But the HVAC question deserves a serious answer, because it cuts to the heart of what's broken — and what still works — about this city's economy.

Here's the good news: skilled tradespeople are in enormous demand across the Bay Area. HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers — these are the people who actually keep buildings functional, and California's aggressive building codes and climate regulations mean there's no shortage of work. Commercial HVAC pros in the Bay Area can pull $80K-$110K depending on experience and certifications. That's real money in most American cities.

Here's the bad news: it's not "most American cities" money in San Francisco. As one local put it bluntly, "Don't come here til you have a job and ditch the car." Another resident offered the kind of cheerful cynicism only SF housing despair can produce: "Every 23-year-old has the same dream of living in SF in a one-bedroom by themselves. Circle back once you have the $180K offer in hand."

They're not entirely wrong. The apartment scene is brutal right now — people are bidding over asking price on rentals, parking runs $300-$500 a month, and that charming Victorian flat you saw on Instagram has 47 applicants ahead of you.

This is the consequence of decades of artificially constrained housing supply, courtesy of a city government that treats every new development like a hostage negotiation. We've zoned ourselves into absurdity, buried builders under permitting bureaucracy, and then acted shocked when a tradesman from Kentucky is terrified he'll end up on the street.

Our advice? The HVAC skills are golden — but line up the job first, look at the East Bay or South Bay for more reasonable rents, and don't bet your family's stability on San Francisco's housing market being anything close to rational. This city rewards people who come prepared. It devours everyone else.

And seriously, dude from Canada — wear the hat.