Yes, still seems absurd to me. “The target tenant earns between $50,000 and $100,000.” So the rent would be almost half of the lower earners’ gross income. And you get no tax breaks or home equity. I couldn’t encourage my kids to do that.
My mortgage payment in our nice single family home in HI was lower than the rental S was paying for the condo he’s renting in Arlington. He’s happy and can afford it, so I’m happy.
@katliamom : SF is SF. There are people paying $4k in rent for apartments, which is more than my PITI for a 3BR/3Ba home in the Berkeley hills, but I was lucky – like you, I suspect. In the current market, payting half your income for rent alone is not unusual. Oh,and @MaineLonghorn, Ryan and the Trumpster have their eyes on those tax breaks.
Politicians have had eyes on those tax breaks for many years. I’m not worried.
I am … although I’d be happy to have my fears prove unfounded. And I guess we’re veering off topic so enough of that.
@MaineLonghorn – your kids, were they to live in SF, would be like the zillion other kids who live there: they’d enjoy the city… and then move somewhere more affordable, be it Oakland, Sacramento, Reno, Austin, Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia or Portland Maine 
Where I live, it seems half the young couples looking at homes/condos are ex-Californians… (I was one of them, once, too!)
I know this is relative, but are there areas of Oakland that should absolutely be avoided?
Using the walk score site might help with that question https://www.walkscore.com/apartments/search/CA/Oakland
In the meantime, my DS’s new apt just fell through, 2 weeks before movie in! The current tenant decided to stay!! Ugh! I didn’t know they could do that after its been re-rented, but… in that state, anything goes, I fear.
I was really worried about this when my D chose a job in SF, but she had some contacts there who had graduated in previous years and they found a 5 BR house for rent on Zillow ($6500). It’s a 5 min walk from a BART station (Glen Park), and they had to find an additional person for the 5th room. I’m not familiar with the area but if they can widen their search like ECmotherx2 and others have suggested, they may have some luck.
@partyof5 : Yes. Do a search for drive-by shootings, and you’ll probably see some patterns.
jym…was a deposit taken? hmmm…maybe contact SF tenants union (sftu.org) and see what their rights are…
Oh, gosh no. Just bcos they have sidewalks and a bus system, doesn’t mean its safe.
But the short answer is the bottom-right of that chart, which still gives a score in the 70’s. Even the Tourism Bureau would’t buy it. Yikes.
Isn’t there a crime map? A couple of years ago, someone posted a crime map in the bay area that I found useful. It could have been ucbalumnus. One could also google for it. The crime map listed number of crimes and type of crimes. One could get weekly, monthly and annual stats.
http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/crimewatch/
Can’t say I’m surprised by any of it.
Thanks, @gosmom. Hopefully they will get their deposit back (was paid for by combo of credit card and check). They said it felt like a bait and switch to them. The complex tried to put them in a crummier apt (not updated, right by the train) for the same $$. Um, NO. The most they would come down on the rent was $20. Um, NO. Its not in SF but further down in SV. But thanks for the link. Will look at it and see if it helps.
They did find a new place. Ridiculously $$$$$$.
BTW, @mamabear1234 , DS#1 used to live in Glen Park. Very cute area.
https://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Oakland-California/crime/
I think Redfin provides a similar crime map.
Yuck, @jym626! It’s awful when complexes take advantage of renters. Sadly they try and do it SO often! Here’s hoping they get a full refund ASAP. 
The apartment search turned out to be fairly simple. Luckily, one of DS’ future roommates has already started working in SF and got a lead on an apartment from a work colleague. Now, I’m wondering about where to get inexpensive but durable furniture. DS will need a bed and nightstand, maybe a small dresser. Collectively, they will, at the least, need a couch and table and chairs. I’ve thought of IKEA and Costco but am not sure if either is close enough or will deliver. Ideas? Thank you.
There is one in the East Bay and one down around Redwood City