Where to live in the SF Bay Area? [TIPS FROM A BAY AREA NATIVE]

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Living in the Bay Area - Spencer Hsu, MBA, Realtor

Күн бұрын

🏠 Discover the best places to live in the SF Bay Area with Spencer Hsu, your Bay Area native and real estate expert!
In this video, we'll explore San Francisco, Marin County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County (East Bay), and Contra Costa County. Learn why Bay Area home prices are the way they are, and get insider tips on commuting in the Bay Area. 🚗
We'll also help you find the perfect city to call home based on your unique criteria. Don't miss out on these valuable insights!
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Bay Area Overview
01:55 San Francisco
07:00 Marin County
08:32 San Mateo County
11:00 Santa Clara County
13:06 East Bay (Alameda County)
14:27 Contra Costa County
17:15 Bay Area Home Prices
18:37 Bay Area Commutes
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Spencer Hsu is a Bay Area Real Estate Agent, a Residential, New Home Construction and Relocations specialist with eXp Realty LLC. Serving the entire Bay Area. He aims to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream homes by leveraging tech, data and local insights.
CONTACT ME:
Call / Text: (408) 547- 4590
DRE 02077253
Email: spencer@spencerhsu.com
www.homesbyspencerhsu.com
💥 Follow me on Social Media 💥
→ Instagram: / spencerhsure
→ Facebook: / spencerhsure
→ LinkedIn: / spencerhsu
_________________________________
#BayAreaRealEstate #LivingintheBayArea #MovingtoCalifornia

Пікірлер: 54

@reidyoshida9452 10 ай бұрын

Great video Spencer. Incredibly informative. Love your take on each area. Stay awesome and keep up the great video🙌

@SpencerHsu 10 ай бұрын

Thanks much!

@OceanfrontChalet 4 ай бұрын

Hi Spencer, Love the podcast (my normal method of listening). In this video and your other recent videos delving into individual cities, you asked what cities your listeners would like you to cover. I would love to hear your take on Sausalito, Mill Valley, Tiburon and Belvedere. Thanks.

@SpencerHsu 4 ай бұрын

Oh sure! Thanks for tuning in. I’ll cover that on my live show this Friday at 530!

@marv8b 10 ай бұрын

Great video overview.

@SpencerHsu 10 ай бұрын

Thank you! Which county should I do next

@socalrockergal3727 10 ай бұрын

Friends of mine recently moved from San Francisco to San Diego. Houses are slightly more affordable but prices there are much higher now. They decided not to stay in SF area due to all the crime that has affected them. They didn’t want to go inland because it’s too hot and San Diego coastal has nice weather. Never gets hot and gets fog and marine layer. I love Marin but you really pay a high price to live there. My roots are in the Bay Area but I’m in Dana Point and I really like it! Far enough from LA and much nicer! One day I’d like to move north but I have to be coastal.

@SpencerHsu 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Depends on your job situation more than anything. Most in tech and want the opportunities will need to stay local

@socalrockergal3727 10 ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsu My friends that moved to San Diego are in tech but they work remotely and go the office (quick flight) a few times a month. Also depends on the company you work for. I would like to explore living in Mendocino County one day in the future! It seems like people I know who left California were transplants but friends who are native Californians move to San Diego or inland parts of the Bay Area. Usually moving from Los Angeles or San Francisco. I still have hope San Francisco will turn around! It’s a beautiful great city that holds a special place in my heart! ♥️

@SpencerHsu 10 ай бұрын

That’s certainly an interesting arrangement!

@DrWenChannel 4 ай бұрын

Please do a deeper dive on San Francisco. Thanks!

@SpencerHsu 4 ай бұрын

Sure!

@misssexyredd06 3 ай бұрын

Great video! I’m in South Florida and I’m looking to relocate. I did a location astrology chart and the Bay Area was prominent. I want somewhere with diversity, good nightlife, and overall a good energy of people. 😊

@SpencerHsu 3 ай бұрын

That is wonderful! You will have a lot of great places here. You will most likely choose San Francisco, but keep in mind. All the other areas are not that far away from each other. Welcome to the bay area soon. Did the astrology chart choose any specific cities by chance?

@felixthecat1528 9 күн бұрын

Thanks man I never knew what “the Bay Area “ consisted of 👍🏾

@SpencerHsu 9 күн бұрын

You bet!

