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You posed some simple-sounding questions, but the Bay Area is a very complex real estate market to understand.

So I'll just give you some simple answers.

If you don't already own a house, it's not a functioning area for families, or those wanting to own a house, aka "priced out forever."

Commuting farther is an option in other parts of the USA, but not the Bay Area, since it's constrained by hills and the Bay.

The non-owners living here need a gaffe of some kind:

* shared accommodation

* fly into a city airport with a private plane

* know a Prop 13 owner (ultra-low property tax) who wants to rent to a friend

* find an in-law unit coming onto the rental market

* navigate the Sunset area flop houses

* connections to ethnic communities with below-market asks

* get employer to chip in

* homestead a sketchy area of Oakland

* be a multi-unit superintendent (those used to offer a free apt. on-site, but recently I heard of almost market rent being charged)




but why would anyone do this not making a stupid salary? i don't get the appeal why anyone would put up with that just to have the privilege of serving coffee to techies in a formerly cool city. (not to imply that techies aren't cool)




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