Attending cal berkeley next spring, trying to decide where to live (Oakland: apartments, renting)

[marklar]

I'm moving from the east coast to attend UC Berkeley in a few months. I'm trying to decide where to live. I'll be needing a 2 bedroom place that allows pets. I'm fine with driving to school if it makes sense, but I'm guessing it won't. Here are my thoughts on various cities so far:

Berkeley: Most convenient, also most expensive. ~$400 more for comparable housing to other areas.

Walnut Creek: Very nice, pretty affordable. I believe that by cycling to the BART station, I can make it from my door to school in about an hour (but have to change trains, maybe this causes additional issues). Does this seem right?

Oakland: Pretty cheap, no need to change trains. Of course, Oakland has a bad reputation. How deserved is this?

El Cerrito: Seems nice enough, and again won't need to change trains.

Right now, I think I'm leaning towards walnut creek. How much time would it save me per day living in oakland instead? Is it easy to find safe places to live in Oakland?

If there are other places I should consider please let me know. If anyone has commuted to Berkeley (haas in particular) via bart or car, please share your experience.

Thanks!

[WCmomMD]

If you are going to be a student at UC Berkeley, definitely try to live near there or bicycle distance from there. Most students live fairly close to campus. As you have discovered, living south of campus is more affordable that living in North Berkeley. The other option, that you did not mention, is Albany. There are lots of apartments in Albany, and it is a relatively easy commute to campus. Commuting from Walnut Creek does not make very good sense. Plus, Walnut Creek is a suburb... not very happening for college students.

[marklar]

Thanks for your reply, I'll definitely check out Albany, looks like a good location. I'm only attending Berkeley for one year as a graduate student, so I'm not too worried about the college scene. The 'burbs are ok as long as the commute isn't too bad. Sounds like that might not be the case with walnut creek though.

[Shelacious]

Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito are all fine places to live. Albany is home to UC's family grad housing called University Village, so there are a good percentage of year-round grad students (with families) living there. Nothing wrong with living in Oakland either, as there are LOTS of great, safe neighborhoods in Oakland. I work with UCB students, and quite a few of them live in Oakland, especially North Oakland and the Lake Merritt areas.

[skywalker400]

El Cerrito is fairly cheaper than Berkeley, and the hills are pretty suburban and quiet. There are buses and BART, but I know a couple people who biked the distance from campus (depends how much of cyclist you are). The commute from Walnut Creek could get old fast, since likely you will have to meet up with people after class or during weekends to get stuff done. BART will be like $7 dollars roundtrip too everyday. The drive from WC to Cal isnt that bad at all really imo, just use telegraph to get to campus. That works if you are staying a short time and can use meters, parking permits on campus are mad expensive though ($600/sem some told me?!?) and I think day parking runs about $10. I can be a little impatient at times, so BART can take a lot out of me lol, especially carrying a bunch of books and art supplies on a crowded commuter train.

[rbehs]

I know someone in the same situation (Berkeley grad student, looking for two bedrooms) who ended up renting in Point Richmond after spending a lot of time trying to find a reasonable place in Berkeley.

[marklar]

Richmond area is definitely interesting pricewise, but I get the impression is is pretty ghetto, is this the case?

Thanks!

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by marklar

Richmond area is definitely interesting pricewise, but I get the impression is is pretty ghetto, is this the case?

Thanks!

Alot of Richmond is the ghetto, the nice area's are pretty expensive. Richmond has the highest crime rate in CA. The problem is Richmond is pretty small so the crime seems to dominate the city, as opposed to a big city like Oakland or SF where it's spread out in certain pockets.

[ragnarkar]

If you're gonna have a car there, try renting a room in a house in the Berkeley or Oakland hills. Costs about the same as near campus but in a nicer neighborhood.

[18Montclair]

Just stay in Berkeley.

Closer to classes, closer to campus life, closer to where you need to be.