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housing [2019/05/06 17:43] – krolewskihousing [2019/05/06 17:50] – old revision restored (2017/11/21 04:48) michaelmedford
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 This is a guide for finding housing in the Berkeley area. In addition to reading this guide, talk to your fellow graduate students! They are your best source of up to date housing info. This is a guide for finding housing in the Berkeley area. In addition to reading this guide, talk to your fellow graduate students! They are your best source of up to date housing info.
  
-There are University-wide housing resources at your disposal, mostly through the [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/housing|Cal Housing]] website. For instance, they have information on [[https://housing.berkeley.edu/universityvillage|University Village]], a housing community in Albany for graduate students (and post-docs) with committed partners and/or families.+There are University-wide housing resources at your disposal, mostly through the [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/housing|Cal Housing]] website. For instance, they have information on [[http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/studentsfamilies.html|housing for students with families]].
  
 ===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. 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.
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-We had a survey of grad student rent prices in 2019. Here is the summary of that survey: 
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-I  got 28 responses to the survey (i.e., nearly everyone!) The median rent+utility cost for our graduate students is $1,265 / month; the mean is $1,250. This is ~40% of our current monthly salary. Rent+utility costs range from $800 / month to $2,045 / month. As expected, the lowest rent prices come from grads who have lived in the same apartment for >3 years. ~50% of our grads have been living in their current apartments for <1 year, and another ~25% have lived in their current apartments for 1-2 years (i.e., most people move at least once in grad school). Several students report moving every year due to financial or safety concerns.  
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-~90% of our grads reported that they feel safe in their current living situation. ~90% of our grads believe that their current salary allows them to cover all of their monthly expenses, but ~35% feel that they have to budget carefully to make that happen. Several students report that they have side incomes (tutoring, etc) to help pay their monthly expenses.  
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 ===Listings=== ===Listings===
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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. If you leave it for the landlord to do, they will usually charge you $30, but if you do it yourself, it's free. I think equifax is a good company to use, but don't quote me on it. **PKGW comments:** In my experience, everyone wants to run the credit check themselves and is just going to charge you the $30.+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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 ===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]], in addition to the University Village listed above.  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 ($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.
  

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