We all know the joys of buying a house in the Bay Area. Supply is low, and there is fierce competition. Yes, job hunting now is like this. Here are some applicable lessons for the win:

1. Target the area. Like knowing what neighborhood you want to be in, you have to know what jobs and industries you are interested in.
2. Crunch numbers. To buy a house or to take on a job, you need to know your numbers, whether it’s how much you can afford to spend or how much you need to make (including cash each month). You should know what components you are willing to trade off at what price point, e.g., you are willing to take a lower quality house in a nicer neighborhood, or you are willing to take less base pay if you get flexibility on commute.
3. Do research. For both houses and jobs, look online and talk to people about what’s available. Learn what is industry standard. Talk to people to see what it’s actually like in that neighborhood or company. Follow any early leads.
4. Consider adjacent neighborhoods/industries. Don’t focus on just one thing since you need to play the odds.