Where are you going to be working? If it's going to be in the city, you basically have to live in SF to have under a 30 min commute. And there are other parks in the city besides Golden Gate that probably have ultimate frisbee (and would be more sunny - there are a lot of micro climates in SF). But without any idea of your price point it's hard to make recommendations.

My boyfriend and I just relocated to SF from Denver. We chose to settle in Sausalito. We have both lived in cities and opted for more room and a view, and sleepy little marina town was more up our alley since we have a dog. We are only 15 minutes from the city and 10 minutes to Golden Gate Park. Public transportation is readily available, and the ferry is very handy. You can't beat the view.

Sox is right. I live in Hayes Valley which is extremely centrally located in the city (see map above), and taking public transportation to and from work generally takes about 20-30 minutes. The great thing about SF is there are many parks throughout the city that each their own unique qualities. If you're hung up on having a yard, good luck, because single family homes are harder to come by and usually more expensive. My recommendation is to live in the Hayes Valley/Duboce Triangle area. It's very dog and family friendly with great people, art, food and public transit. Good luck!

Without knowing price points or your industry, I'd suggest South Beach/SOMA neighborhood in SF. Great weather, close to Financial District, the south Embarcadero is an amazing space, and there are more & more dog-friendly spaces (parks, open areas, etc.) opening up around there, especially into China Basin. I don't know the specific yard situations, but there should be a few options in South Beach.

Also, the ultimate frisbee looks to be in the evenings 1-2x per week. Wherever you go, it would be helpful to live near the Muni N-Line - you can always drive out to GG Park for ultimate frisbee, but living near the N-Line you have the option of taking the metro, which runs 1-block from GG Park, then through downtown and down South Beach to just past the ballpark.

I suggest South Beach over living out west near GG Park because the rush hour commute (car, metro or bus) will be daily, but the GG Park activities will only be 1-2 days/week. The weather is much nicer (west part of the city = permafog with little sun, blustery wind & 10-20 degrees cooler), and the lifestyle in South Beach is very breezy & urban.

yes some 'hoods in sf can be much longer than 30 mins to downtown than places outside the city oddly enough if you live near a BART line outside the city.

http://overstated.net/2007/02/01/san-francisco-guide-to-new-york-neighborhoods

"San Francisco guide to New York neighborhoods" -- this is the reverse situation, but might be helpful!

Sounds like you guys might like Bernal Heights or Potrero Hill. I've seen a lot of ultimate frisbee games happening at the park at the bottom of Potrero Hill.

I mean, as a city girl, I'm biased (I was raised on the hill between the Castro, Noe Valley, and the Mission), but it's always going to be easier to get around the city than over the bridge to Marin or the East Bay. And I agree with BMendozaSF, the Duboce Triangle is quite good value and well connected.

From a 16-year SF resident:

Unless you are living off a trust fund, Don't move to San Francisco without having written job offers in hand first - and even then, depending on your profession, it's a gamble. If you do have jobs lined up, where are they located and how much can you afford to pay for rent? Decent 2 bedrooms with a small (or no) balcony near Downtown are running in the $2000-3000 range - farther out they don't cost less, they get either older or larger and the commute gets longer.

Have you spent more than a couple weekends here? The homeless/crime problem is getting worse, our State and City Government is a shambles, taxes and prices for everything are high, parking is notoriously terrible and expensive, the schools and police suck, the weather is often crappy (Do you enjoy freezing in the summer?) and good jobs are getting harder and harder to find.

Having a pet is going to severely limit where you'll be able to live, and determining a 30-minute commute makes it even worse. That 30-minute rule for public transit to downtown won't put you anywhere decent in the City that will give you a (tiny) yard: Think East Bay, Peninsula or Marin for a yard, and double or even triple your commute time.

It sounds like you want to escape NYC for the fabled carefree sunny suburban Californian lifestyle - and if that's truly the case, the City of San Francisco isn't for you.

