Around here, you look at less trendy/popular/centrally-located neighborhoods, compromise on building amenities (maybe you'd love to be in a doorman building or at least an elevator building, but a walk-up will be more affordable), go for a studio instead of a 1BR, live with roommates...
I am not sure I follow? You want to find something that is much cheaper than market rate, but don't qualify for public assistance? And you are wondering how you can make this happen?
If that's the case, I hate to tell you this, but I don't think you are going to find what you are looking for.
You just do a lot of research and a lot of looking. Word of mouth is typically the best way to find a deal. But even with lots of effort, the vast majority of people will never find anything that's a true bargain. So I suspect you may have to loosen your criteria if you want lower rent. To get relatively cheaper housing, you need to move further out to less convenient locations, live in smaller places, forgo amenities, or live in a neighborhood that may be more transitional, and therefore arguably somewhat less safe.
It's going to be a giant pain in the ass, but I really hope you find something that can make you happy.
I know you don't want to put specifics out there but a lot of it comes down to just knowing the city you're living in and finding those hidden gems.
Like, if you're talking about New York, for a lot of newcomers, it's about getting over that mental block of leaving Manhattan or Brooklyn and learning about Astoria or Jersey City, for example.
You also have to reset your expectations. You might have to give up a dishwasher or an elevator. You might have to commute for 45 minutes (or more) each way. You might have to downsize to a studio. It's all about what you can live with. And if you're not willing to live with it, maybe you should rethink the relocation.
I am not sure I follow? You want to find something that is much cheaper than market rate, but don't qualify for public assistance? And you are wondering how you can make this happen?
That's not quite what I'm asking but I don't know how to phrase it better.
Unfortunately, only on TV do you find the rent-controlled palatial prime West Village apartment that is affordable to a buyer at Bloomingdale's.
You can sometimes find good deals if you are savvy and search high and low, but in a high cost of living area competition will be fierce enough and landlords smart enough that you are unlikely to find a steal. And a lot of the steals you'll see listed on Craigslist will be scams or bait-and-switch deals.
Post by pinkdutchtulips on Nov 26, 2014 13:33:05 GMT -5
I pay $1600/month for my 2 bdrm 800 sf apartment an hr EAST of hcol SF
if you want something 'affordable' you're going to have to compromise somewhere. longer commute, fewer desired amenities, smaller place (studio v 1bdrm v 2 bdrm)you might not be 100% happy with a place but 75-80% happy and you're doing well.
look on CL for rentals .. lots of private landlords post there and more often than not they're cheaper than rentals that are privately managed.
I'm a lurker, but I live in a HCOL and have lived in 3 VHCOL and gotta say there is no neat trick to finding a super cheap yet fabulous place in New York or San Francisco or wherever. Compromise on what you want or move to the suburbs - though the suburbs near any of these places aren't cheap either.
Unfortunately, only on TV do you find the rent-controlled palatial prime West Village apartment that is affordable to a buyer at Bloomingdale's.
You can sometimes find good deals if you are savvy and search high and low, but in a high cost of living area competition will be fierce enough and landlords smart enough that you are unlikely to find a steal. And a lot of the steals you'll see listed on Craigslist will be scams or bait-and-switch deals.
Compromising will get you much farther.
Ha, right?
I just edited my OP. I don't mean to convey that I'm expecting the same type of space and amenities for the same price we pay here. I understand that it's going to be a major upwards price adjustment and a major downwards space/amenities adjustment.
But I'm not sure how to identify what's truly going market rate for an apartment in a given area, if it's a good price for the area, even how to identify safer and less safe locations. Does that clarify?
I don't even know where to start with my research.
It's all messy in my head so no wonder my post isn't too coherent.
In that case, just keeping an eye on prices in the areas you like over several months will give you an idea. Maybe have your H scope out neighborhoods he thinks you guys will be happy in and keep an eye on prices there or in neighboring but cheaper areas.
Unfortunately, only on TV do you find the rent-controlled palatial prime West Village apartment that is affordable to a buyer at Bloomingdale's.
You can sometimes find good deals if you are savvy and search high and low, but in a high cost of living area competition will be fierce enough and landlords smart enough that you are unlikely to find a steal. And a lot of the steals you'll see listed on Craigslist will be scams or bait-and-switch deals.
Compromising will get you much farther.
Ha, right?
I just edited my OP. I don't mean to convey that I'm expecting the same type of space and amenities for the same price we pay here. I understand that it's going to be a major upwards price adjustment and a major downwards space/amenities adjustment.
