6 Things to Know about San Francisco Living

Anyone moving to San Francisco probably thinks they know what San Francisco’s living is like. Hopefully, you’ve done at least a little research before making such a big decision. However, a place this unique can’t possibly be understood until you’re a true local. While we can’t cover all the amazing aspects of San Francisco living here, below you’ll definitely find some important information to get you started on the right foot.

The Temperature Drops at About 4pm

If you had nothing to go on but pictures, you’d think this city was more like Los Angeles: the sun beats down throughout the day, making it perfect weather for shorts and a t-shirt. The truth, though, is that because it’s so close to the ocean, San Francisco living means the temperature begins to plummet—yes, plummet—at about 4pm. Literally, it can go down ten degrees within the span of a couple of minutes. When it does, you’ll be glad you have a light jacket with you.

Neighborhoods Are Everything

Before you begin looking at actual apartments here, look at neighborhoods. This will have the biggest effect on whether or not you like where you live. Neighborhoods here are like cities elsewhere in the country or entire sections of them in really big ones. The good news is that you can probably find a neighborhood that will be the perfect match for the type of people you like to hang out with and what you enjoy doing in your free time. Furthermore, because San Francisco is so small and has such great public transportation, it’s also not hard to leave your slice of Heaven and travel somewhere else.

You Should Live Near Work

That being said, live as close to where you work as possible. Traffic in a big city is almost always a challenge, but this city is less than 49 square miles, meaning deadlock is practically constant. However, this means you can save on not owning a car (people here also love bikes). Live near your job and use public transportation. Then, all you need is a good book and commuting doesn’t have to be such a burden.

Palo Alto Is Not Nearby

Palo Alto is another area with a lot going for it. Most people know it as the center of the tech startup world. However, if you think it’s going to be a quick trip from your home in San Francisco to work or friends in Palo Alto, you’ll be extremely disappointed to learn the truth. Depending on when you leave, the trip to Palo Alto can take anywhere between 45 minutes and two hours and that’s only after you get used to Bay Area traffic. There are reasons companies like Google and Facebook just shuttle their employees in San Francisco. Caltrain is also a great way to get there without having to burn fuel or stairs straight ahead for about two hours.

You Have No Excuse to Be Bored

If you’ve ever wondered why so many people are willing to pay so much in rent, it probably has a lot to do with the fact that this city will not let you get bored. Anyone spending a Friday night looking for something to do is making a mistake. Just leave your home and go out exploring. Between the absolutely amazing food trucks here, live entertainment on just about every block, incredible parks and late-night establishments, you may just decide to never go to bed.

Oakland Is Great Too

Should you find that San Francisco’s living is just too expensive, check out Oakland. It’s right across the bridge and has a ton to offer as well, all at a much more affordable price. San Francisco living will provide you with one of the most unique living experiences imaginable. Just consider the above before you move here so you’ll be ready to make the most of it. Sources: http://jasonevanish.com/2013/01/17/25-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-moving-to-san-francisco/ http://www.movoto.com/blog/real-estate-tips/26-things-you-need-to-know-about-san-francisco/ http://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/san-francisco/18-things-you-have-to-explain-to-out-of-towners-about-sf-thrillist-san-francisco