@marceloleon7290 10 ай бұрын

I work in the mid peninsula (redwood shores) and a year ago I moved to Vallejo as a homeowner. I personally think that the real state industry is really missing big letting this city out of the scope of big tech workers as myself, it has so much potential that's being eaten by bad rep. There are huge & very nice homes around here for pennys compared to the rest of the bay and the commute to SF is doable with a flexible work schedule. I personally own a motorcycle and commute twice a week to my work place at rush hour. It takes me about an hour, but I agree that's not something most people are willing to do.

@SpencerHsu 10 ай бұрын

Yup! Vallejo and that whole region is affordable if they can deal with the commute. Grats on starting somewhere!

@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 8 ай бұрын

They need to fix their city’s budget and hire more cops. Safety is a real issue there.

@SpencerHsu 8 ай бұрын

@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 certainly agree! Not necessarily more cops but prosecute criminals

@MarkSmithhhh 4 ай бұрын

Just moved from Benicia to vallejo...dont regret it

@SpencerHsu 4 ай бұрын

@johnsmith42688 that’s great! Glad you enjoy it

@daviddong9916 2 ай бұрын

I work in SF for a tech company and make 400K (TC) a year. Instead of living in SF and pay $3000/month rent, I live 15 miles southeast of SF and only pay $750/month for a 1B1b private suite in a 3B3b Town home built in 2010 in San Leandro since 2015

@SpencerHsu 2 ай бұрын

Exactly. Yes, your commute isn't good and you aren't walkable to friends in SF, but this allows you to save money much faster to get into your own home and do the reverse versus what the person that owns a townhome is doing to you now.

@daviddong9916 2 ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsuI can easily drive to West Oakland Bart and then it only takes 10 mins to get to SF by BART. Also, it might be better to rent than buy in the Bay Area considering you have to pay property tax, insurance, HOA, mortgage interest, etc. I could use that money in invest in stocks

@SpencerHsu 2 ай бұрын

@daviddong9916 that’s partially true. Why do you think rich people in the bay area buy homes? It’s not because they can really earn more from stocks. Pairing capital gains exclusion, and leverage by using a loan has been a better investment vehicle for most. Doesn’t mean they buy 2+ in the Bay Area but they all buy a primary here. You’ll eventually outgrow a San Leandro 1 bedroom especially if you have kids and schools matter so as life changes, your opinions may change

@danielhea728 2 ай бұрын

Which area would that be? I don't mind 15 mile commute

@daviddong9916 2 ай бұрын

@@danielhea728I mentioned above that I live in San Leandro. I drive to West Oakland Bart then take Bart to SF

@MilochanzyVR Ай бұрын

Great video Spencer. I'm looking to move to California with a job opportunity in Burlingame. We are family of 3 with 5.5 year old kid. What is the good place to move for good commute time to office, great schools, and still affordable renting. May be consider buying a home but it's least of the priority for now.

@SpencerHsu Ай бұрын

You are welcome! Welcome to the area soon. Affordable renting has to be farther away so it depends on your budget. What budget and size are you looking at and within a few mins, I can tell you where. The farther away still has good schools but the trade off will be commute time

@MilochanzyVR Ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsu Thanks a million for quick response. I'm looking for 3-3.5K rent for a 2 bedroom house. I'm probably looking at San Mateo I guess. But quick look at zillow makes it bit difficult. Plus not sure which cities have good primary schools. Considering to travel from East Bay (say Hayward, Oakland) would be too much of travel time isnt it?

@SpencerHsu Ай бұрын

@@MilochanzyVR if that is your budget, you will likely need to go to the East Bay unless you’re OK with a two bedroom condo or apartment. Castro Valley will have good schools compared to Oakland and Hayward. If you are OK to go further and places like Dublin and Pleasanton will also work, but that will be a far distance for you so it is up to you of the trade-off.on the peninsula side, it will be a lot more limiting

@MilochanzyVR Ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsu Thanks a lot for valuable input. It will help a lot in setting the expectations.

@MilochanzyVR Ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsu Also, I think since Im renting condo or apartment should be okay :)

@nimaiiikun 4 ай бұрын

if I work in downtown Oakland, where should I live nearby that's safe for families and kids? also maybe with a lot of asian-american communities?