Actually, Alameda, across the bay, is an excellent place to live if you work in SF downtown. There are excellent bus lines, and the ferryboat will take you right to the newer financial district buildings. I am sure that a commute from the avenues of SF will take easily as long, if not longer. Alameda has a great small-town atmosphere, reasonable rents and home prices, and good schools.

Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville are also good choices if you can live near a bus or BART line. You don't get the small town atmosphere, but you are in SF very quickly.

Sox is correct and your price point is key.

This is a good link that tells about various neighborhoods-
http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/

If you are looking to rent my neighborhood Cole Valley rents start at about 1600.00 for a small studio or one bedroom approx. 600 sq. ft. rarely with a patio at that price. I am walking distance to GGP and easy access to public transportation and very dog friendly neighborhood. I am in the cooler micro climate which I like and love the area.

NOPA- North of the Panhandle would be another area to look.

There are some nice sections in Berkeley close to BART. I think you get a bit more for your money.

My friend lives in Albany just North of Berkeley there some cute neighborhoods, as long as you are close to the BART station and take BART otherwise the drive on the 80 hwy is congested at peak houses. The neighborhoods off Solano Blvd. in Berkeley are nice

Samples-
Albany
house-http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/1165085349.html
Near campus
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/1172677352.html

near Solano Blvd-
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/apa/1166048429.html

My neighborhood- cole valley
This is a shared back patio-
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/1175805443.html
No patio
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/1174084490.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/1164558438.html

SF is an awesome city, but the East Bay (you mentioned Berkeley) is really fantastic, especially if you're not fantastically wealthy. If you have jobs in the city, it might be a bit of a commute, but it's cheaper, there's MUCH more space, very dog-friendly... the list goes on and on. What I pay for a massive, BART-accessible, dog-friendly two-bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood in the East Bay would barely get me a cardboard box in SF.

I live outside of San Francisco in the South Bay (aka Silicon Valley). I would definitely echo bepsf observations. SF is VERY expensive and those areas that are a little more affordable (like the Mission) are dirty and crime ridden. In addition to your rent or mortgage, expect to spend several hundred dollars a month for parking. Many places do not come with their own parking spot and parking is at a premium.

I don't know what kind of work you do, but a majority of the area jobs are in the South Bay. Commuting from SF to the South Bay is going to take you at least an hour each way.

I don't mean to crap on your exuberance for SF living, but the reality is that it is a pretty challenging place to live.

San Francisco is a really fabulous place to live. It has it's share of problems like any other city but having moved back to SF from NYC four years ago I can honestly say that is was the right decision.

I suggest Duboce Triangle, Bernal Heights or the Mission. These are all the sunniest parts of the city and close to several dog friendly parks. If you are looking to buy a place it seems like certain parts of the city are becoming a little bit reasonable but it really depends on your budget. I would suggest renting until you know which area most suits your personality.

You are making a great decision. It's awesome here.

*snerk* Sox isn't correct. Modkitten is. I have a much shorter commute than some of my coworkers who live in the City and I live in Alameda. 20 minutes in the morning, more like 30-45 in the evening but I'm not driving so I don't care.

If you have a dog, I'd say go with either Alameda or maybe even the Lake Meritt area of Oakland. I imagine a yard in SF is going to cost a fortune if you can find one although if you're coming from NY, your idea of expensive might mesh better with SF's than mine did.

Bepsf is absolutely right, though. Don't come here without a job. The unemployment rate in California is very, very high and getting worse. And the weather here in SF sucks. It was 90 yesterday and today it's 65, foggy and windy.

I have to respectfully disagree with bepsf. I'm an SF native who has spent five wonderful years in NY City and is about to move back. SF is a wonderful city with great people, temperate weather (while it's true that it will never be 90 degrees in the summer, it won't ever be 16 degrees in the winter either), wonderful culture, and great beauty. As for neighborhoods, you have given yourself some tough challenges, but there are options. Neighborhoods like Glen Park, Bernal Heights, West Berkeley, and Hayes Valley offer some of the features you listed, but not all. The Bay Area is heavily segregated by industry--if you're working in software, you'll likely work on the lower peninsula; if you're working in BioSci, you'll likely be on the upper peninsula; if you're working in the creative fields, you'll likely work in SOMA, etc. If you know where your industry is based, your search will be a lot easier.

