Bay Area Beta

I've been looking into moving to the San Francisco Bay Area with my girlfriend in January and was looking for some beta on locations/cost etc. I'm looking to get into investment banking and am still in the preliminary search process of companies and such, so as of now living location doesn't necessarily have to be close to any specific company just trying to get a feel for the different areas. Any general info or recommendations on which places to avoid or which places to check out on my own would be helpful. If anyone works at any financial firms in the area and has any job advice or insight on who to check out or avoid that would be great too.

I've thought about newport beach area too because of the fact there are a lot of financial companies with offices there too and I've wanted to live near the beach for awhile. So any insight on there vs SF would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Newport Beach is really far from skiing and your only real option is Mammoth. The water is warmer down there if you want to surf too. But I hate LA and find so many of the people from down there to be very flakey and major posseurs. Yes, that's a gross generalization, but that's what you asked for.

As for the Bay Area. First off, there are 3 major cities here. San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. I'm assuming you'll end up in or around SF. Most Fin Svcs stuff is in downtown SF in the Financial District. That means you have some living options both in and out of the city. Since the ferries from Marin drop off near there, you could live in Marin County (very wealthy, but beautiful). The east bay is an option, but quite hot once you get over the hill from Oakland/Berkeley. The Peninsula (b/w SF and SJ) is amazing weather, a relatively easy commute into the city, but a fairly high cost of living. I love living on the Peninsula, partly because of the weather and partly because of all the activity options. SF to Tahoe is a 3.5-6 hour drive, depending on traffic, weather and time of day. The further east you live, the shorter the drive to Tahoe but the longer the drive to SF and the hotter it is in summer. Living in SF is a great option if you don't have kids and are happy living in an apartment or rental house. I'll let others weigh in the benefits/drawbacks of various parts of the city.

not staying in Jackson this winter? Thats a shame, I was looking forward to skiing with you again.

Good luck in SF. Sorry, Im of no use for info on investment banking

FYI... Don't move to South Palo Alto

And Sinecure is for sure a Californian. No place else in the world doubles the drive time depending on traffic. "SF to Tahoe is a 3.5-6 hour drive, depending on traffic..."

I lived in Freemont for a while and commuted into San Fran. The traffic was the one thing I could do without. Never in my life have I seen traffic on a 4 lane highway stopped at 10PM on a beautiful day. That's the reality around there. Ohh, and the Dumbarton sucks balls.

Since you are going into banking you should live in the Marina or Cow Hollow where all the 20- something yuppie fucks live.
Coffee at the Grove on Chestnut, drinks at Left at Albuquerque on Union- shopping at the Marina Safeway. Its just like living in suburbia!
Don't forget your 3 series BMW or Audi A4!
Oh yeah, have fun driving to and skiing in Tahoe on weekends and holidays!

SoCal is flakey posers
Norcal is geeky workaholics
the number of active outdoors people in both areas has been on the decline since the mid90s

Just move to NYC

oh, and turn in your username

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Originally Posted by cj001f

Just move to NYC

oh, and turn in your username

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Seconded.

Harsh words. I know I won't be skiing a ton the next two seasons and ya that sucks but such is life. I guess I probably should "turn in my username," but I don't love skiing any less just right now other things need to happen. There are a lot of people on here who don't ski everyday and who work "real jobs." I was just looking for a little input on the local and it seems that sinecure was the only helpful one. I want to get into surfing while I'm there and maybe pick up road biking too. I lived in a mountain town last year and realized it just wasn't for me, too small. I still love skiing and the outdoors but I have life goals and plans outside of that too and they often clash.

So anyone else that could provide some info on certain areas vs others or opinions on areas from experience I'd appreciate it.

If you do decide on the Bay Area, avoid Half Moon Bay. It might seem attractive at first: hippies, pot (obviously), and surfing. BUT... you will be constantly socked in with fog. HMB is to be avioded by all who appreciate daylight/sunshine, AND it is a lot futher away from things than real estate agents will lead you to believe.

Trust me on this.

San Jose is a great city though, and safe too! I love living here.

Also, avoid East Palo Alto if you don't like being shot.

