Temporary housing near Pleasanton - advice sought (Oakland, Modesto: sublet, apartment)

[DARodriguez20852]

Hi, Everyone:

I'm a SoCal (10 years) resident accepting a job offer in Pleasanton. We (my 2 person, 1 kitty-cat family) are going to keep our rent-controlled apartment in LA until I am confident (one year) in my new role.

That is the rub. To make this work on the small relo offered, I will need to commute once a week (T-Th) and to either rent a room ala hot pads, experiment with Airbnb,or find a studio or 1BR renting it but not using it 100%. My budget which includes airfare (Oakland airport), car commuting (transit is good but does not extend in a timely way past the close-in communities). I need to do this for 34k a year, and less would be better. I have considered everything from a cot, to an in-law suite, to a senior complex (as I am over 55). I want to avoid bedbugs and sharing a bathroom with too many people. I don't want to select/buy furniture.

I am thinking that to excel in my new job, I will have to stabilize the weekly airfare choices (have read about new consolidators like 'Hopper' that were unheard of a few years ago.) I will also need a stable 'home' environment even if it is for 3 days a week. They do want me in the office 2 days a week, not Zoom.

Does anyone have any helpful hints for this plan? I have looked into Craigslist, Hotpads, Zillow, North to Alamo (believe it or not a religious group was advertising a unit). I have looked East into Livermore and from what I see, I don't want to live on a horse facilit in the Castro Valley (the horses looked nice). I am too 'old' to fall for that 'clean my house and I will give it to you rent-free. Thank God.

OK, I am sure I am overlooking something obvious (or maybe this is magical thinking). And the commute will take 8 hours a week. No way around that one.

Thank you. Your Travelling Friend.

[Ceece]

I've seen adverts on CL in the past for people renting rooms in their home on a part time basis for commuters such as yourself. It's cheap because they don't want you there on the weekends, it's just a place to sleep M-F (or T-TH in your case). I have no clue if that's doable these days or not with the plague and all, but I'd keep an eye out for that if I were you. An inexpensive motel may be an option if you reserve your days well in advance.

Another option is to sublet your place in LA for a year and rent something here full time.

[ccm123]

The cities (Alamo-Livermore) you are looking are good areas to live and your commute to Pleasanton should be fine.

I would avoid looking at areas which would require a commute over the Altamont Pass (I-580.) These areas would be Tracy, Modesto, (Central Valley areas) etc. Although the rentals would be cheaper, the commute in and out of Pleasanton (during rush hour especially) is very congested. This is a very heavily travelled commuter route.

I have also found that looking for rentals in which pets were involved was difficult. Seems that many landlords here have an adverse position on pets.