4 Things to Know Before Moving to San Francisco
Moving is stressful but moving to an entirely new and unfamiliar city can be downright overwhelming. In addition to figuring out the logistics of packing up the contents of your entire world and relocating them, there are so many other things to consider. Where will you live? What are the best neighborhoods in your new town? Can you afford to buy, or are you better off renting? If you don’t have a job lined up, you’ll also need to consider the pulse of the local job market. Once you do start getting a paycheck, you’ll need to know how much you should expect to spend on fun things like taxes, groceries, and bills.
If you’re considering a move to San Francisco in the coming months, our friends at Great Guys Moving have put together a helpful guide that outlines the basics you should know before your journey to the Bay Area. Here are some of the highlights:
1. This city is walkable
While there is lots of urban sprawl surrounding SF, the city’s land mass is limited by the water that surrounds us on three sides. As our blog name indicates, San Francisco proper is a small 49 square miles, or about the same size as Boston, for those hailing from the East Coast. Despite the many hills (which offer residents a great workout), San Fran is extremely walkable. Overall, the city received a walkability score of 86, so it’s perfect for both tourists and residents who prefer to lace up their sneaks to get places. If you’re looking for the most walkable neighborhoods to call home, try out South of Market, Yerba Buena, Mission Bay, Lower Nob Hill, or the up-and-coming Tenderloin.
2. The weather is mild
Though you might envision the warm, sunny weather found in other West Coast cities like L.A. or San Diego, the weather here is on the milder side. The average winter low is just 45 degrees, while the summer high hovers around 68 degrees. If you’re moving from somewhere with blustery winters or scorching summers, you’re in for a treat. Plus, SF has few precipitation days (just 44.6 compared to the U.S. average of 102).
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3. Most people are renters
In many U.S. cities, the renter to homeowner ratio is more evenly split, but in San Fran, the number of renters far exceeds the number of homeowners. This could be because the average home price here is over three times higher than the typical U.S. home. With such a competitive real estate market, it pays to have a knowledgeable realtor by your side whether you’re looking to rent or buy.
4. Higher paychecks, higher taxes
The unemployment rate in San Francisco is nearly 2 percentage points lower than the rest of the country, and the average job pays about $25,000 more. However, income taxes are substantially higher, which means a larger portion of taxes will be deducted from your paycheck. Additionally, most goods and services (except for wine) are more expensive and sales tax is higher too. Without the higher salaries, most people wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of living here.
While it might be an expensive place to live, San Francisco is an exciting and invigorating place teeming with new ideas, wonderful culture, and surrounded by beautiful scenery. When you’re ready to relocate, let JODI Group, Inc. Real Estate help you find the perfect place to live. Whether it’s a modern, luxurious home in St. Francis Wood or a charming bungalow in East Bay, there’s the perfect home waiting for you.
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