Questions about relocating to San Fran (San Francisco, Daly City: apartment complexes, rental, loft)

[Sampietro2003]

Hi! I wanted to know if anyone could help me out with some information. My husband J just graduated from UW, and got hired at a company in South San Francisco. I am currently in Seattle and moving out there with him 6/1. We're looking to rent an apartment in/around Foster City. We'd prefer the West side of the Bay since that's where he works, but will live just about anywhere we can get a place.

The reason we're stressing is that, due to his schooling and my past health problems, we're deeply in debt. We don't have any garnishments, liens, bankruptcies, etc., and no criminal history. Our rental history has no evictions or anything like that on it. Our credit scores are just really low right now. So, we're stressed; we've been hearing horror stories about landlords either flat out rejecting applications or asking for a ridiculously inflated deposit because of bad credit.

Does anyone have any experience with this? We have about 2 weeks to find an apartment and I'm really, really stressed out about this. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, does anyone know anything about Avalon in Foster City? Any suggestions/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Sampietro2003

[readuntil]

Try

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/apa/

You can get pick different locations like SF, South Bay, East Bay, etc.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Sampietro2003

Hi! I wanted to know if anyone could help me out with some information. My husband J just graduated from UW, and got hired at a company in South San Francisco. I am currently in Seattle and moving out there with him 6/1. We're looking to rent an apartment in/around Foster City. We'd prefer the West side of the Bay since that's where he works, but will live just about anywhere we can get a place.

The reason we're stressing is that, due to his schooling and my past health problems, we're deeply in debt. We don't have any garnishments, liens, bankruptcies, etc., and no criminal history. Our rental history has no evictions or anything like that on it. Our credit scores are just really low right now. So, we're stressed; we've been hearing horror stories about landlords either flat out rejecting applications or asking for a ridiculously inflated deposit because of bad credit.

Does anyone have any experience with this? We have about 2 weeks to find an apartment and I'm really, really stressed out about this. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, does anyone know anything about Avalon in Foster City? Any suggestions/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Sampietro2003

I haven't rented in 20 years, so I don't know what's going on out there... but one thing I know is you'll be looked at in a better light if you don't hide anything, or look like you're trying to hide anything. Let them know up front you have spotty credit, and tell them why, and what steps you are taking to solve the issue.

Your husband just got hired, so you know what you'll be making -- make up a budget that shows you are capable of paying the rent and paying off your debts. You don't have to be specific, just say Rent, utilities, phone, credit cards, food, savings (that would show you are really trying) -- that sort of thing.

I'm assuming you are renting now -- a letter from your current landlord extolling your virtues would be a handy thing to have -- if you can get one from your previous landlord, too -- even better.

Make up a letter showing this stuff to show you're serious -- this could be one sheet with another for your landlord's letter of recommendation. Sort of like:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Josh and I have just viewed an apartment at your beautiful complex. We've had a few problems in the past we are recovering from, and right now our credit is not as good as it could be. With Josh's new job at ABC Corp, we expect that we can pay off all our debt in about two years to bring our credit up.

With his salary alone, we expect that our rent of XX.XX, with utilities to run XX.XX will leave us with a budget of XX.XX for credit cards, and XX.XX for food and XX.XX for savings.

I expect that I will get a job soon, too, and I am looking at YaDaYaDa Inc and at BoingBoing.com.

Thank you for your consideration,

Josh and Sam P.

You aren't telling them anything they won't find out when they pull your credit, and by grabbing the bull by the horns you're telling them you have a way out of the mess you're in.

Good luck... and stop stressing!

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Sampietro2003

Hi! I wanted to know if anyone could help me out with some information. My husband J just graduated from UW, and got hired at a company in South San Francisco. I am currently in Seattle and moving out there with him 6/1. We're looking to rent an apartment in/around Foster City. We'd prefer the West side of the Bay since that's where he works, but will live just about anywhere we can get a place.

The reason we're stressing is that, due to his schooling and my past health problems, we're deeply in debt. We don't have any garnishments, liens, bankruptcies, etc., and no criminal history. Our rental history has no evictions or anything like that on it. Our credit scores are just really low right now. So, we're stressed; we've been hearing horror stories about landlords either flat out rejecting applications or asking for a ridiculously inflated deposit because of bad credit.

Does anyone have any experience with this? We have about 2 weeks to find an apartment and I'm really, really stressed out about this. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, does anyone know anything about Avalon in Foster City? Any suggestions/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Sampietro2003

Hi there- The Avalon communities are fairly high-end, overpriced, and I think they have strict requirements for renting. I know because I looked at the property in Daly City, and actually almost moved there. They do have really nice units, but I decided it was too pricey (nearly $1600 for a 1-bedroom loft ) and not close enough to work. I'd take the other poster's suggestion, and search hard on craigslist... that's where I've found my last 3 places, and they have TONS to choose from. Just start emailing/calling them, hundreds if you have to, and ask about their rental requirements. I'm sure you'll find something, but don't be surprised if the rent is higher than you'd hoped. Unfortunately there's no such thing as "cheap" around here, even in the worst neighborhoods.

Oh, and you should try looking in San Bruno, Daly City, South San Francisco, Pacifica, and maybe Millbrae... these would make for easy commutes, and are fairly "affordable" by our standards. Just be aware of the exact neighborhood, since they have some crappy ones (particularly in San Bruno and Daly City - I'll give you specifics if you'd like) - and I hope you like the fog, LOL!

[p-town]

yeah, avalon is really overpriced, the closer you get to the city the more expensive rent is going to be. Foster city is kind of iffy, it has a few nice homes but some really crappy apartment units. I should know, my parents used to live there. since your husband is working in south city, it is pretty accessible from almost any part of the peninsula, but south city is kind of a strike from foster city. he would have to take the freeway to get to where ever he needed to be in south city, and believe me the morning and afternoon commute is hell. i heard that seattle has some bad traffic, but try bad traffic with leadfootinitus. anyway, check the brand new apartment complexes by the San Bruno mountain, i'm not sure what rent is like but i have a friend that lives there and he says that the landlord will accept your app if he knows that you have and will continue to have a job when rent pay comes around. some even newer ones are the ones behind and next to the costco off of hickey blvd (yes that is the name of the street)
you said you are deep in debt. if your husband's job pays fair (remember, this is the bay area. we have the highest minimum wage in the nation) then i'm sure you will be able to pay off what debt you have since the pay you made in Seattle won't compare to what you will make here in the Bay. just wondering, but since South City doesn't have that diverse of a job field (there are really only 3 kinds of businesses there: lots of auto repair garages, even more start-up tech companies, and the little dives that fill up the spaces in between that feed those employees) and since you came from seattle, did your husband get a job at one of those tech companies? you don't have to say, but thats just the conclusion i came to.
well anyway, good luck in finding a place, I hope you love it here.
just some advice to live by while you are here. everyone who lives here loves to show it, even if you came from somewhere else. what everyone here hates is when people who came from somewhere else brags about it. if you start to get the feeling that the localism vibe is a bit much, you are probably pushing the wrong buttons.