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Originally Posted by skiaholik

Harsh words. I know I won't be skiing a ton the next two seasons and ya that sucks but such is life. I guess I probably should "turn in my username," but I don't love skiing any less just right now other things need to happen. There are a lot of people on here who don't ski everyday and who work "real jobs." I was just looking for a little input on the local and it seems that sinecure was the only helpful one. I want to get into surfing while I'm there and maybe pick up road biking too. I lived in a mountain town last year and realized it just wasn't for me, too small. I still love skiing and the outdoors but I have life goals and plans outside of that too and they often clash.

So anyone else that could provide some info on certain areas vs others or opinions on areas from experience I'd appreciate it.

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As someone who grew up in SF and lived and surfed there my entire life, the last thing we need is another kook yuppie surfer/investment banker. Move to Palo Alto and surf in Santa Cruz. Plus the road biking in Woodside is sick you sell-out.

OK, you are new to a big city.

Decide where you are going to be working then narrow down the neighborhoods from there because commutes can seriously suck (>30minutes is a shitty commute) and will crush your QOL. Everyplace is expensive, just some places are ridiculously expensive - but the ridiculously expensive places can be quite nice.

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Originally Posted by SuperGaper

Move to Palo Alto and surf in Santa Cruz.

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As long as he follows his schedule and not the surfs (like they all do) I'm cool with that :yourock:

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Originally Posted by SuperGaper

As someone who grew up in SF and lived and surfed there my entire life, the last thing we need is another kook yuppie surfer/investment banker. Move to Palo Alto and surf in Santa Cruz. Plus the road biking in Woodside is sick you sell-out.

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What is with all the hatred? I lived in Union City for the first 10 yrs of my life before my family moved to the east coast. Don't get all bro brah get out of my neighborhood bra on me because I'm asking for some info. Don't worry man I'm not going to try and steal your waves for fucksake. I've posted a lot of stoke on here so don't give me that yuppie sell-out bs. What's it to you if I end up making money or not? Doesn't mean I'm going to ski any different or act any different on the hill. Seriously gaper, what's your beef?

Personally, I find the South Bay, San Jose et al., soul-crushingly boring. (I grew up in [M]an Jose.) It's safe and has good weather and a lot of employment opportunities, but you'll spend a lot time either at home or in your car.

SF, if you can afford it, is a lot of fun. It's also ludicrously expensive. (Do a quick craigslist survey, ignoring shitty neighborhoods like Bayview, Hunter's Point, Daly Shity, and Civic Center.) But, for me, it's my favorite place in the world, so the sacrifice is worth it. If you're looking for more of a small town feel and nearby surfing, Half Moon Bay and Pacifica are pleasant places. But they're foggy, a little sleepy, you'd have at least a 30-minute commute, and SuperGapper might go monkey-wrench gang on your property.

I don't know that much about the East Bay except that Berkeley and parts of Oakland are pretty nice and are only a shortish commute from SF. Ditto for the North Bay, which, as people have already noted, seems to be primarily inhabited by the affluent (at least the part of it within commuting distance of SF).

