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‘Something had really been missing from my life.’ Why I ditched San Francisco for Savannah, where the median home costs just $285,000

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‘Something had really been missing from my life.’ Why I ditched San Francisco for Savannah, where the median home costs just 5,000


Keyan Karimi

Many Individuals need to transfer: Certainly, a report 32.4% of Redfin.com customers regarded to maneuver to a unique metro space in January, which is up from “a earlier peak of 31.5% within the first quarter of 2021 and considerably increased than earlier than the pandemic,” the positioning revealed. And the info confirmed that San Francisco was the No. 1 vacation spot customers have been seeking to go away. It’s a development that has been occurring for a bit already , different analysis reveals: The variety of individuals leaving the Bay Space jumped 21% from March 2020 and September 2021, in keeping with a report from College of California researchers. On this story, we speak to a kind of individuals who left the Bay Space, and share tips about what to think about in case you’re seeking to transfer too. Try the bottom mortgage charges you may get now right here.

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When 30-year-old start-up investor Keyan Karimi’s Silicon Valley workplace shut down resulting from COVID-19 in March 2020, he went to go to his dad and mom in his hometown of Atlanta. “I used to be spending time with them and it made me understand one thing had actually been lacking from my life. It had been virtually 10 years since I spent greater than two weeks with my household since I’d gone to school out of state, labored in Dubai after which California,” says Karimi. 

With work-from-home turning into the brand new norm, Karimi started to think about a transfer. A Zillow seek for inexpensive historic properties in Atlanta didn’t reveal any promising prospects, however when Karimi zoomed out, he seen a cluster of crimson dots hovering over Savannah, about 3 and a half hours away. “That led to a go to, since I’d by no means been there, and I began taking a look at homes,” says Karimi.

Although he had been renting an condominium in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood whereas commuting to Silicon Valley, Karimi knew he’d discovered his subsequent residence the minute he walked right into a historic row home in downtown Savannah. “Downtown Savannah is definitely fairly costly and within the final 12 months it’s actually exploded. The worth of properties in my neighborhood have gone up 45%, which implies my taxes have elevated and my value is definitely now a little bit greater than what I paid in hire,” says Karimi. Nonetheless, he says it’s like evaluating apples to oranges, since he had a junior one-bedroom condominium in San Francisco — and he’s now in a row home duplex with a courtyard and a storage. 

In search of a mortgage? See the bottom charges you would possibly qualify for right here.

What it actually comes all the way down to for Karimi is the way in which his life has improved since leaving the tech capital. “I like the walkability, regardless that San Francisco is taken into account a walkable place, you continue to need to stroll from neighborhood to neighborhood. Right here, it’s block to dam and wherever you wish to exit or eat is multi function neighborhood,” says Karimi. This, he says, is one cause Savannah incessantly lands on lists of the very best cities to go to in the US. 

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He was additionally shocked to find how a lot the south needed to supply businesswise. “Seeing corporations relocating and beginning right here was actually stunning. The inhabitants from all the colleges has an urge for food for innovation, expertise and constructing the group up,” says Karimi. And, that’s made it simpler for him to proceed to work remotely. “I partnered with some entities right here … attempt to convey a component of Silicon Valley tech because it applies to logistics, and I launched an initiative the place we’re going to convey that to a few of these corporations,” says Karimi. Now, with these tasks on his docket, he has much more of an excuse to remain in Georgia completely.

After all, he misses most of the individuals he knew within the Bay Space. “It’s only a totally different stage in San Francisco. Irrespective of the place you’re on the planet, the very best expertise and the neatest individuals are drafted by corporations to Silicon Valley. Residing and dealing there’s something I wouldn’t commerce for something,” says Karimi. 

Dreaming of transferring to a much less expensive metropolis, too?

Listed below are some sources that can assist you make that call:

Housing: See what sort of a mortgage you possibly can qualify for right here, and lookup what you would possibly pay in hire right here.
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Price of dwelling and different life-style components: Evaluate the price of dwelling in a brand new metropolis together with your present metropolis right here, in addition to issues like taxes, crime and extra.
Healthcare: Search for how U.S. Information ranks your the brand new state ranks when it comes to healthcare right here.
Jobs: In case your present job gained’t allow you to work remotely, you possibly can hunt for jobs through websites like Certainly and Glassdoor.
Crime, training and different life-style components: Look these up on Area of interest.



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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco’s Chinatown pushes for preservation amid decline in business

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San Francisco’s Chinatown pushes for preservation amid decline in business


SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco Chinatown is a place where tradition mingles with the unconventional.

“This is Lion Trading and we’re a religious product store based in San Francisco’s Chinatown,” welcomed Lucas Li, Manager of Lion Trading.

Incense and religious artifacts are among the many products that come from China.

The owner, Magan Li says the initial tariffs imposed on Chinese goods, which now are paused until August 12, will have dire consequences.

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“To us as a small business, that number is still very high and so we are adjusting to the new tariffs and also we are taking advantage of the 90 days to really get out shipment over here,” added Lucas Li.

VIDEO: SF family’s ‘Zodiac Wall’ educates visitors about Chinese culture, connects community

For over a decade, Nancy Yu Law and her family have been decorating Jack Kerouac Alley, or the “Zodiac Wall” in Chinatown for Lunar New Year.

Donald Luu, the head of Chinatown’s Chamber of Commerce, says there’s no denying it, if a trade war develops between the U.S. and China it will add to Chinatown’s downturn.