As a former California renter, I will say that California is a much less pet-friendly rental market than New York City. With a little tenacity, flexibility, and patience you'll find the right fit.

Duboce triangle in SF or Alameda

If you're unsure where your job is going to be, I recommend living in the South Beach, Mission Bay or Dogpatch neighborhoods. All of these are close to muni (within the city transpo) and caltrain which goes down to silicon valley so it gives you some great options for jobs. They are also closely located to some great parks (Esprit park, mission creek park) that might have ultimate frisbee groups set up.

I forgot to say Oakland is a very cool place to live. When I first moved to the Bay Area 10 years ago I live near the Grand Lake Theater between Grand ave and Lake Shore..I had a three bedroom house, formal dining room, 1 1/2 bath, garage, laundry, patio and located next to shops, cafe, I paid 1700.00 per month. Also, near parks!! I worked in the city so I would casual carpool in the morning and take the bus back. The bus back is great it dropped me off right near the Grand Lake Theater and I walked a few blocks home. Sometimes I would take BART too. The weather is super nice and I love the diversity of the area. The prices have obviously gone up but you do get more for your money.

The weather is great in SF, it never get 26 degrees and that high humidity like NY and the air is clean. The fog is always welcomed back after 90 degree weather.

You know what- don't listen to anybody here who's saying anything you don't want to hear. I can't believe people are trying to dissuade you from moving to SF altogether. This is a great place to live, and it gets better and better every single day.

The bottom line is there is San Francisco, and there's the Bay Area. A lot of people are recommending places outside the city of San Francisco, which is totally fine- but it's not San Francisco, it's the Bay Area. Just to be clear.

But as for where to live, you just need to decide what you're comfortable with, and go for it. Dogs are challenging, but not impossible in the least. Decide if you want roommates. Decide what type of commute you want (bus, light rail, subway) and look at a map of the city. Commuting on Bart (the subway system) isn't for everybody.

As a New Yorker myself, I have to say I'm in love with the Lower Haight / Hayes Valley / Duboce Triangle area. It's easy to get in and out, both commuting and on the weekend. Cab rides home are cheap if I'm out late. Lots of parks nearby (although I don't know if I've personally seen any ultimate Frisbee). It's not the safest area in the whole world, but if you've been in NYC for a while, I'll assume you'll have the street smarts to navigate SF. It doesn't feel as overtly "New York" as some of the other neighborhood mentioned, like South Park, but that's not really what SF is about (for me, personally). It's a different city with a different personality.

You could always sublet or rent month-to-month for a while to try out a couple different areas before making a final decision and signing a lease. Good luck!

If you're top priority is to have a dog, looks for places that will allow that. I wouldn't narrow it down to a neighborhood. A friend of mine lives in North Beach, and she has a dog, and they've been looking for an apartment for years in that neighborhood in their price range.

If you're not set on a dog, and would rather get a better priced apartment, I would suggest not getting a dog. Having a pet will severly limit your choices. Although, having a cat is more doable than a dog.

I've lived in San Francisco for about 10 years. Even places that don't allow pets will negotiate for a cat, but having a dog is even tougher.

Unless of course, you have about $3k to spend a month. Then, you'll have less problems.

My suggestion is to find a place you like in San Francisco, see if you can do a 6 month lease. Then, spend that time looking for another place, and think about getting a dog then.

If you really want a yard, Inner Richmond is nice, and it's also near GGP. If you plan on working downtown, the express buses will get you there in about 30 minutes (California 1 line).

If you want sun, I'd avoid anything west of Arguello, or Divisadero. The fog is thicker and colder there.

The northern neighborhoods--Pacific Heights, Marina/ Cow Hollow, Russian Hill, North Beach, Nob Hill (North of Caliornia Street) are notoriously expensive.

Good luck.

I meant YOUR, not YOU'RE. Sorry.

