Advice on Apt. Rentals In Goleta (Santa Barbara, Vista: apartment, how much, mobile home)

[PrestonTX]

I am thinking of moving to Goleta / Santa Barbara and I am looking for information and advice conerning renting an aptartment. My employer has an office in Goleta and my position would be tranferring to Goleta, so I have the job situation covered.

Ideally I would like a one bedroom, but I'll take a studio if I have to. I'm in my late 30's and I am definitly a quiet type. I would like to be in Goleta, because that is where the office is, but I would certainly consider the
neighboring areas.

I have been looking at the ads on Craigslist, so I have some idea what the listed rents are. I'm seeing rents from $1200 to $1500 or higher. What are the odds of getting a decent one bedroom for 1200 or 1300 or 1400 in a quiet area?

Besides Craigslist, any other suggestions for where to look for apartment listings? Please give me any and all suggestions.

I know from reading other threads that I should probably avoid Isla Vista because of the college kids. Any other areas to avoid? Any places to focus on?

Also, what should I expect to pay monthly for electricity? From reading the posts it seems that there won't be much need to run an air conditioner or heater.

Also, is there a farmers market in Goleta?

Thank you for your help.

[jillz]

Originally Posted by PrestonTX

I am thinking of moving to Goleta / Santa Barbara and I am looking for information and advice conerning renting an aptartment. My employer has an office in Goleta and my position would be tranferring to Goleta, so I have the job situation covered.

Ideally I would like a one bedroom, but I'll take a studio if I have to. I'm in my late 30's and I am definitly a quiet type. I would like to be in Goleta, because that is where the office is, but I would certainly consider the
neighboring areas.

I have been looking at the ads on Craigslist, so I have some idea what the listed rents are. I'm seeing rents from $1200 to $1500 or higher. What are the odds of getting a decent one bedroom for 1200 or 1300 or 1400 in a quiet area?

Besides Craigslist, any other suggestions for where to look for apartment listings? Please give me any and all suggestions.

I know from reading other threads that I should probably avoid Isla Vista because of the college kids. Any other areas to avoid? Any places to focus on?

Also, what should I expect to pay monthly for electricity? From reading the posts it seems that there won't be much need to run an air conditioner or heater.

Also, is there a farmers market in Goleta?

Thank you for your help.

I just sent you a DM. There are several Farmer's Markets in the area (Goleta, La Cumbre Plaza, Cota st, Montecito, just to name a few). There is also Tri-County Produce which has tons of organic fruits and vegetables that are locally grown and reasonably priced.

When I lived in an apartment that was electricity only, my electric bill was about $100/month and this was with NO air conditioning (not needed here). It went up to nearly $200/mo when I needed the heater (which you do need sometimes). Since I moved into a mobile home (save the jokes about trailers ), my gas + electricity + trash + sewer + recycling + water is about $100/month. This is with the heat being on whenever it is chilly, using a washer/dryer and dishwasher, watering a yard, etc. My mobile home is also about twice the size of my old apartment.

Craigslist + word of mouth is the only way to go as far as I am concerned with finding a suitable place. The newspaper isn't very good for that and the good issue is only on Sunday's. Craigslist is wildly addicting since they update all the time. If you are looking at areas feel free to shoot me a note and I can tell you about it. I personally don't like the Mesa area since it gets foggier than downtown proper. I like downtown and uptown. I also like being able to walk to stores and restaurants.

Jill

[PrestonTX]

Hi Jill
Can you give me a sense of how much trash and sewer and recycling and water cost? Can I budget $50 to cover all that?

[jillz]

Originally Posted by PrestonTX

Hi Jill
Can you give me a sense of how much trash and sewer and recycling and water cost? Can I budget $50 to cover all that?

I am sure it varies from place to place but this last month, my electricity was about $25, the gas was about $50, and water/trash/recycling was about $30. This is for two people doing about 6 loads of laundry a week, 3 loads of the dishwasher, watering the lawn, cooking, etc. We are pretty good with the electricity and only have on necessary lights. We don't make ourselves sit in a chilly house so we turn the heat on when needed but honestly, it isn't that much. I was freaked out at the prospect of paying all of these bills but since it is LESS in total than just our electricty was at our old place, I was pleasantly surprised. My old place was electric for everything. The heat was expensive and didn't work well and it was drafty. The landlord was what could be considered a slumlord but we stayed as long as we did because the rent was cheap ($1300 for a two bedroom). You may not need the heat as much as I do. I am always cold. I am usually in sweats and longsleeves while my husband is in shorts and a tshirt. Your heating bill may be MUCH lower than mine.

J

[olman889]

Originally Posted by PrestonTX

I am thinking of moving to Goleta / Santa Barbara and I am looking for information and advice conerning renting an aptartment. My employer has an office in Goleta and my position would be tranferring to Goleta, so I have the job situation covered.

Ideally I would like a one bedroom, but I'll take a studio if I have to. I'm in my late 30's and I am definitly a quiet type. I would like to be in Goleta, because that is where the office is, but I would certainly consider the
neighboring areas.

I have been looking at the ads on Craigslist, so I have some idea what the listed rents are. I'm seeing rents from $1200 to $1500 or higher. What are the odds of getting a decent one bedroom for 1200 or 1300 or 1400 in a quiet area?

Besides Craigslist, any other suggestions for where to look for apartment listings? Please give me any and all suggestions.

I know from reading other threads that I should probably avoid Isla Vista because of the college kids. Any other areas to avoid? Any places to focus on?

Also, what should I expect to pay monthly for electricity? From reading the posts it seems that there won't be much need to run an air conditioner or heater.

Also, is there a farmers market in Goleta?

Thank you for your help.

beautiful area to live.but housing is out its mind.
too expensive,very expensive. look to see 1500 for 2 bed apt.
try finding a guest house.im sure theres probably some rich millionaire up in the foothills who is renting a small guest house for bout 1000.