3 ms·

I've never run into any kind of problem like that here in SF. I do find that landlords say they "need" all of these crazy things but in reality all they care a

by kneath 17y ago

I've never run into any kind of problem like that here in SF. I do find that landlords say they "need" all of these crazy things but in reality all they care about is a deposit and first month's rent. The first person to hand that to them will get the apartment. I spent a whole month looking for apartments the old fashioned way when I first moved to SF - filling out applications, sending in credit repots, dealing with the unreasonable requirements landlords put up. Finally got tired, when I was looking at a house said "I can give you a check for the deposit now" -- suddenly all his requirements went away and I had a place. UPDATE: Forgot to mention, I was self employed up until about a month ago, and have been during all my landlord negotiations here in SF.

akkartik 17y ago
Thanks, looking at all the answers here I think I need to steer clear of managed companies. That explains all the discrepancies in my experience. Unfortunately it's hard to find a cheap studio from a private landlord. So that leaves only finding roommates. Except I live with my girlfriend. After convincing her it was important to downsize I hate to put her through another level of inconvenience.
- kneath 17y ago
  I don't know about it being that difficult. It's stressful -- definitely. The thing I've noticed about San Francisco is the best apartments aren't available in advance. They go on the market a week or so before they're ready to move in. The frustrating part here is that you have to put in your 30-day notice at your previous apartment before you have a new place -- super stressful (unless you're willing to pay double-rent for a bit, which is often times economical given the rent break you get in the new place). I've had pretty good luck with Craigslist, subscribing to feed(s) of the various neighborhood/price ranges I'm looking in and hounding that feed. A lot of places are only up on CL for a few hours before they're taken down or have a waiting list impossibly long. On a related note: it may be much easier if you don't look for studios. While San Francisco is an older city -- most of the older buildings you'd expect to find lofts/studios in burned/collapsed in previous decades. The result is most of the housing in the city comes from split up Victorian/Edwardian homes -- one bedroom apartments.

by kneath 17y ago

akkartik 17y ago

Thanks, looking at all the answers here I think I need to steer clear of managed companies. That explains all the discrepancies in my experience. Unfortunately it's hard to find a cheap studio from a private landlord. So that leaves only finding roommates. Except I live with my girlfriend. After convincing her it was important to downsize I hate to put her through another level of inconvenience.

kneath 17y ago
I don't know about it being that difficult. It's stressful -- definitely. The thing I've noticed about San Francisco is the best apartments aren't available in advance. They go on the market a week or so before they're ready to move in. The frustrating part here is that you have to put in your 30-day notice at your previous apartment before you have a new place -- super stressful (unless you're willing to pay double-rent for a bit, which is often times economical given the rent break you get in the new place). I've had pretty good luck with Craigslist, subscribing to feed(s) of the various neighborhood/price ranges I'm looking in and hounding that feed. A lot of places are only up on CL for a few hours before they're taken down or have a waiting list impossibly long. On a related note: it may be much easier if you don't look for studios. While San Francisco is an older city -- most of the older buildings you'd expect to find lofts/studios in burned/collapsed in previous decades. The result is most of the housing in the city comes from split up Victorian/Edwardian homes -- one bedroom apartments.