Moving from Midwest

[mayorhaggar]

Look, we're just trying to be honest with you and make sure you're prepared. I used to live in Chicago and the rental market is SOOOOOOOO much more relaxed...you just call up a landlord who's advertised a place, schedule an appointment, meet one on one at the place and if you like it you sign a deposit and the place is yours. Here a lot of the time the landlords schedule an open house viewing and you have to go and jostle with a lot of other people and it can be competitive. But the economy sucks right now though which reduces demand, and you'd be looking in the suburbs which are a lot less competitive than San Francisco. I just think you might run into landlords and property companies that are still too uptight and unwilling to budge on things like wanting tenants who have jobs. You might find it's really easy, but I just find that landlords here can be annoyingly picky about tenants, and then after putting you through the wringer they usually don't keep their properties in good shape.

SF is just not a great place right now to just show up and expect to find a job quickly and be able to get an apartment right away especially without a job. When the economy is good here, then it's very easy to get a job although that makes finding an apartment harder because more people have the money to move. Maybe you'll make it here but we're just trying to give you fair warning. I expect Chicago isn't great right now for moving to without a job or for finding a job either, it's just quite a bit cheaper for apartments, I had a huge 1br in Ravenswood in Chicago for $750 and now I live in a small studio in Oakland for $850.

[Jasmine658]

Originally Posted by JDL2007

Thanks for the help so far. Also I will try to get the acronyms correct! Not SFO- SF...

I know I should have a job first, but I have the means to pay a landlord if I had to, a years rent up front. I am really looking for a 6mon deal, so this way when I do find a job..I can relocate. If anyone know of a reputable real estate company, maybe that is the way to go. I would like to get this move done with by July. Again any thoughts?

Many people have in-law units in the bay area, and may be interested in renting their in-law to someone who needs temporary place to stay until find job, etc. Another option are the weekly rentals - that's what I rented in SF until I found a job, then got an apartment. Don't let anyone discourage you. I moved here, and got started without a job. It can be hard to find a job long-distance, better to be here to interview. In health field, you should find something.

Look under sublets & temporary on Craigslist:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/sub/
or http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/sub/

Or in SF, I had stayed at the Monroe Residence Club to get started off when relocating to SF. They didn't require that I have a job. Then when here drive all over, decide where want to work, get job, then get your more permanent apartment.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by JDL2007

......So if someone can just tell what towns in the East Bay to stay away from that would be helpful.....

.....It seems the same people post and mostly it's all negitive.

Yeah ..... heh.

I always hear Walnut Creek is a pretty good place to live, on here and also from a friend who grew up there.

[JDL2007]

[quote=Jasmine658;19437155] Don't let anyone discourage you. I moved here, and got started without a job. It can be hard to find a job long-distance, better to be here to interview. In health field, you should find something.

Thank you for the encouraging words.. this afternoon I do have a lead on an apartment in Alameda 1br for 800.00 private owner.. Also I have a response from a major medical center that will be setting up an interview for me on a job. While this is far from in the bag on either end..it is much more postive then what I read this morning. Again thank you.. does give me some hope that not all feel moving to the Bay area is a mistake.