Is 40s too old to have roommates? (Oakland, Hayward: apartment, to rent)

[luvmypug55]

Hi all, I've been lurking some time here and am making plans to move to the Bay Area in January

I've been looking at a lot of areas, but I have visited Walnut Creek and Lafayette and am loving those. Next weekend I will check out Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin area, as well as some areas on the bay like Oakland, Berkley, and Hayward. I'm thinking I will be happier in the suburbs though. I'm hoping to get a job in the city and take BART from the outskirts.

Anyway, I feel I can swing the rents but am not really wanting to spend so much each month that I could be using for other things. I thought about finding a male roommate. I know it might be harder in the suburbs but I may do the city thing if I can find the right setup.

My question is, is it weird for someone in their 40s to have a roommate???? Will people think I'm weird if I were to inquire to an ad? lol...

About me, I'm female, single, no kids. An accountant and am very low key. I don't like a lot of neighborhood noise (I'm just not used to city life coming from a much smaller area), would love to live in WC or Pleasanton or Lafayette because I love the little downtown areas. Would love to walk to shopping, restaurants, etc on the weekend, and I love hiking in the hills and bike riding. I don't smoke/do drugs, drink socially on occasion. I'm actually pretty boring to most but I like my life and don't have any drama. Would love to have a male roommate (I just tend to get along better with men) that I could feel comfortable with sharing *his* place with. I don't want to just rent a room in someone's place. I'd like to hang out after work and have a beer or wine together, or not, doesn't matter I just don't want to feel like I have to stay in my room. I wish I had a boyfriend/husband/friend to move there with me and share the rent! But, until then...

So, is that a pretty normal roommate situation? I've not had a roommate since I was 23!! Also, knowing my lifestyle, etc...what might be a good neighborhood for me that I haven't mentioned that maybe I need to check out?

Thanks everyone for any advice you have!

[foclampt]

Hey, I live in the general area, I think you will have a hard time finding someone to do this with...a lot of people are very careful about online ads etc, and you should be too I think. There are a lot of situations you find out about later in the news. I think it might be wise to consider getting a one room place for a while until you build up some friendships, maybe then you can find someone who would be willing to do that.
In the meantime you'll be able to find out what you really want in the area. Just a suggestion, but good luck.

[silverkris]

No, it isn't uncommon. A combination of high housing costs + the usual real life issues of divorces, job losses/downsizing means that it happens a lot for someone "more mature folks" to share housing. When my brother got divorced, he was really tight with money and took in boarders to help defray some of his costs.

[irishman_irl]

I don't think you will have any issues finding a roommate at your age, in Walnut Creek rents are increasing faster than salaries so many people are feeling a pinch.

People fall out of relationships, lose their job, reduce costs or just don't want to live alone all the time & at any age - you are going to have lots of options, the key I think is just finding someone who you can live with.

Having said that, my wife & have just bought a condo in Pleasant Hill & will probably rent out a room if your interested (although its tiny)! (shameless I know!) lol

[luvmypug55]

Originally Posted by foclampt

Hey, I live in the general area, I think you will have a hard time finding someone to do this with...a lot of people are very careful about online ads etc, and you should be too I think. There are a lot of situations you find out about later in the news. I think it might be wise to consider getting a one room place for a while until you build up some friendships, maybe then you can find someone who would be willing to do that.
In the meantime you'll be able to find out what you really want in the area. Just a suggestion, but good luck.

Ok, thanks for the reply. But, don't 99% of roommates find each other through ads??? Of course I would do my homework and be careful, but come one do I really need to make friends in the area first and hope to God someone is single and needing a roommate before I can do this?

[luvmypug55]

Originally Posted by irishman_irl

I don't think you will have any issues finding a roommate at your age, in Walnut Creek rents are increasing faster than salaries so many people are feeling a pinch.

People fall out of relationships, lose their job, reduce costs or just don't want to live alone all the time & at any age - you are going to have lots of options, the key I think is just finding someone who you can live with.

Having said that, my wife & have just bought a condo in Pleasant Hill & will probably rent out a room if your interested (although its tiny)! (shameless I know!) lol

Thank you..funny, as soon as I posted this thread I checked CL and found a 40something female looking to rent a house with someone. I guess that makes sense, I'm not from a high rent area and have always wondered how us 'regular people' afford to live in the area and still have money leftover to play? lol

I'm not moving until January but I will keep that in mind about your condo!!

[irishman_irl]

Originally Posted by luvmypug55

Thank you..funny, as soon as I posted this thread I checked CL and found a 40something female looking to rent a house with someone. I guess that makes sense, I'm not from a high rent area and have always wondered how us 'regular people' afford to live in the area and still have money leftover to play? lol

I'm not moving until January but I will keep that in mind about your condo!!

To me the bay area is a paradise in many ways, spoilt mostly by the insane rents. A lot of people have moved here in the last 3 years for jobs & spend a massive chunk of their income on rent, we rent a 1 bedroom place at the moment, 4 years ago it cost $1300 a month, now its $1900 with less services included - the landlord keeps telling us that if we moved out he could charge someone new $2k for our place.

We have just made an offer on a safe, clean, top floor condo in Pleasant Hill, 5 mins from the BART - best part is no more landlord barking orders at us! yayyy! lol

[convextech]

Originally Posted by luvmypug55

I've not had a roommate since I was 23!!

I had to get a roommate when I moved for a job in another state. I am a 45yo female.

It sucked. I am used to having my privacy, walk around naked if I want, eat what I want, watch what I want on TV, etc. I didn't like cleaning up after someone else or feeling like I had to make my bed everyday just because I was living with someone else.

[pch1013]

I know plenty of people in their 40s (and older!) who have roommates. It's almost become the norm, at least here in SF.

OP: your biggest problem, if your username is any indication, will be finding an apartment share where you can have a dog.

[Ruth4Truth]

There's nothing wrong with having a roommate at your age, but your expectations are a bit off. What you seem to want is a friend, not just a roommate. That's harder to do. I also wouldn't want to share a place with some male stranger who answered an add, no matter how nice he might seem.