But I'm not sure how to identify what's truly going market rate for an apartment in a given area, if it's a good price for the area, even how to identify safer and less safe locations. Does that clarify?
I don't even know where to start with my research.
It's all messy in my head so no wonder my post isn't too coherent.
prices in a place like SF are totally in flux, what's considered market rate changes almost on a monthly basis. the only way check on a location's safety is to actually go there and check it out just like you would with any other place to live.
To find out what's reasonable, you need to ask the locals. And if you don't know anyone, maybe say what city it is and see if someone here can help (you can always delete.)
Again, New York is the city I know best so I apologize if it's not the city you're referring to, but there's quite a bit of shadiness that goes on in the real estate market, specifically with brokers and broker fees (as in charging 15% of a year's rent just for unlocking the door). That can be a whole other headache.
Without knowing where you're looking, we (or at least I) can only talk in generalities.
LA is sprawl central .. where will your dh be working .. my answer for safer, less expensive places and your desired commute time + 30 mins will hinge on this.
fwiw, there are places FAR cheaper than $3500/month in LA .. you just have to be flexible w/ where you're at.
Post by hbomdiggity on Nov 26, 2014 14:35:55 GMT -5
You eventually change your definition of "affordable".
No to be flip, but research Craigslist and the like and you will begin to learn what market really is like and adjust expectations accordingly. Chances of finding the unicorn below market palace is very unlikely as a newcomer. That usually takes really knowing the market and being able to pounce when the deal surfaces. Not for someone in a limited timeframe.
My experience is NYC/LI/NJ and getting a solid lead on a good apartment means getting a renter's agent and paying for it.
Then, there is the personal connection. I told several people I was looking for an apartment in a specific area, and one of them introduced me to a landlord who NEVER advertised and only rented to good tenants. He almost never had vacancies. When I left, I introduced my friend to him and she got the apartment.
look on CL for rentals .. lots of private landlords post there and more often than not they're cheaper than rentals that are privately managed.
This. We live in a VHCOL area, and our last two apartments have been found this way. Both were less expensive than comparable apartments in corporate-owned buildings. The current apartment we are in is $300-$500 under market because the landlord (a sweet grandmother who lives in another state) wanted to ensure she had a pool of applicants from which to choose. We got it because we were quick on the uptake (we saw it the day it was listed and emailed her while we were touring that we wanted it).
Post by formerlyak on Nov 26, 2014 16:31:34 GMT -5
I agree - with LA it depends on where your dh will work. Definitely subscribe to Westside Rentals. I found both my Santa Monica apartment and my south bay house on there and both were at a great rate. My south bay house, for example, was 1500 sq ft, 3 beds, 2 bath, 2 car garage, laundry in the garage, a mile from the beach and I paid $2400 a month.
Look for places managed by a smaller company or a person rather than a big management company.
In many areas of LA, you won't need a security entrance so I wouldn't make that a priority.
Can you say what area your dh will be in (downtown, westside, valley)? Then some of us might be able to point you toward an area that may be more affordable. The good news about LA v. SF or NYC is that while it is definitely HCOL, having lived in SF and LA I can honestly say there are more rental deals to be had in good neighborhoods of LA and you can still maintain a decent commute than there were in SF.
Post by FishChicks on Nov 26, 2014 17:34:54 GMT -5
I agree with others - there are better deals to be found in LA. I lived there for most of the last 15 years. I worked in both the San Gabriel and the San Fernando valleys, and my DH worked in OC, so if your DH will be in any of those areas, you're welcome to PM me and I can provide some recommendations.
I'd suggest having your DH ask his coworkers where they live and what they like/dislike about the area. Same with asking his family. Then, in LA, just drive around and look for 'for rent' signs. When we were renting out our place, our property manager used Zillow to list it, among other sites. That's one way to search for smaller complexes. As for safety, that's the sort of thing that family and coworkers can advise on, and you can drive around to see. To be frank, I never liked SoCal, but there are some really awesome neighborhoods, and even some that are relatively good deals.
You compromise on something. Safety (or "safety", since in lots of places "not safe" just means "too black"), walkability, being on a major road, being in an older building, being further away from work, etc.
When we were last apartment hunting, I actually found our rental listing through the newspaper. I'd check there too.
My H and I lived in LA in 2012 in a nice area (Hermosa Beach) just 2 blocks from the beach. We paid $1700/mo for a 500 sq ft studio in a big apt building. (We also had a big dog and our baby was born there). We searched all of the regular apt listing sites and talked to H's coworkers before selecting a place.
We live in TX now (LCOL) in a house as large as yours with a similar mortgage. There are definite benefits to both locations! If we didn't have kids, we would has stayed in CA for sure. Good luck!