“I made a statement before. I think if the tariffs, the way they were proposed is going to devastate Chinatown,” warned Luu.

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But Chinatown is known for its resilience dating back to the 1906 earthquake which nearly wiped out most of the buildings and structures.

During the 1929 stock market crash, Chinatown saw widespread unemployment and small businesses faced unknown challenges. Nearly 100 years later, Chinatown is still here but facing new hardships.

International tourism is visibly down this summer.

Locals blame a strong U.S. dollar and the crackdown on undocumented immigrants gives the perception that foreigners are not welcomed under the Trump administration.

VIDEO: How SF Chinatown resident’s historical lawsuit established birthright citizenship

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Born in 1873 in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Wong Kim Ark became the story of birthright citizenship as we know it today.

Like other places in the city, Chinatown has seen rents increase forcing some businesses out.

A younger generation is leaving local retail to pursue other careers.

Legacy business Sam Wo Restaurant closed in January after its owner retired with no one to take over the business.

Dragon Seed, a dressmaking shop will close after 45 years in Chinatown.

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Linda Law, owner of the Love Tea boba shop says some people aren’t investing long term.

“All the people I know have been here for over 20 years, like myself but I see the newcomers, especially boba shops, they just stay for three months or six months, they change ownership,” explained Law.

MORE: New SF Chinatown lanterns are nod to neighborhood’s history with artistic twist

Another issue here has been out-migration when families leave for other neighborhoods and cities.

“A lot of families grow up in Chinatown and once they move out, they don’t come back so often. I think that’s why we need more events to attract them to come back,” said Law.

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Chinatown did bring night markets to the neighborhood beginning in late 2023. But that alone won’t attract people to Chinatown.

Luu says Chinatown’s economic future will rely less on souvenir shops and more on places that offer cultural experiences, especially along the Grant Street corridor.

“There are many ways for folks to buy these souvenirs and items online, on Amazon and Ali Baba for a lot cheaper. We are seeing more and more art and culture institutions occupy Grant Avenue and we want to make it into an art and culture district,” insisted Luu.

People here say experiencing what Chinatown has to offer will always bring people back. Then and now.

Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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San Francisco, CA

SF Pride Parade brings joy to community, resistance against anti-trans movement

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SF Pride Parade brings joy to community, resistance against anti-trans movement


SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The largest Pride celebration in the country is delivering on a promise of love, equality and inclusion.

San Francisco Pride is celebrating 55 years. That includes a legendary parade down Market Street. This year, activism and resistance took center stage.

Pride was on the move down Market Street Sunday. The parade, a true San Francisco original. It’s a day to celebrate exactly who you are.

“It means equality for everyone, we have the right to love who we love, love has no boundaries for anyone,” said Reese Hendricks from Montana.

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WATCH: 2025 San Francisco Pride Parade exclusively on ABC7

This year, there was pride and protest. With transgender rights under attack nationally, there was increased pushback and resistance.

“This year, Pride is about celebration, and it’s about protest — everything that’s happening across the country, taking away our human rights,” said transgender rights activist, Honey Mahogany.

“The reason we have Pride is because it was a resistance against police brutality between trans and queer people. They had a right to fight for their rights to exist,” said Shane Zaldivar from San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives.

Daniel Lurie was celebrating his first Pride as San Francisco mayor.

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PHOTOS: San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration 2025

“We’re showing the world what it means to take care of each other, to look out for each other, to give everybody hope. These are some dark times, but not here in San Francisco. We’re going to show people the light here in San Francisco,” Lurie said.

There are big wins to celebrate, such as a decade of marriage equality.

“Our love is legal from coast to coast, the 10-year anniversary of nationwide marriage equality, we are marching forward and never going back,” said Stuart Gafney.

“There’s no discrimination. Every single person is welcome at Pride,” said Liv Heglie from Orinda.

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An all-inclusive party for all.

Check out abc7news.com/pride for stories about the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, and share your Pride on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook by tagging your photos or videos #abc7now and we may show them online or on TV. You must have taken the image/video or otherwise own all rights to it and agree that KGO-TV and its licensees can use, edit & distribute it without restriction in all media. Full terms: abc7news.com/share

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco’s Dyke March draws thousands to the streets after 6-year hiatus

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San Francisco’s Dyke March draws thousands to the streets after 6-year hiatus


SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — One of Pride weekend’s traditions made its long-awaited return Saturday evening.

With the turning of the throttle, and roaring of multiple motorcycles, San Francisco’s Dyke March was back after a six-year hiatus. The last time the Dyke March was held was before the pandemic.

“We’re making ourselves visible, so that people see that I’m just somebody’s daughter, I’m somebody’s sister, and I’m just in love with another woman,” said Linda Jo Morton with the Soul Fire Dyke Motorcycle Club.

Thousands took to the streets Saturday evening, marching from Dolores Park to the Castro and back.

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2025 SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE PARADE: Here’s how to watch, what to know before you go

“I needed the love. I needed the laughs. It’s been a really weird, emotional time for myself and the world. And I needed this happiness,” said Nava Rosenthal. “I was so excited to experience that last year, and I didn’t. So, this is just so exciting.”

“I’m 65 years old. I have marched in the streets for just about everything having to do with women, being gay, being a woman of color, being, you know, an immigrant. And it’s really important that we all show up for each other,” said Tessa Springer.

The march is making its comeback amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.

“All our rights are being, you know, threatened at this point,” Springer said. “And as long as I have energy in my body, I’m going to be in the streets standing up for what I feel is fair, right and just.”

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