Short-Term Housing? (Oakland: subletting, renter, homes)

[projectmaximus]

Hi just wondering if there are any tips, tricks, suggestions, etc for finding short term housing in the Bay Area. We are a family of four (two young kids) and considering doing one or two months out there next summer. We are pretty flexible on location and size (we really don't need a lot of space) but would have a strong preference for SF or SV. Not ruling out Oakland side but would have to really be worth the savings (nothing against it just not very familiar. Plus most of our friends and family are between SF and SJ)

I am very familiar with airbnb and booking.com but not others. Any places to look that mainly locals would know about? I guess subletting from someone leaving for the summer would be ideal. TIA!

[butercup]

We did this 7 years ago before we moved out here permanently. It's basically air bnb and vrbo - maybe you'd find something on craigslist but most people aren't going to risk their home on there. We ended up piecing together a few 2 week stays in different homes. The people going on sabbatical or long trips didn't mesh with our dates - especially in the summer, it's an owner's market and you as the renter are at a disadvantage. Next Door is the one way you could score an insider's coup, so if you have family and friends out here, have them post on their nextdoors with your particular info - I have seen several of those pop up each summer in our peninsula area. Good luck, it's about the best place to spend the summer, weather-wise!

[projectmaximus]

Thanks! I will ask friends and family to be on the lookout and post on next door if possible.