Post by formerlyak on Nov 26, 2014 18:51:56 GMT -5
In the south bay you can find a ton of good 2 bedroom places for $2000 - $2500, especially if you look in El Segundo, parts of Hawthorne, Redondo or Torrance as opposed to Hermosa or Manhattan. Not that I am biased, but the south bay is a wonderful place to live and very safe. And if your dh ends up working downtown, with the fast track lanes you can get there from the south bay in less than an hour on most days.
Depending on where he gets a job other affordable, diverse and safe neighborhoods are Culver City and Westchester. People also seem to like Silverlake and Koreatown, but it's not really my scene. West Hollywood has some nice affordable places. Also if you look at listings on the westside, you can find good stuff listed as "Brentwood Adjacent" that is nice and reasonably priced. The valley also has nice pockets and tends to be cheaper than the westside, especially if you go west of the 405 toward Canoga Park or Woodland Hills as opposed to Studio City and Sherman Oaks. I am not as familiar with those neighborhoods, but I know a lot of my actor friends look there because it was a decent commute to studios and auditions and was safe and affordable.
Feel free to PM me if you want info on a specific neighborhood.
I would suggest, if possible, you search at an off peak time. In the SF bay area, places that rent for $3k plus during July/August might be $2.4k in March.
Have you ever looked at citydata.com? They have forums for every state, sub forums for individual cities within the state and then another section of forums for just general topics. One of the topics is Real Estate with renting as a subforum.
There is lots of good info there where you can get very specific about neighborhoods and get feedback. I have to warn though that City Data attracts generally the Debbie Downers so just be prepared for good info sprinkled with resentment and negativity about moving to HCOL. You'll sometimes get stupid answers like, "It sucks, stay where you are." But if you overlook those, there is a LOT of good info and helpful people, especially when you're moving to an HCOL.
We moved to an HCOL (NYC metro) years ago for DH's job. We are now back in Virginia but I can tell you the biggest tip is compromising. There are things you'll just learn to do without. And honestly, I was surprised at how I didn't miss those things. We're stuck here for now but hopefully not for long. For me, I found the benefits of living in HCOL outweigh the downsides. Good luck!
I hiiiiighly recommend West Side Rentals as well. My husband and I have both used it and always found a place quickly.
I lived in West Hollywood, in a cute duplex: 2 bedroom, 1 bath, no dishwasher, shared laundry, granite counter tops, wood laminate floors, 2 gated tandem parking spaces, for $1700/month. This was 2008-early 2013, the landlord didn't raise our rent and I believe he rented it for the same amount when we left. We lived in a "less desirable" area of WeHo - not walking distance to the strip or in the hills or in boystown. It was 1 mile from Hollywood, but walking distance to... Target. Lol. And a lot of other restaurants and stuff. It was really not a bad place to live, and I found it very convenient. It just wasn't the hottest neighborhood of WeHo - the places where you could be renting a 1 bedroom for over $2k/month in a historic building with something totally renovated, elevator access, etc.
But he needs to find a job first because it's IMPERATIVE that he lives within decent commuting distance of his job. I worked in Sherman Oaks and my husband worked in Culver City when we were in WeHo and those commutes were 30-35 minutes. No way would I have commuted to Santa Monica or Pasadena or Redondo Beach from that location. Also, commuting via to 405 kind of blows. It's necessary for a lot of people, but it's always busy because there are few short cuts, except a few crowded surface streets.
Re: safe neighborhoods. There are few neighborhoods I wouldn't feel safe in. Most of downtown is even really up-and-coming. There are some, though. Probably ones you won't encounter, though, like east of downtown, or far south LA (USC area and further south). I lived in East Hollywood/Koreatown border once. Some neighborhoods aren't for everyone, but that one was slightly more urban than suburban, but there are some suburban areas I wouldn't live in, like Panorama City. There are some areas I wouldn't like to live in for other reasons, like Canoga Park/Winnetka, but again, plenty of people do.
See my haiku post about my bro looking to spend over 50% of his take home on a mortgage. (!!!!!!)
Full disclosure we did 40% of our take home on PITI for a short time. If you cut things to the bone, it is possible (esp. if you're working with bigger numbers). If you're looking to rent for a bit, I found CL to be a much better source of reasonably priced places w/reasonable LLs.
I was thinking SF or NYC for those prices. There are tons of areas in LA where rent is way south of $3500. Los Feliz/Silver Lake/Atwater, or Hermosa/Redondo, even some areas in West LA and the Westside.