relocating to San Francisco, CA

South of Market aka Soma. Start can kicking (now) with Trulia. Any relo assistance from your new position? http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/soma/

SOMA or Potreo Hill. But parking will be hard in SOMA without a garage. Also Bernal Heights facing west.

SOMA, besides fitting the bill of what you want in terms if gritty, has the advantage of CalTrain if you ever choose to commute that way. OTOH, the commute to Foster City isn't terrible, and I imagine you'll want to let your 911turbo loose as much as you can if it's been collecting dust in NYC.

FYI, "gritty" in SF is very tame compared to "gritty" in NYC.

If you don't know the city at all, why buy now? Rent for a while until you get a feel for the city & then decide what you want to do. I lived there years ago & still have a dear friend there & I've been enjoying the San Francisco Chronicle online, SFGate dot com. That will give you a flavor of that city by the bay.

I'd echo previous comments about SoMa, but it's definitely been gentrified. (Yes, there is even a Whole Foods...)

If you want something grittier, I'd head to the Tenderloin, Hunter's Point (great access to 101 for your commute), or the Mission. All of them are gentrifying, but you'll be ahead of the curve there, rather than behind the curve in SoMa.

The Tenderloin? Really?! There is "gritty" and then there are people hitting on crack pipes and defecating on the sidewalk in broad daylight. One doesn't voluntarily move to the Tenderloin- it's the refuge of last resort when all hope is lost.

"If you don't know the city at all, why buy now? Rent for a while until you get a feel for the city & then decide what you want to do. I lived there years ago & still have a dear friend there & I've been enjoying the San Francisco Chronicle online, SFGate dot com. That will give you a flavor of that city by the bay."

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming! I am getting relocation help from my employer and I believe in order to fully take advantage, I need to buy within 12 months. Plus, I think its a good time to buy now with record low interest rates. I can live in temporary housing for up to 90 days, and I believe one option for the temp. housing is in SOMA so I think in 90 days I can get get a good feel for the area.

Soma fits both the industrial and gritty requirements (parts of it anyway). You will also find gritty (but not indsutrial) in the Lower Haight and Hayes Valley, as well as the Mission. You will need to find parking in any of those neighborhoods and some of the places have garages. All are pretty convenient to get on to (The) 101. If you are going to consider the Tenderloin, only look in the Northern part going up to Nob Hill (aka The Tender Nob). The rest of it is rough beyond anything you can find in Manhattan.

911 Turbo said "gritty/industrial" and that it didn't need to be gentrified. Tenderloin is an area in transition and the city is considering tax breaks to help spur investment. If Twitter is considering moving into the Tenderloin, then how bad can it be? (http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-03-24/bay-area/29180814_1_tenderloin-payroll-tax-twitter)

SoMa is already gentrified and much less gritty. It's a great place to live, but I don't know if it fits the criteria. 15 years ago, perhaps it would have been a better fit.

Pretty bad. Twitter moved to the outskirts of the Tenderloin. That area is geographically closer to Soma and Hayes Valley then the heart of the Tenderloin.

He said he wanted PARKING which is why I said Potreo Hill or Bernal Heights (not facing the bay.) Both of those have street parking and few hobos, and both are MUCH more convenient for the 101.

And no Inonada, Caltrans to Foster City is NOT a good option. I spent much of my childoon in San Mateo then Redwood Shores, and its too far to walk from the Hillsdale CalTrans to Foster City. The bus comes only every 1/2 an hour. And does not run at night. IF his employer has a shuttle bus then maybe.

But again this makes Potreo Hill or Bernal Heights good options, as you can do the Bayshore or 22nd street stops - and actually walk to them.

Or even transfer from BART to Caltrans at Millbrae - which opens up Glen Park or other fringy areas.

If I moved back, and got a job in Foster City, I would probably just live down there (or San Mateo) and commute to SF for fun. The 101 traffic is like people think LA traffic is. Its nightmarish.

"FYI, "gritty" in SF is very tame compared to "gritty" in NYC."

In my experience, this isn't the case at all. The Tenderloin, as others have mentioned, is much "grittier" than anywhere I've been in NYC, and it's not like East New York or something that is nowhere near where most of the people on this board live.

I lived in the Tenderloin when I first moved to San Francisco many moons ago. I have fond memories of it & it certainly is centrally located & gritty. Here is a resource from the Chronicle that might help you. http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/bernalheights/

I also think you need to live somewhere NOT facing the water and where the micro-climates are favourable. The mission or Potreo Hill or Bernal Heights (facing west) or SOMA are all warmer every day all year than anything in say the Marina, Richmond district, Sunset, etc. Or hunters point (who said THAT!?!?!? BRRRRRR!!!!)

Tenderloin = avoid at all costs. That is gritty like New York has not been since the crack days. Its literally got herione needles and used condoms and human shit and such lying around, and AGRESSIVE panhandellers who can get physical with you. and it has NO parking and is NOT near the 101 or 280.

Agree re the Tenderloin, still a throwback to NYC 1980s, not convenient location to get out of the city via car and head south every day. Went to a great Thai restaurant there a few months ago, only pos thing I can say. 12 month window to buy while you live in temp housing is plenty of time. good luck. Try Noe Valley also.