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housing [2019/05/06 17:51] – michaelmedfordhousing [2019/09/06 22:31] – nchoksi
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 ===Rent=== ===Rent===
  
-There aren't really average prices for rents in Berkeley. The rents are highly dependent on location, room size, and how recently the place has been renovated.+Typical rents paid by grad students in our department are in the range 1000-1500 dollars/month/person. 
  
 ===Listings=== ===Listings===
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 The university also runs the [[https://calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/|Cal Rentals]] office, which will let you access its listings for free (it costs money to post, but you can look for free). There is also the more full-service (and more expensive) [[http://www.bayrentals.com/|Bay Area Rentals]]. Most students opt to work entirely via Craigslist, though. The university also runs the [[https://calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/|Cal Rentals]] office, which will let you access its listings for free (it costs money to post, but you can look for free). There is also the more full-service (and more expensive) [[http://www.bayrentals.com/|Bay Area Rentals]]. Most students opt to work entirely via Craigslist, though.
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 +There are also various Facebook groups in which people advertise housing for students (e.g., "UC Berkeley Off-Campus Housing").
  
 ===Leases=== ===Leases===
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 Most people don't realize that you are competing to get the best apartments. Before you even look at an apartment, put together a tenant resume. This is a list of references, bank accounts, etc that show the landlord that you can afford the apartment and are a good risk. You can download a blank resume  [[http://www.ehousing.com/cgi/pdf/RR2001.PDF|here.]] You shouldn't worry about giving a landlord your bank account numbers; without your PIN, they can only make deposits or check balances. **PKGW comments:** It is true that you're competing for the best apartments, but I've never found the tenant resume to be helpful. If you think that you might want to sign on a place at the viewing, it's useful to have your bank account info and such around, but pretty much everyone will want you to fill out an application of their design which asks for all the information that would go into such a resume. Most people don't realize that you are competing to get the best apartments. Before you even look at an apartment, put together a tenant resume. This is a list of references, bank accounts, etc that show the landlord that you can afford the apartment and are a good risk. You can download a blank resume  [[http://www.ehousing.com/cgi/pdf/RR2001.PDF|here.]] You shouldn't worry about giving a landlord your bank account numbers; without your PIN, they can only make deposits or check balances. **PKGW comments:** It is true that you're competing for the best apartments, but I've never found the tenant resume to be helpful. If you think that you might want to sign on a place at the viewing, it's useful to have your bank account info and such around, but pretty much everyone will want you to fill out an application of their design which asks for all the information that would go into such a resume.
  
-You will also want to run a credit report on yourself to see what landlords will see when they run your credit report. CreditKarma provides free credit reports. Landlords will almost certainly charge you $30 to run this report on you as well.+You will also want to run a credit report on yourself. If you leave it for the landlord to do, they will usually charge you $30, but if you do it yourself, it's free. CreditKarma provides free credit reports. 
  
 My strategy is, if you are remotely interested in an apartment, give the landlord your resume and credit report the first time you see the place. This is helpful in showing the landlord that you are organized. While the landlord checks your references, use that time to look at other apartments and decide whether you are still interested. When the landlord calls you to offer you the place, you can still say no. My strategy is, if you are remotely interested in an apartment, give the landlord your resume and credit report the first time you see the place. This is helpful in showing the landlord that you are organized. While the landlord checks your references, use that time to look at other apartments and decide whether you are still interested. When the landlord calls you to offer you the place, you can still say no.
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 ===Advanced Strategy=== ===Advanced Strategy===
 +
 +CAUTION: This is about a decade out of date
  