Ok, Ok, I have so much vitriol so let me address your question directly. If you live in SF I would recommend a couple of areas depending on what you want.
I grew up in the Richmond, (3rd avenue and Clement) I like it a lot.
It has a ton of restaurants, pizza (Giorgios), vietnamese (Mihn's Garden, any Pho place on Clement) burmese (Burma Superstar, Mandalay), chinese (Five Hapiness), italian (that place on 3rd and Geary), french (Chapeau!) as well as good proximity to downtown (1x or 38x are fast), Marin, the presidio , and GG park.
On the downside it does not have the coolest night life, though the 540 club is good wannabe hipster/dive bar, it is FOGGY, and the parking on Friday and Saturday nights is horrific.
Other neighborhoods I have lived in and enjoyed include Inner Sunset (similar to the Richmond but with a younger vibe and also great variety of restaurants, Lower Haight, great bars, some good restaurants used to be some cracked out fools too, but that is on the wane. Upper Haight- hated it, no parking, edge of the fog so therefor very windy, basically a dirty shopping mall with fucked-up runaways hassling everyone.
Mission, to busy for me- and crime has been on the increase in the 24th street corridor with it being confined to gang violence but scary none the less. The other part of the Mission 16th, Guerrero is whiter and trendier, make sure you get a garage if you have a car or you will suffer with parking and break ins.
I would look at Noe Valley and Potrero Hill as well, good weather,restaurants and shops and better weather than out west.
I would never live in the Marina, Pacific Heights, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill or North Beach- I have many friends who do but it just aint my style.
If I worked downtown I would also consider Rockridge and Trestle Glen in Oakland as well as North Berkeley and take BART into the City. Or you could live in Sausalito or Mill Valley, or Corta Madera for that matter and take GG Transit Bus or Ferry.
PM me if you have any specific questions- lived in SF for 35 years. I have some friends in various finance positions as well, though not in banking (anymore).
Don't take my sell out call out to heart, I have looked at friends from high school and college and called them the same thing. Were still friends- I envy their houses, wives and kids and they envy my freedom and independence.
If you want to get into surfing I would recommend Southern California- warmer and way glassier- small but clean. I don't even like surfing in SF anymore, would rather travel for good warm water waves than surf shifty, cold beach break.
P.S. I don't live there anymore I'm full time Jackson as of this spring ironically. Probably ran into you on the hill this year from the sounds of it. After JHMR you will be looking at short shots to flat spots- but you know that.
Good luck.

I meant I have ONLY so much vitriol

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Originally Posted by skiaholik

Don't worry man I'm not going to try and steal your waves for fucksake.

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Going to create your own surfspot, eh?

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Originally Posted by cj001f

Going to create your own surfspot, eh?

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Yep, to the best of my knowledge there are only more surfers and no more new surf spots- what ever happened to the artificial reef thing?
And don't get me started on surf schools- whatever happened to your buddy giving you an old wetsuit and board and leaving you on the beach to fend for yourself for a few hours, months, years?

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Originally Posted by SuperGaper

And don't get me started on surf schools- whatever happened to your buddy giving you an old wetsuit and board and leaving you on the beach to fend for yourself for a few hours, months, years?

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Do some work? Live a bit adventurously? Fucking retrograde you are.

You don't just "get into" surfing. You either got into it before puberty, or you'll be forever a kook.


I've lived here on and off for 9 years, which is about 8 and a half years too long. I somehow got lured by the skiing, and $$$, and didn't realize the trade-off in terms of shit surf 10 months of the year is not fucking worth it. It's overrated as fuck. Cost of living is expensive and you sure as fuck don't get what you pay for compared to other much prettier places on the planet. I'm plotting my return to Sydney which I never should have left in the first place.

But for what it's worth here's my 2 cents on places I've lived in here, and general advice:
- Avoid any fucking bridges unless you love tacking an hour to your daily commute. Each way.
- South Peninsula (Palo Alto, Menlo Park, etc) - Suburbian hellhole too far from the beach.
- City (Potrero Hill) = easy freeway access and relatively easy parking. but still too far from the beach. Ocean Beach is ugly as shit but the waves, when it's on, can make up for the general ugliness of the place. Barely.
- LA is not as bad as the stereotypes lead you to believe as long as you live in a nice area such as Manhattan Beach or the South Bay in general, and work in the same area (i.e. never having to set foot on the 405). I've met some great people there (incl. my wife) and had a fun time. The trade-off is that the nearest decent ski area is Kirkwood, but that didn't stop me pulling 10 hour weekend drives and racking up 40 days of skiing.


I'm ready to bail. I never should have moved here in the first place. People who love it here obviously have never set foot in Australia. If I had here what I have over there then I'd be pimping it in a penthouse pad in Pac Heights, with a view of the skyline and the Bay, and have a beach house in Santa Cruz, but that's not gonna happen here.

</drunken bitter homesick rant>

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Originally Posted by Superstar Punani

I'm plotting my return to Sydney which I never should have left in the first place.

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So you're going back to the longer Kirkwood commute then?

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Originally Posted by Superstar Punani

- LA is not as bad as the stereotypes lead you to believe

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No, SoCal isn't. Norcal is becoming a more expensive and crowded version of SoCal, especially in the water. Try going to Santa Cruz on a weekend....


Oz is the stories of CA 30 years ago when the myths were being made