I also live here and all of SG's info is spot on...my first question would be where is this work located? Not there is a horrible commute compared to most big cities, but over time it has gotten to me, ie 25 mins to base got to be a horrible drive during certain hours. So if you tell me where you are working, I may be able to suggest certain areas that arent ghetto but may be affordable...also are you looking to buy or rent?