Well I am an SF-er moving to NYC and I have to say that my neighborhood of Noe Valley was the best. You really need to consider how much sunshine you want to see, because the neighborhood makes all the difference. And if you want a great park: Dolores park is awesome. You have a great view and you are close to everything, and the J church will get you where you want to go. However I do have to say one thing about SF muni (our rail system) Dont think that your commute will be anything like New York-sometimes you will wait forever for a train even when it says it is running on time-it is not as frequent and dependable as NYC, just warning you..depending on how much dough you can offer up dolores heights/noe valley and the castro are great! Good luck on the move!

we moved here a year ago and are enjoying it. we're renting a 1 BR/1BA in SOMA (near the Moscone Center) and are in walking distance of work (both my husband and i work in the FiDi), the ball park, library, ferry building, grocery stores, etc. we lucked out and got a ground floor unit in a large apt. complex, which allows up to 2 pets for only an extra $50/mo (no breed restriction). the guys across the hall from me have 2 jack russells and a guy down the hall has a sweet st. bernard. thankfully it's an incredibly dog-friendly complex so the dogs are able to run around and play.

my coworker lives in pacific heights and enjoys it there. it's a 10 minute bus ride for him and he can find street parking w/ease. another coworker lives in north beach and is about 10 minutes away. although i have to agree w/others that alameda, emeryville, duboce triangle, hayes valley are all great places too.

good luck!

if you think you'll end up living outside of SF, don't forget to factor in approximate commuting costs. BART, ferries, the transbay bus, bridge tolls, etc. can add up quickly!

Cole Valley or Hayes Valley! Both have small dog parks with dogs everywhere, and both are just a short N judah muni ride to GG park or downtown SF.

As a one-time New Yorker, and current SF resident, I just want to say San Francisco is fantastic. It's a much smaller city than New York, and though it does have a greater metro area, if you are looking to be in the city, you will be struck by how much smaller it is than New York. It is commonplace to run into people you know multiple times a day. But you'll also be struck by how calm and pretty and not gritty even the grittiest parts are compared with NYC.
As for neighborhoods, I'd second Bernal, Portero or Dogpatch. We live in the Dogpatch (which is not on the map, but it is the second "L" in Potrero Hill in that representation) and we love it. It is the sunniest neighborhood in the city, right on the water, very quiet and peaceful, close to downtown (I ride my bike to work in SoMa and my ride is 15 minutes), there is a wonderful dog park right in the center (Esprit Park) as well as many other parks in the area (the park at the ballpark, the China Basin park, etc). The neighborhood is populated with a good mix of people of all different ages, backgrounds, race, and occupation. Some other parts of SF are a bit homogeneous and/or are in the middle of gentrification, which brings with it a whole slew of moral and day-to-day issues. The Dogpatch was historically the manufacturing center of the city, so most people living in it are taking over old industrial buildings, rather than taking over old Victorians that used to house the city's minorities and now are converted to high-price condos. Bottom line: you aren't displacing anyone by moving in, which is not something you can say for all SF neighborhoods.
There is a ton of development happening in the area, so it is a great time to invest. Having a yard may be hard bc most of the apartments are loft-style, but some do have yards and many have outdoor spaces.
We have a 1,100sqft loft with a large patio and we pay 2000. We are steps from Muni, a park, restaurants, and the bay. Check it out.

I went from Battery Park City in NYC to Mission Bay in SF and found they're both oddly similar in a planned community kind of way, but I wound up settling in Hayes Valley. It's convenient to pretty much everywhere via public transportation, it's urban enough while relatively safe (it's still a city after all), and it's close to the Financial District and Golden Gate Park.

That said, I would definitely not move here without job offers in hand, as others have said. Also, a back yard will be somewhat difficult (read expensive) to come by, but Duboce Park is very dog friendly--I'd say San Francisco is more dog friendly overall compared to NY.

While you'll have to get used to bringing a jacket with you in August at night, it's certainly nothing compared to a NY winter. And don't be surprised when you look at places that don't have air conditioning, you really don't need it.

