If you're on a budget and don't mind the surroundings and commute, Hayward, San Leandro and San Lorenzo is cheaper compared to Union City, Fremont and Newark. If you really don't mind, look in to Gilroy or Watsonville.
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I've been funding a brokerage account on Etrade for a while now but haven't really invested in anything yet. So far, I've been watching AKS, AMD and KKD.