What areas of OAKLAND, CA and SAN FRANCISCO should be avoided?

West Oakland, yes. It's not all bad, as it's a large area. By the Coliseum is the same, if not worse. If I had a certain amount of money to come live here and didn't know much about the area, I'd look in Lower Nob Hill. Nob Hill is pretty posh, but Lower Nob Hill is a neighborhood of apartment buildings that are better and worse - again, it's a pretty large area. It's on the edge of downtown, and it's kind of where a lot of working-cl people live. If you choose carefully, you can get a pretty decent place for not too much rent. I'm not saying a permanent residence, necessarily, just a place for a few months till you get your feet under you. There are many options, this is just one - not saying it's the very best way. It's what I'd do, with money but not so much money to get started.