I'm in San Francisco. Everytime I come here, I want to move.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

It is so beautiful, and the weather is perfect (65 and sunny). If I didn't have so many commitments and family in Mass. I would be here in a heartbeat.

You Bay Area people are so lucky to live here!

[still_one]

1. It is a great place, but if you didn't buy a house years ago, good luck

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. It's similar where I'm from

the housing prices are crazy in boston but San Fran is nuts. The rents, however, are cheaper than Boston.

[lapfog_1]

3. I said the same thing when I moved here

16 years ago.

"Too bad I couldn't buy a house here last year... now I can't
afford one". And I never did. Of course, the $180,000 house
I couldn't afford in 1988 would be worth something like $750,000
now... and I still can't afford it (but I CAN afford $180,000
now, if only there was something that cheap).

Oh well, not married, no kids, didn't really need the house.
Could have used the equity run up though. Sigh.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. My friend bought a little house in San Jose for 400K

two years ago, and it's about the same size as the Cape house my sister and brother-in-law bought in a town about 30 miles from Boston for the same price. I am told that there are cheaper prices in Oakland or East Bay, you just have to be willing to drive long distances.

[lapfog_1]

7. And live in some crime infested areas.

There are even places for sale in East Palo Alto. The surrounding
cities (Atherton, Palo Alto, Mountain View) are some of the most
affluent in the Bay Area. But East Palo Alto is just too crime
ridden (drug dealing mostly)... homes there are $300,000 less than
homes 1 to 2 miles away. Oh well. Also you can commute in from
Stockton or Livermore or Gilroy... many do, I can't stand driving
plus I think it's a crime to burn that much gasoline.

[sundog]

4. $1200/month for a hole in the wall studio apt

sure, no prob

But yes, it is an amazing town... housing is just a little steep.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. It's the same in Cambridge

$1200 gets you a 300 sq-foot dump with no parking. I'm glad I bought when I did.

[smbolisnch]

8. That is insane

How do people afford this?? My sister and her husband lived in an apartment in SF for years and decided it was time to move out of the city, simply due to the cost of living. They are living in NV now, but they both miss it! My BIL actually grew up in the city.