Relocating to San Francisco Featured Articles

East Bay

Alameda County

Alameda County is located east of San Francisco across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It is largely suburban and an important commercial and industrial area surrounded by rolling hills and numerous recreational parks. The Port of Oakland is the busiest on the Bay and the fourth-largest port on the West Coast. The University of California, Berkeley, is known for its innovations... more »

Education

California’s public education system is huge: more than six million students in about 9,500 schools, which are governed by almost 1,000 elected school boards and regulated by a complex education code. The schools are funded through a finance system largely controlled by the Legislature and governor.

In California, schools vary in their grade-level configuration. Most elementary schools encompass K-5, middle schools 6-8, junior high 7-9 and... more »

Financing and Mortgage

With so many financing options available, it’s important to educate yourself on the process to ensure you’re making the best, most cost-effective long-term decisions. This Financing/Mortgage section provides step-by-step tips that will walk you through the entire home-buying process, from finding a qualified real-estate agent to making an offer on your dream home. Also included is a glossary of real-estate terms and a checklist of tips to expedite... more »

Health and Wellness

One example of a leading research insitution is the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), which is consistently ranked as among the nation’s best. For more than 100 years, UCSF Medical Center has fostered clinical innovations that have brought about dramatic advances in medicine. According to U.S. News & World Report, the professional schools of the University of California, San Francisco, are among... more »

Insurance

It’s one product you purchase hoping you’ll never have to use. Depending on where you live and what type of lifestyle you lead, you may need different types of insurance coverage to adequately protect you and/or your property from loss or damage. For instance, earthquake insurance is available for residents in California. If you spend a good deal of time on the road, you may want... more »

Job Hunting

Many San Francisco newcomers relocate to the Bay Area as part of a company transfer or a career switch, with a new job already secured. But often, they are accompanied by a spouse or other family members who need to find a job. Even current San Francisco Bay Area workers often have children who need a job for the summer or a permanent position after graduation.... more »

North Bay

Marin County

Driving north on the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, you’re immediately welcomed by warmer weather, picture-postcard scenery and at certain points as you look back, fantastic views of San Francisco. Surrounded by water on three sides, Marin (population 248,742) is a special place where you can explore wild and scenic California beaches, enjoy sailing and windsurfing in San Francisco Bay, or marvel at... more »

Peninsula

San Mateo County

Located between San Francisco and Santa Clara counties on the San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County has the second-highest income per capita in the Bay Area and consistently falls in the top five in per-capita income in the state of California. The county covers 531 square miles and boasts 54-miles of spectacular coastline bluffs and beaches, with 74 percent of its land in... more »

Planning and Managing Your Move

With careful planning, moving can be a relatively problem-free process. Whether moving across the street or across country, a comprehensive plan can help with the step-by-step process of relocating.

Bay Area-based services designed to help make moving easier include temporary housing, storage, career counseling and job-placement services. One of the first steps to planning and managing a move is collecting information.

Quality of Life

Thanks to the area’s well-developed infrastructure, families can enjoy a wide range of activities that include parks, hiking and bike trails, beaches, museums, sports events, theme parks, film festivals, food fairs, libraries, live theater, modern dance and ballet, ethnic celebrations, flower gardens, farmers markets, sky gazing, wine tasting, hot-air ballooning, animal watching and even county fairs. For newcomers and established residents, there is so much to... more »

Renting and Leasing

As a newcomer to the Bay Area, you may want to familiarize yourself with different neighborhoods and regions before determining where to buy. Renting can provide you with the time to do more research and weigh your options.

In San Francisco, 65 percent of the city's residents are renters, and you’ll find the city is a landlord’s market with occupancy at approximately 97... more »

San Francisco

Today, San Francisco is recognized and appreciated worldwide. Many famous landmarks distinguish the global city: the vermillion cables of the Golden Gate Bridge; the bustling shoppers and diners enjoying Union Square; Chinatown, with a myriad of people amidst the striking architecture; the clanging cable cars pulling up the crest of Nob and Russian hills; and the angular construction of the pyramid-shaped Transamerica Building.

San... more »

South Bay

Southern Santa Clara County

Southern Santa Clara County is the heart of the Silicon Valley and the center of the high-tech world. Companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Apple Computer, Intel and Sun Microsystems are located here. The area rode the dot-com boom in the 1990s and suffered the most when the bubble burst. At the time, a full 10 percent of jobs dried up and many... more »

Vertical Living

One Rincon Hill, The Infinity and Millennium Tower are among the high-profile condominium projects changing the landscape south of Market Street. One Rincon Hill consists of two towers, one at 60 stories tall (completed) and the other at 45 stories (under construction). The project is estimated to cost $270 million. Millennium Tower, also 60 stories with 419 luxury condo residences, is scheduled to open in spring 2009. Plans... more »