 So I hesitate to bring this up... but the rent that an apartment is listed for is not set in stone. It is possible, but risky, to bargain with landlords. It's most effective when there aren't many prospective tenants for an apartment; i.e. there aren't many people looking for 5 bedroom houses in March. I once found myself in this situation looking at a 5 bedroom in the Berkeley Hills that was asking $5500. We submitted an application, but offered only $3500. Two weeks passed, and the house was advertised on craigslist for $4500. I contacted the agent and reminded him about our offer, but they weren't interested. I continued calling the agent a couple times a week to see if they responded to our offer, but I didn't hear anything for about a month. Then I offered $3600 to see if that got any response; they came back with $3500, which made no sense. We split the difference with $3550; we've been living in the house now for more than a year. If you're a BADgrad, you'll probably come to a party here at some point.  So I hesitate to bring this up... but the rent that an apartment is listed for is not set in stone. It is possible, but risky, to bargain with landlords. It's most effective when there aren't many prospective tenants for an apartment; i.e. there aren't many people looking for 5 bedroom houses in March. I once found myself in this situation looking at a 5 bedroom in the Berkeley Hills that was asking $5500. We submitted an application, but offered only $3500. Two weeks passed, and the house was advertised on craigslist for $4500. I contacted the agent and reminded him about our offer, but they weren't interested. I continued calling the agent a couple times a week to see if they responded to our offer, but I didn't hear anything for about a month. Then I offered $3600 to see if that got any response; they came back with $3500, which made no sense. We split the difference with $3550; we've been living in the house now for more than a year. If you're a BADgrad, you'll probably come to a party here at some point. 
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 You should certainly talk to your mentor, other members of your incoming class, and other grad students if you have any questions. You might even be able to talk a current grad into checking a place out for you or letting you sleep on their couch while you visit.  You should certainly talk to your mentor, other members of your incoming class, and other grad students if you have any questions. You might even be able to talk a current grad into checking a place out for you or letting you sleep on their couch while you visit. 
 +
  
 ===Neighborhoods=== ===Neighborhoods===
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 Here follows an incomplete list of Berkeley neighborhoods and some highly subjective/judgmental impressions of them.  Here follows an incomplete list of Berkeley neighborhoods and some highly subjective/judgmental impressions of them. 
  
-  * North Berkeley - This is a nice place to live on the north side of campus. Close to Campbell and the rest of campus. Rents are very expensive.+  * North Berkeley - This is a nice place to live on the north side of campus. Close to Campbell and the rest of campus. Rents are very expensive. Quieter, more residential.
  
-  * Berkeley Hills - Residential area on the northside of campus. Rents are a tiny bit cheaper than North Berkeley, but walking home could be a workout... Weirdly, many car break-ins and thefts occur here.+  * Berkeley Hills - Residential area on the northside of campus. Rents are a tiny bit cheaper than North Berkeley, but walking home could be a workout... Weirdly, many car break-ins and thefts occur here. 
  
-  * South Berkeley - Close to campus, so many students live here. Rents are reasonably cheap, but it can be noisy due to parties and the like. Safety can be an issue. Very cheap rooms in this area are probably in crappy boarding houses.+  * South Berkeley - Close to campus, so many students live here (especially undergrads). Rents are reasonably cheap, but it can be noisy due to parties and the like. Safety can be an issue. Very cheap rooms in this area are probably in crappy boarding houses.
  
   * West Berkeley - Biking to campus works well from here, since it's a reasonably flat trip. Rents are relatively cheap. Between Milvia and Sacramento is a fine neighborhood, Sacramento to San Pablo is an alright neighborhood, and west of San Pablo varies greatly.   * West Berkeley - Biking to campus works well from here, since it's a reasonably flat trip. Rents are relatively cheap. Between Milvia and Sacramento is a fine neighborhood, Sacramento to San Pablo is an alright neighborhood, and west of San Pablo varies greatly.
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 ===University Housing=== ===University Housing===
  
-There are two University houses for graduate students, [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/jackson_house.html|Jackson House]] and [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/manville.html|Manville Aparments]].  These are very close to campus and are an excellent option for incoming first-year students who do not have time to visit the area and actually look for places before moving in.  The downside is extremely expensive rent ($850-$1000/month per student for a shared apartment, though this includes all utilities and even a cleaning service) and a location next to fraternities and College Avenue. Both of these locations also fill up quickly and may have long waiting lists to get in.+There are two University houses for graduate students, [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/jackson_house.html|Jackson House]] and [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/manville.html|Manville Aparments]].  These are very close to campus and are an excellent option for incoming first-year students who do not have time to visit the area and actually look for places before moving in.  The downside is extremely expensive rent and a location next to fraternities and College Avenue. Both of these locations also fill up quickly and may have long waiting lists to get in.
  

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