More details, please? I've been trying to look for places recently and everything seems to be exorbitantly priced.
- Everyone else is looking for that, too, so you need to act fast.
- It's not a dealbreaker to live in, say, the Tenderloin in SF, but do some research and make sure you're comfortable.
- People in SF will get 10 - 60 replies per day on an apartment listing, especially if the price is reasonable for the area. Stand out and be awesome.
- The same goes for the interview.
- Have stuff like bank statements and recent credit reports handing, and have the cash to make the move. So many people make it past the screening phase but then put their roommates on hold waiting for the "check in the mail". Money talks.
This always surprises me. If you get dozens of replies the instant you put a listing on CL, isn't that a sign your price is way too low? Why not add a few hundred $ per month and maybe have to wait three days to rent it out?
That's really what I'm getting at: if you're single and don't have a family, and you're happy with roommates and not living in a palace, then you can enjoy SF and not only not go broke, but you might save a penny or two.
Now if your life situation is such that the whole "single and don't have a family" thing doesn't apply, well then it... doesn't apply :)
In my opinion, your argument is very much valid if you want to raise a family or you just prefer to have your own place. Unless you make a lot of money, you're probably better off doing that elsewhere.