[_delirium]

You can get houses for under $3k if you're okay with the south bay, and not falling apart ones in ghettoes either. Santa Clara and San Jose have plenty of 2br houses around $1500, and nice 3br houses in the $2000-2500 range. You only have to go to $3k+ if you want more like 4-5br, or a particularly upscale city (Palo Alto, Los Gatos, etc.).

[aphexairlines]

looks like the comment was about Palo Alto, Mtn View, etc since she wrote "maybe 2BR if you want to live south or east."