Best time to move? (Oakland, Berkeley: affordable apartments, rental market, universities)

[Tycho Brahe]

I am considering moving to the Bay Area sometime this year. The location very likely would be the Oakland/Berkeley area. Rockridge sounds ideal.

Is there a time of year when most leases start? In Boston for example, due to all the universities, most apartments have leases that start in September. Would rents be cheaper in the summer or winter, or is month no important?

Looking for a 1BR w/study (small 2nd bedroom) if apartment type matters.

[mayorhaggar]

Any time of year should be good. If you can you probably want to avoid late July to early October because that is when students will be swarming to every viewing for the more affordable apartments. There might be more open leases then but there will definitely be a lot more people looking. It's probably better to look in Spring or early Summer.

You probably see less places available in winter because of the rain which makes moving a hassle though, but you'd also see less people looking. But I don't think the rental market shuts down like it does in more wintry cities like Chicago where the snow and cold temps make moving almost impossible.

[Tycho Brahe]

Thanks for the response.

The same scenario applies almost anywhere: lots of competition during the last summer/early fall months (September 1st), but there is also more availability. Are students looking for a shared housing situation (3+ bedrooms), or are they rich enough in the area to afford their own 1 bedroom? We are looking for a small 2 bedroom, suitable for a couple with no kids.

Looking at our schedules, it looks like September would be the ideal time to move. Sigh.

[mayorhaggar]

Students would mainly be looking at shared housing or cheap studios (like $900-1000 or less) but there would be some looking for 2br's especially in Oakland and Berkeley where you can get a 2br for around $1200 or more (at least you can in Rockridge). But the economy sucks which means a lot less demand, and also the East Bay is generally pretty easy to get an apartment in compared to SF which can be really crazy. If the economy was good or you were looking in SF then I would not expect to get something right away, but I think you'll be ok though Berkeley might be a bit tough if you're looking near the university. I got a studio in Rockridge last July and it was really easy.