>I seriously do not understand how people can afford to live out there. I love SF, but financially it would kill me.

Chris;

Yes, you are so right. Over half of my pay check goes for rent and I make good money. I am fourth generation San Franciscan and I am sick of all the greed and crap that goes on here. Just one example: An owner is asking $600,000 for a house. 80 people give bids and one offers $950,000, another $975,000. Guess who gets the house? It is crazy out here. Five years ago who heard of .COM? Now everyone thinks everyone else is a multi millionaire.

In San Francisco the cost of office rental is greater than New York. A .COM company would like a spot in the City and the asking price might be $79 a square foot. The .COM company would say - I will give you $179 a square foot and the asking price soon went up all over the City. Mayor Willie Brown was asked if he would do something about this as .COM companies were renting apartments, condos, townhouses and houses. Mayor Brown stated - No way! My daughter works for a .COM company!

The news that .COM has problems has not changed things out here - greed is still the prime mover and shaker.

I am so thrilled to know that when I retire I can afford to pay half my present rent and nothing else.

Tom