@SpencerHsu 4 ай бұрын

Great question. One easy way to see where Asians tend to live is follow the Asian grocery stores. www.google.com/maps/search/asian+grocery+store/@37.878425,-122.2320381,12z?entry=ttu They certainly do their research of areas before having a branch there. If you see it on a google map above, you can see places around El Cerrito, Kensington, Albany, Berkeley. If you want something closer, then it would be Montclair, Rockridge, Piedmont areas but those areas have less of an asian population than the others mentioned.

@IAMHERE486 Ай бұрын

Fremont seems nice but definitely do your own research first.

@SpencerHsu Ай бұрын

@IAMHERE486 definitely great area. But distance to Oakland is a bit further

@IAMHERE486 Ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsu That’s true it’s a bit further drive into downtown Oakland from Fremont.

@nothinleader 3 ай бұрын

Are there neighborhoods where the nightlife is good? I've visited SF a few times a year for the past couple years and the nightlife is really dead. The nature is great but having lived in the area for a while it does get old. I'm still trying to figure out what the lifestyle in SF people are talking about is as I want to move there but every time I visit I'm just let down.

@SpencerHsu 3 ай бұрын

It really depends what your definition of nightlife is. If you’re comparing to New York, you will be greatly disappointed but if you’re looking for a lot of bars and clubs, they have it spread throughout. However, it is not like an entire district per se. Some people go to the marina or nob hill on Polk street. Japantown will have things to do. There are also many social drinking clubs that are referrals only which is always a good time. Which street/area did you go before?

@nothinleader 3 ай бұрын

@@SpencerHsu Mainly Mission District, and Downtown SOMA area. I've also been to Little Italy, Fisherman's Wharf, Portero Hill though of course not nightlife neighborhoods but I was surprised at how empty they were once it got dark. I'm comparing to San Diego, Phoenix, and even the tiny tiny Honolulu nightclub scene is better. I see what you mean with no centralized nightlife district, seems nightlife in SF is a lot hard harder to access. Even San Jose, where I live has a central night life street where you can wander around and with a lot of people. I'll check out those areas you mentioned next time!

@SpencerHsu 3 ай бұрын

@nothinleader yeah those are The wrong places to be. Just like Honolulu, you have to know where exactly. San Diego is easy with gaslamp and phoenix is a party place with Scottsdale so very different. Just search on yelp or google specifically but they are not as dense as those other cities mentioned. San Jose has downtown or Santana row as strips of nightlife

@gabrielzazueta2218 20 сағат бұрын

Mission Bouvelard??? Jk

@SpencerHsu 18 сағат бұрын

Lots of new construction there! Good spot!

@LMiraculous 10 ай бұрын

I’m moving to San Francisco I know what neighborhood I want to live in

@SpencerHsu 10 ай бұрын

What interest you and what is your budget? Are you looking for a studio one bedroom or two bedroom and I can give you suggestions from there

@alex55t60 5 күн бұрын

Appreciate the info but the bay is just way too expensive for what you get in return. Went to Dublin 4 years back for a 40 year old townhouse with a shared backyard and brick wall in the living room for $850K. Yeah no thanks lol

@SpencerHsu 5 күн бұрын

That’s the wrong math. It’s very cheap relative to most people’s income. Because of this, the asset appreciation does extremely well. Looking at it the wrong way but up to you if you want to keep renting here.

@alex55t60 17 сағат бұрын

@@SpencerHsu I wouldn’t be so quick to discredit the “math” lol I literally still have the paper listing. I agree with you though no doubt on the asset appreciation. The catch that people need to be aware of is property tax. Even you pay it off you’re still paying a premium for run down homes that require renovations. I have a bunch of family members who are homeowners here who can speak to it. My own sibling had to pay $50K for just a vanity replacement for her master bathroom. Insane. That kinda money could be an entire landscaping reno. Just putting that in perspective. At the end of the day, the bay is a top preferred climate and economically opportunistic place to live - but should shit the fan like in this current economy - your baseline mortgage and everyday costs is still high. Not crapping on your video btw, I support any other fellow Asians like yourself doing their thing. Keep doing what you’re doing bro. Pardon the rant lol

@SpencerHsu 16 сағат бұрын

I go over the math a lot with clients. Paying $50k for basic vanity is getting scammed as I have many trusted contractors. Nevertheless, buying is not for everyone as renting is preferable for flexibility. Property tax is capped at 2% max increase a year which is very favorable especially with how much most homes increase a year.