Basically, if you can afford it and find employment, San Francisco is a fantastic place to live, and I definitely prefer it over New York. Check out www.socketsite.com for some insight into the current real estate market.

Hi, one more thing to keep in mind while apartment hunting - when you find your roomy dream place, with skylights, yard, free laundry and broadband, 10 minute commute, free parking for an SUV, allows dogs and cats and a small pony, make sure the place isn't located in "lower nob hill."

http://wikimapia.org/1841124/Tendernob-Upper-Tenderloin-Lower-Nob-Hill-Tenderloin-Heights-Trenderloin

I just moved from the "bay area" to "the city" (SF proper) -- good news is that the agents right now are tripping over themselves to rent places out -- one told me that "everyone is looking, no one is moving." so you can definitely use that to your advantage. I did end up giving up my car -- street parking isn't the biggest pain in the butt, but it probably makes the top 25 list. On the flip side - many many zipcar/city car share touchpoints. I chose to move to the Mission and while my place isn't pet friendly, i see a lot of people here out walking their dog at all time of the day. (I'm fairly sure my neighbor has a dog too, but the poor thing is probably staying in a secret annex during the day.) I work in the financial district, so in the morning I just hop on the BART and I'm at work; I did make sure that I'm no more than 3 blocks from the BART station tho. Other neighborhoods I considered are Cole Valley, Pac-Heights, and Hayes Valley. I don't have friends who live around SOMA, so didn't consider it. and i'm not ballsy enough to discover just how safe tenderloin actually is or isn't.

I think next place I move to I'd consider Noe Valley (better for couples), Pac Heights (quieter than the Mission), and maybe the Marina (just to be obnoxious.) I'm not a huge fan of inner richmond or the sunset; both of which gets kind of chilly. Hope this helps!

also, i second what others have said about dog-friendly places being a challenge to find, but they are certainly out there. my building in the mission has a garden and is pet-friendly (though we have two cats instead of a dog), and hell--if the number of dogs in dolores park on the weekends are any indication, there are at least several apts. in the city that allow them. they must live somewhere! personally, i love the mission for its sun, high walkability, restaurants, and nightlife ... though i have to say that we eat out more often that we "go out" ... we are generally nesters/homebodies and don't necessarily fit the hipster stereotype. the mission is dirty, to be sure. some parts are scarier than others. and parking can really suck depending on where you live. but we put up with the grime because the neighborhood works for us in so many other ways. it takes me about 30 minutes to commute to the financial district, no matter whether i take BART or muni; my boyfriend spends 45 minutes to an hour getting to palo alto everyday via caltrain. when i used to work in berkeley it was an hour on BART (after factoring in the walk on both ends) or a half an hour drive on the way there (longer coming back over the bay bridge in the evenings). hope that helps, if only a little. you have a ton of decisions ahead of you, but best of luck sorting through them and finding a place that works for you!

I am with the people who have sugested the East Bay. My husband commutes to downtown SF every day from Rockridge in Oakland and it takes him less than 25 mintues and no gas. Plus, rent is much more reasonable and it's a lot easier to find a place that allows pets. Best of all, it's not called "The Sunny Side of the Bay" for nothing.

I'd wait and make sure you have a definite job first before moving. If you do have a job lined up, please post it so that way people can comment more about locations. As of right now, everyone has given you tons of ideas.

I live in between Russian Hill and North Beach and love it. The homes here are expensive. Like someone mentioned, the price can range anywhere from $2000 to $3000 and that does not include parking. The parking in this area is terrible. You're better off having a scooter or a Mini Cooper or even a Smart Car. Anything bigger, you might as well rent a garage space. Now to open a home in this area it's in the millions. If you want cheaper, then go outside of the City. You'd be lucky to get something cheaper but will probably require tons of work. In this neighborhood, no backyards, but lots of parks such as the Marina Green or Washington Square Park. This area is nice and sunny but if you were to go closer to the beach (Sunset - cold, Sunnyside - not really sunny, sometimes though).

