I know where to look at least!
I'm feeling better already that finding a place to rent is a viable option.

[desmoquattro]

Thanks so much guys. This info is really helping me narrow the search. Now I know where to look at least!
I'm feeling better already that finding a place to rent is a viable option.

Viable doesn't matter...we have roads like this:
Marin County - Highway 1 - The Racetrack

[hihhs]

I hadn't even thought of the roads! I was thinking TRACK!
Oh and restaurants, concerts, general availability of goods and services.
Roads!?!? SWEET!

[desmoquattro]

I hadn't even thought of the roads! I was thinking TRACK!
Oh and restaurants, concerts, general availability of goods and services.
Roads!?!? SWEET!

Yeah, and they're a bit longer than the H3

[hihhs]

I'm on the Big Island. We don't even have an "H"
There are a couple of nice roads here, but not many.

[desmoquattro]

I'm on the Big Island. We don't even have an "H"
There are a couple of nice roads here, but not many.

Ah, true.

BTW - That vid was from today. Like 31 Oct 2009. Halloween. 

[hihhs]

Ah, true.

BTW - That vid was from today. Like 31 Oct 2009. Halloween. 

Allright, now you are just gloating.
That's really cool. What a perfect way to spend Halloween! Was it scary?

[desmoquattro]

Was it scary?

Only in the shadows...where the road was wet.

[hihhs]

Yep. That is scary!

Been on CL off and on ALL DAY. Still huntin' but it looks doable.

Been referring back to Spidey's post about the different neighborhoods.

There seems to be a lot of places for rent.

[desmoquattro]

Yep. That is scary!

Been on CL off and on ALL DAY. Still huntin' but it looks doable.

Been referring back to Spidey's post about the different neighborhoods.

There seems to be a lot of places for rent.

Sign of the times. Like he said, check with us on location if you're unsure. Google Street View is a great tool to take a virtual look around, and everyone here will have an opinion.

[hihhs]

I've got CL open in one Safari tab, DMF in another, Google maps in another and Google Earth open as well. My Mac's fan is running full speed!

Side note; the new Google Earth is amazing!

[Spidey]

Been referring back to Spidey's post about the different neighborhoods.

Don't take my list as gospel.   For example, there are houses with backyards in the Mission.  But it totally depends on the block.  Some will get you shot and some are filled with families with kids.  Just kinda depends.  So if you see something, ask about it. You definitely don't want Hunters' Point, Bayview (the southeast part of the City, near Candlestick Park) or the Tenderloin.  Excelsior can be hit-or-miss as well.

Oh, add Glen Park to the list of 'good' places where you'd possibly find a house and backyard.  It's next to Bernal Heights and on the edge of Noe Valley.  As you head south of there, as long as you stay west of 280, that's fine, albeit foggy and a bit boring.