"For people just moving to the city and haven't established any roots, don't rent or own: be a roommate. It is the best deal possible and you'll be own your way

"For people just moving to the city and haven't established any roots, don't rent or own: be a roommate. It is the best deal possible and you'll be own your way to making this place your home, if you want it to be." Solid advise. I have been living in SF for the past six years and this is what I did initially. I now live in a rent controlled aparment and I have no intention of moving. If you are going to be working in SF another viable option to consider is getting a place near a BART station in Oakland/Berkeley. Both are much cheaper places to live in than SF or the South Bay.