I'd highly recommend checking out SFPD Crime Maps to really check out which areas you should not live in. (http://www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp) Better yet, once you decide on a place, call the district station and ask the officer for what they think of the area. You definitely don't want to live in an area where gun shots are part of the norm.

Good luck!

There are a couple of things I can add about living in the East Bay. If you want to limit your commute time and you're considering the East Bay, you should look carefully at the actual distances you'd have to walk/drive to and from BART. I live in Oakland and go to Cal, and the people I know who commute from SF to Berkeley have a minimum of 45 minutes' commute each way, because of the extra walking distances and trying to catch BART at the right time. If you want to avoid a ton of hassle, try to avoid having to take MUNI or an AC Transit (East Bay) bus to get to the BART. Also, BART stations often have parking lots, but they fill early on weekdays, like before 8am.

In the East Bay, sometimes living near BART is not a good thing. Some neighborhoods near BART stations are dirty and unsafe, with higher crime statistics. Ashby, MacArthur, 19th St Oakland, 12th St Oakland, Lake Merritt, Fruitvale, West Oakland, Airport/Coliseum are stations that, as a girl, I've felt unsafe walking around outside in the dark. If you feel bada**, then go for it, because you can get much cheaper rental prices in these areas.

Better BART neighborhoods: Downtown Berkeley (moderate-to-high rental prices), North Berkeley (same deal), Rockridge (expensive, especially for homes with yards), El Cerrito Plaza (more suburban). If you do more in-person investigation, you'll find that most of the nicest neighborhoods in the East Bay are not within walking distance of BART (the Piedmont Ave area of Oakland/Piedmont, the Solano Ave area of Berkeley/Albany, the Berkeley and Oakland Hills, and a lot of the Rockridge neighborhood).

But honestly, most people I know have decided to live AND work on the same side of the Bay. Our area population isn't getting any smaller, and commuting can be a big hassle.

make sure the place isn't located in "lower nob hill."

Hey, I lived in the Tendernob for almost 10 years, and loved it. although I was on the very northern edge of it. I think anyplace from Sutter north and Hyde east is gonna be alright. Below that and to the west it gets sketchy, fast (at least 'till you pass Van Ness in the west).

The huge advantage to Nob Hill and the northern Tendernob is that you're in EASY walking distance to downtown. I didn't even bother with Muni when I worked downtown, and some of the best shopping in the country is just minutes away at Union Square and on Post Street.

You're also near a slew of Muni lines in that neighborhood, going everywhere from the Embarcadero to Golden Gate Park. I was at Bush and Leavenworth, which is about a 5 minute walk to Van Ness. On Van Ness you can catch buses to the Mission, to the Marina, even to Marin.

Probably not the best neighborhood if you have a dog or want a yard, though. They just aren't available - although some buildings have cool hidden outdoor courtyards or rooftop decks!

I've tried to write this comment several times and each time it comes out wrong and in a way where people will jump on me.

Look, don't move. Trust me.

For those feeling self-righteous about not displacing lower incoming people from Victorian houses, let us not forget who those houses were built for in the first place. It's all cyclical.

@okgoodanswer - I am not sure why anyone would trust you with your well thought response?

I love San Francisco, I moved here last fall and have loved it ever since. These people who say that the weather sucks? Really? You clearly have never lived in a climate that has seasons before because coming from chicago, this weather is amazing.

I think if she is moving from NYC she will probably have rent in check as rent in NYC is still a lot more expensive than in SF.

I would seriously consider looking for someplace that is a sublet because one of the wonderful things about SF is RENT CONTROL. It can save you a lot. For example: We have a 3br/2bath in russian hill with a view of the golden gate and we pay 3 grand. place right below us is same layout without view and is currently renting for 3600.

I second everything sunspot42 said about the Tendernob, pretty much word for word. Granted my car was not safe on the street at night, but I always felt personally safe, even walking alone late at night. There was a small community within that little area that felt nice, yet was right in the middle of everything.

