Sunset Estate

How can a family of five afford to live in San Francisco?

We're a nuclear family of four and want to have my mom move with us to San Francisco. I've checked out rentals and real estate and the prices are amazingly high. While we were there, however, I didn't get the feeling that the neighborhood of Sunset was full of wealthy people. How do people afford to live there if they aren't rich?

Public Comments

1. Three incomes per familly and a home that was purchased before the boom.
2. Move somewhere else. Go to kentucky, Alabama, Florida or something. Why struggle when you can live better around these areas? good luck
3. if you make less than $150,000 do not waste your time.
4. If you don't have the income try South San Francisco (it is a city, not SF) or Daly City. You can also commute from the east bay. Richmond and Oakland are very cheap...scary but cheap. Castro Valley is close by and has good schools and is not scary.
5. A lot of the people that live there purchased homes ten or fifteen years ago when prices were not so outrageous. Some of the more recent buyers might have used "creative" financing methods- 0 down programs, interest only financing, ARMs, etc. You might want to try some of the exurbs- bedroom communities more than an hour away from the city. I would consult a reputable realtor and tell them how much you have to spend, and that you're looking for a clean, safe, area and that you are willing to be far, far away from the city if you have to be.
6. Oakland and Castro Valley are NOT cheap. Nothing in the Bay Area is cheap. I moved out of there 5 years ago and have no regrets. The quality of life sucks if you aren't rich. You have to commute and work 3 jobs just to pay the bills. Why bother? Just go to a cheaper location where you can buy a home and have a decent standard of living for the money.
7. They both work, everything goes to the home and everyone tightens their belts, they put on a show to look good for the neighbors whom are doing the same. Everyone wants to look good. Why don't you move to a small town like we have, on the "Thumb" of lower Eastern Michigan, it's small and friendly, the fishing is good, the country is beautiful and have friendly people that have the same interests as you. None want to put on a face to show anyone up, we're all the same here. We live good, act like people should. The prices are amazingly reasonable, you can still buy a small home for less then $35000.00 believe that or not and we all shop at Wal-Mart.