Thread: I'm moving to Berkeley! Advice greatly appreciated.

Just had a meeting with my firm, and we've decided that it's best for me to move out to our Berkeley office. I currently live in Boston, but I've always wanted to move out to California.

The office is on Shattuck Ave, right across from the UC Berkeley campus. Any suggestions on where to look for rental apartments? I'm looking for something modern, somewhat spacious, with garage or off-street parking. Short-term and long-term are both fine... maybe one of you guys are looking to sublet a nice place?

Good stuff man - Berkeley is a great place. I went to school there and lived there for a few years.

I'd highly recommend north berkeley and the elmwood area. Shattuck is pretty crappy in terms of housing. Anything down college ave (elmwood area) is nice.

Originally Posted by phyek

Good stuff man - Berkeley is a great place. I went to school there and lived there for a few years.

I'd highly recommend north berkeley and the elmwood area. Shattuck is pretty crappy in terms of housing. Anything down college ave (elmwood area) is nice.

Thanks man! What do you think of the areas around Berkeley (Emeryville, Richmond, etc)? Should I look for places closer to the bay or in the hills?

I saw this place in Marina Bay in Richmond - seems close to downtown Berkeley and only 25 min from downtown SF:
Marina Bay House for lease

Laid.....

Originally Posted by rockd

Thanks man! What do you think of the areas around Berkeley (Emeryville, Richmond, etc)? Should I look for places closer to the bay or in the hills?

I saw this place in Marina Bay in Richmond - seems close to downtown Berkeley and only 25 min from downtown SF:
Marina Bay House for lease

It's only 25 minutes from downtown SF in the middle of the night when there's no one on the road. Otherwise, traffic is typically pretty horrific on Highway 80 during daylight hours (note, I did not say commute).

Does your Berkeley office have garage parking, or are you looking for something that's walking distance?

Originally Posted by rockd

Thanks man! What do you think of the areas around Berkeley (Emeryville, Richmond, etc)? Should I look for places closer to the bay or in the hills?

I saw this place in Marina Bay in Richmond - seems close to downtown Berkeley and only 25 min from downtown SF:
Marina Bay House for lease

Wouldn't recommend Richmond. Emeryville is a developing city but is pretty lower-class / ghetto. Only decent place there is Bay Street that has a few shops, but nothing to brag about.

My advice is to look for an apartment in the Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette area. The drive through the Caldecott Tunnel isn't bad, assuming you will have a car to drive. If I have to live near the area where you work, I would look around the Piedmont, Montclair, and up in the Oakland Hills (stay away from the bottom of the hill). Stay away from Lake Merritt, Richmond, Emeryville, and East Oakland. Definitely, go further east over the Oakland Hills to find nice quieter and better communities.

TOP DOG!!!! Claremont is a nice area.....

Originally Posted by rossii

TOP DOG!!!! Claremont is a nice area.....

+1

Avoid San Pablo too!