We moved to west Berkeley to buy a house, something I would also recomend. Husband commutes to financial district on bart/ridesharing and it's fast and easy. We have a yard, nice neighbors, and it actually gets a bit hot in the summer. Though we still get the ocean breeze and fog which I love. Great restaurants easy proximity to the city. Husband plays soccer in SF and in Alameda.

Best of luck to you!

I would recommend Berkeley, living near the N Berkeley BART station. A 2br condo with backyard will probably run you $500-550k, you can rent for probably around $2100/mo. (Rentals are all on Craigslist.) If your job is near a BART station in SF, you can get to work in 30-40min.

As a dog owner, I have to say that Berkeley is very dog-friendly. There's a dog park near the N Berkeley BART. Lots of dogs walk around off-leash, and many shops let well-behaved dogs in.

Berkeley is a peaceful, beautiful town. It's suburban enough that you can feasibly get a patch of lawn, but urban enough to be walker-friendly. (I live a half mile north of the Berkeley BART and don't need to use my car much.)

Also I know there is ultimate frisbee in Berkeley, I have a friend who is crazy about the sport! He plays all the time here, with some competitive team that is vaguely affiliated with the university (but has non-students on it).

For those bashing the weather.....I recently did the NY-Bay area move. There is some difference between "bay area" and "SF proper" weather. South bay has my exact ideal weather, with Berkeley coming up a close second. NYC and SF-proper are about a tie.

Bay winters: Short, rainy, gray, but much less cold than NYC winters. No snow.

SF winter: A little longer, probably about the same temperature as NYC.

Bay summers: Long, hot but not overwhelming. If you live in Berkeley you get some lovely breeze off the bay.

SF summers: Warm but not as not as NYC. Cooler at night than the bay or NYC. You need a jacket at night or else you'll freeze in your cute skirt.

I'm with Oak and Bepsf. I've lived in the Bay Area (upper Haight, Inner Richmond, Palo Alto, Berkeley), LA (downtown, westwood, studio city), Seattle, and DC. SF and the Pennisula is now for the trust fund crowd.

I used to work with CA socioeconomic datasets daily. CA is in a world of hurt likes of which it has never experienced before. Have a firm job before you move and even then be really careful.

I have a list of great hip places in the midwest with huge potential but folks here seem to write off anywhere not in a trendy coastal city.

I'm just moving back to the Bay Area after moving away for several years.
Because of the economy owners of apt. buildings are tripping over themselves trying to get renters.
We managed to get a 1950's era 1 bedroom w/garage in the Outer Richmond, just blocks from coastal trails and GGP where I can walk my 70lb Shepard/Chow mix. The landlord gave us a sweet deal (under $2000) and isn't charging us a pet deposit or additional rent. I realize this may not be typical but it is totally possible to use the economy to your advantage.

How exciting! Congrats on the move. I moved here a few years ago and have never regretted it. Life only moves forward. If you guys have decided to do this, it's the right decision!

I've lived in the Mission, SOMA and Castro. I liked the Mission for the warmer weather, SOMA for the proximity to the Financial District and Lower Nob (Tendernob) and the Castro for the classic San Francisco feel and it's central location.

I prefer to live in the city but I have a friend who just moved to Berkeley and she couldn't be happier. She has a dog and a yard and her commute is about 30 minutes on BART.

Good luck!

My problem with the East Bay is the traffic. Sure it's physically close to SF but to get through the traffic and the Bay Bridge is a nightmare. If you can afford to live in the City do so. My fave neighborhoods are Lower Haight/Duboce Triangle & the Mission.

easy, inner sunset. some will argue this, but i work on the embarcadero, the opposite end of the city and it takes 30 min to get there. the muni (our subway) is a block away. lots of little shops and food. great parking. plenty of places have garages. 10 min train ride to the beach, but if you stay east of 9th its never too foggy. no crime, not uber fancy or expensive, no hassle. just the good life.

best part? the park. our dog loves it. we are one block away, its perfect.

if i can offer any advice live near a park. golden gate, dolores, etc. it never matters how big or small your yard is when you live close to a park.

and btw, berks is awesome. but its like the west coast's brooklyn. great place to live, but its hard to get people to come visit.