Two weekends ago Kip and I {kid free!} made the trip out to San Francisco to find an apartment. We had a realtor on Saturday to show us around, but not Sunday, so we we were really putting a lot of faith in her! She did not disappoint and ultimately we found a place. But the actual trip out there was one we will never forget {more on that later} and debating our options was really hard.
Looking for an apartment in San Francisco is no easy task. The market is very competitive and moves at lightening speed, not to mention it is crazy expensive. Like CRAY CRAY. Which is why we waited so long to find a place. Most people in the Bay Area find a new apartment and move in two weeks later, sometimes less--which is crazy to my Texan-brain. I knew going out there that there would be no perfect place. I knew each place would have something that I loved, and something that I did not care for, and that we would have to pick the place that met the most of our wish list. Coming from a Texas, we did not think our wish list was too demanding: laundry in the apartment, walking distance to Kip's work, safe, pet friendly with a small yard, parking included, 2 bedroom/2 bathrooms, and an elevator if not on the ground floor. That's not that demanding, right?! Well, as it turns out that is an impossible wish list in SF! {Well, I'm sure if we had unlimited funds, it would not be so impossible, but who has unlimited funds?}
We quickly learned that every apartment/condo we looked at that is pet friendly has weight restrictions of 30-40 pounds. Our sweet golden, Ginger, is 65 pounds on a good day. I really cannot imagine life without her. But we sorta knew that it would be really hard to bring her. I also cannot imagine having her couped up in an apartment all day, with no yard. Even with a park near by, loading up Ginger to go potty every morning {and multiple times throughout the day} with Luke would be very challenging. So ultimately, we made the decision that Ginger will have to stay at GiGi and Anci's house. She loves GiGi and Anci, and their house, and I may cry if I type any more about it.
Every place we looked at had something that I wished I could change- but some where not negotiable. For example, no laundry in the apartment- can you even imagine with a baby? And no elevator, but the unit was on the 3rd floor. Again, can you even imagine with a baby/stroller? And a super steep spiral staircase inside the apartment to get to the main floor {yeah SO not going to happen with this little wild man}!
The place we found is almost perfect. Our building is pretty- its dates back to the early 1920s, has a gilded ceiling in our entry way, and has all the character I had hoped for. Our apartment is a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom, two walk in closets, brand new finishes in the bathrooms, a pantry, and a coat closet. We have 4 sets of bay windows {swoon}, and tons of natural light. It is 4 blocks to Kip's work, about a 12 minute walk. Now for the cons- we don't have much of a view, at all, and the big one- parking in our building was full. I know. No parking with a baby. CALL ME CRAZY. But we did find a parking spot in a garage 2 blocks away {about a 4 minute walk}. And Kip has free parking at his work. So, there's that?
It will be challenging. I know. But parking is one thing that may change. Parking may open up in our building, or across the street. Proximity to Kip's work, or niceness of the apartment, or laundry in the apartment, would never change. I may still be trying to convince myself that we will not be second guessing our decision all year. But even if we do, hopefully, when I'm out of breath and literally panting from climbing the huge hill from our parking garage, pushing a stroller, loaded down with groceries, by myself, this entrance will make it all worth it. #letshope #andpray
Looking for an apartment in San Francisco is no easy task. The market is very competitive and moves at lightening speed, not to mention it is crazy expensive. Like CRAY CRAY. Which is why we waited so long to find a place. Most people in the Bay Area find a new apartment and move in two weeks later, sometimes less--which is crazy to my Texan-brain. I knew going out there that there would be no perfect place. I knew each place would have something that I loved, and something that I did not care for, and that we would have to pick the place that met the most of our wish list. Coming from a Texas, we did not think our wish list was too demanding: laundry in the apartment, walking distance to Kip's work, safe, pet friendly with a small yard, parking included, 2 bedroom/2 bathrooms, and an elevator if not on the ground floor. That's not that demanding, right?! Well, as it turns out that is an impossible wish list in SF! {Well, I'm sure if we had unlimited funds, it would not be so impossible, but who has unlimited funds?}
We quickly learned that every apartment/condo we looked at that is pet friendly has weight restrictions of 30-40 pounds. Our sweet golden, Ginger, is 65 pounds on a good day. I really cannot imagine life without her. But we sorta knew that it would be really hard to bring her. I also cannot imagine having her couped up in an apartment all day, with no yard. Even with a park near by, loading up Ginger to go potty every morning {and multiple times throughout the day} with Luke would be very challenging. So ultimately, we made the decision that Ginger will have to stay at GiGi and Anci's house. She loves GiGi and Anci, and their house, and I may cry if I type any more about it.
Every place we looked at had something that I wished I could change- but some where not negotiable. For example, no laundry in the apartment- can you even imagine with a baby? And no elevator, but the unit was on the 3rd floor. Again, can you even imagine with a baby/stroller? And a super steep spiral staircase inside the apartment to get to the main floor {yeah SO not going to happen with this little wild man}!
The place we found is almost perfect. Our building is pretty- its dates back to the early 1920s, has a gilded ceiling in our entry way, and has all the character I had hoped for. Our apartment is a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom, two walk in closets, brand new finishes in the bathrooms, a pantry, and a coat closet. We have 4 sets of bay windows {swoon}, and tons of natural light. It is 4 blocks to Kip's work, about a 12 minute walk. Now for the cons- we don't have much of a view, at all, and the big one- parking in our building was full. I know. No parking with a baby. CALL ME CRAZY. But we did find a parking spot in a garage 2 blocks away {about a 4 minute walk}. And Kip has free parking at his work. So, there's that?
It will be challenging. I know. But parking is one thing that may change. Parking may open up in our building, or across the street. Proximity to Kip's work, or niceness of the apartment, or laundry in the apartment, would never change. I may still be trying to convince myself that we will not be second guessing our decision all year. But even if we do, hopefully, when I'm out of breath and literally panting from climbing the huge hill from our parking garage, pushing a stroller, loaded down with groceries, by myself, this entrance will make it all worth it. #letshope #andpray