Transferring information to San Francisco: What that you must learn about residing in SF

Despite the dirt, the cost of living and an incurable housing shortage, you’ve made the decision to move to San Francisco. (You weren’t emotionally attached to that savings account anyway, were you?) You’re not the only one: Between 2010 and 2017, SF’s population climbed from 805,770 to 884,363, an increase of 9.75 percent. That’s a lot of people in a city only seven by seven miles. I hope you like it cozy.

People move here for a myriad of reasons, and a lucky few may stay. San Francisco has an astronomical price tag – we have the highest number of billionaires per capita – but it also has a homelessness crisis that could not be resolved by public order or City Hall proclamations. And while it’s one of the few major US cities that doesn’t require a car to get around, the public transit system could use an extreme overhaul. But if you are willing to take the negatives, you will find yourself richly rewarded for living in the greatest city in the Golden State.

To help you move and before you spend more than half your salary on rent – or should you buy? Whichever you choose, it’ll sting – we’ve created a guide with everything you need to know about life in the city. From where you live, to buying furniture, to getting rid of a mouse infestation, this guide will help you wade through the murky waters of SF life. —Brock Keeling

▸ Should you move to San Francisco?

Are you thinking of moving to the city? Two points need to be repeated: It is expensive. And it’s small. These factors will play an important role in your decision – and your life here.

FIND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

▸ How to choose a neighborhood in San Francisco

In an August poll published by real estate portal Trulia, 42 percent of San Franciscans wished they had moved to a different neighborhood than they now call home. Don’t make the same mistake.

▸ The five most pedestrian-friendly places to live

San Francisco is one of the best cities in America to walk to, but not all neighborhoods are created equal when you hit the sidewalk. Here are the places where pedestrians walk the easy street.

▸ How neighborhoods got their names

From Little Hollywood to Saint Francis Wood, here’s a nearly definitive etymological guide to SF hoods.

FIND YOUR HOME

▸ Is it Better to Rent or Buy?

While San Francisco has always been a city of tenants – the city’s planning department estimates that nearly 65 percent of residents rent – the question for newcomers is: should I rent or buy?

▸ Looking for an apartment? Try these 9 Craigslist alternatives

If you’re looking for a pad in San Francisco, check out these alternative online outlets.

▸ The San Francisco Tenants Guide

After you’ve decided on a rental, here’s everything you need to know, from how the rental price brake works, to finding an apartment, to problems that arise after signing the lease.

▸ A Guide to Housing Below the Market Price

It is possible to evaluate this white whale of San Francisco real estate: a unit of affordable housing in the city’s “inclusive housing program”, also known as the “BMR” (for “below market”) program. Here is how.

▸ 10 apartment houses with luxurious furnishings

From lavish to ridiculous, here are the five-star amenities that can rival four-star hotels.

COLLECT

▸ The best furniture and home design shops

Set up your home in these stores specializing in furniture and home accessories – all small, independently curated boutiques.

▸ How to fix (almost) everything in your SF neighborhood

From stopping the rat infestation to planting trees, the city has a protocol to address many quality of life issues.

▸ SF Rental Laws Your landlord probably doesn’t want you to know

The Dirt You Need To Know Before Signing A Lease.

▸ How to file a noise complaint

What to do if construction crews disturb your sleep or your neighbors party too hard?

▸ What if my roommate leaves?

Whether or not you can keep your existing rental – or home – depends on a few factors. This table will help you find out.

GET INSPIRED

▸ Local ceramists who burn it

Fill your space with these small batch ceramic pieces. Who knows? They could be the next heather pottery.

▸ In the best homes in the Bay Area

Check out 12 of our favorites, from a major remodel on a famous hill to a colorful postmodern couple’s apartment in an empty nest in SoMa.

▸ In the maximalist Castro apartment of an artist

A green apartment in the city with a built-in aviary and finds in abundance proves that more is more.

▸ How not to freeze in your Victorian apartment

Creative and safe ways to keep warm in SF’s popular yet cool housing stock.