Can I find BR House in safe area @ $ 1500 ? (San Diego, El Cajon: for sale, apartments)

[domabozo]

inside or in burbs with easy access , can i find 2 BR house for $1500

[rcjhku]

The answer to your questions is here: craigslist: san diego classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

[rgb123]

Because Craigslist makes it obvious where the safe parts are?

[Jenkay]

Originally Posted by rgb123

Because Craigslist makes it obvious where the safe parts are?

No, but it's a start for the OP to see where they can find houses in their price range, get a feel for what areas they'll be able to afford, and then come back and ask a more specific question.

[domabozo]

CL ,have some bad reputation of misleading and fraud ads , so it might be better to ask the locals

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by domabozo

CL ,have some bad reputation of misleading and fraud ads , so it might be better to ask the locals

Its its too good to be true, then it very likely is. I noticed this recently helping a friend out. eg. photos showing some apartment that looks high end or with beach views and has some low ball number that seems out of line with other apartments in the area. Or totally vague, general information.
It may help to avoid fraudulent posters.

I would suggest any phone number left on a C/L posting, just copy and paste into Google. See what comes up.

It also helps, if you are here in San Diego to simply drive around neighborhoods to look for rental signs in windows or shingles.

[lrmsd]

Yes, driving around to look at signs is great suggestion-alot of rentals advertise 'old school style' like this. You might be able to find a small two bedroom cottage/older house in Normal H eights, North Park and University Heights. I'd start by checking those listings. Also check padmapper.com in addition to craig's list. Generally speaking, further away from the main thoroughfares/busy streets is safer/quieter: ie, further from University Ave, El Cajon Blvd, Park Blvd and Adams Avenue. North of Adams Ave. in normal heights is nicer than south [though usually more expensive]. Parts of North Park are hit or miss sometimes block by block, but you can post questions on this forum if you're not sure from looking at the location in person. None of it is really 'the hood', but some parts are kind of semi-hood, subjectively speaking. It depends on what you're comfortable with as far as atmosphere and lifestyle. SD is a safe city in terms of violent crime, it ranks low. Car break ins and/or thefts are more common. The neighborhoods suggested have diverse demographics-hipsters, families, some elderly folks, professionals, homeless, drug addicts-you know, the usual urban vibe, which is also what makes the areas 'hit or miss'. But they are nice areas to live in if you like vibrant, walkable urban and you'll find all the amenities you need for day to day life-groceries, gas, etc. Down the hill in Mission Valley are a couple of malls and shopping galore if you want/need that.

Also, Golden Hill might have options in your price range. Again, parts are nice, others note as nice. The area adjacent to South Park would be good to check out. SP is very nice.

You'll likely want to avoid City Heights, Logan Heights, National City, Imperial Beach, Skyline. There's a recent thread here discussing the merits and improvements of Barrio Logan, so if you see a rental there, you might want to check it out.
Visit the areas at different times of day and get a feel for them.

SD doesn't have as many two bedroom houses, since it's largely newer suburbs with at least 3 bedroom homes. And 1500 is normally for an apt. or condo in most places.
Also, you mentioned 'easy access'-easy access to where/what? SD is a spread out series of suburbs with an urban central area There's no one central point or location that draws people, though. Activities, jobs, etc are spread all over the county. If you want the suburbs for sure, a condo or apt. would be the option with your budget. There are many nice suburbs, such as: Penasquitos, Carmel Valley, Poway, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, etc. Good luck.

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by shmoov_groovzsd

Its its too good to be true, then it very likely is. I noticed this recently helping a friend out. eg. photos showing some apartment that looks high end or with beach views and has some low ball number that seems out of line with other apartments in the area. Or totally vague, general information.
It may help to avoid fraudulent posters.

I would suggest any phone number left on a C/L posting, just copy and paste into Google. See what comes up.

It also helps, if you are here in San Diego to simply drive around neighborhoods to look for rental signs in windows or shingles.

I have moved to a lot of places, Craigslist is usually more confusing than helpful until you have a good feel for a neighborhood or area. A lot of ads are not specific enough about where they are or where a neighborhood is located or what type of neighborhood it is, that is in addition of course to the scams and other posts that can be very misleading.

Padmapper is better since a map is involved, but even then if you have no context for the area its very hard to know what a safe or nice area is, going by "most expensive" and "least expensive" is about all you can use to make inferences if you don't know the area. Most people are starting with a blank slate, I know I was almost every time I moved, its nearly impossible to decipher all this from Craigslist...and I am good with maps and geography and research. Its too much.

I would find a map of neighborhoods ...maybe something like this: San Diego Neighborhood Map - RossAnthonySD.com

and keep that with you when looking online at ads, as some ads won't even call it by the neighborhood name but some other slang term or acronym, or cross streets (that's the worst...) and you just won't know really without searching long and hard until you finally form a mental map.

Then, take suggestions like lmrsd's for the nice or safe neighborhoods that people recommend, and if you find an ad that seems like a good deal but is not one of those places, do some research on it specifically.

Read through posts on what the bad areas are (or not so great).

you have to be a detective if you are not nearby.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by Jenkay

No, but it's a start for the OP to see where they can find houses in their price range, get a feel for what areas they'll be able to afford, and then come back and ask a more specific question.

I didnt quote Jenkay, but it was in addition to what she was posting here.

Originally Posted by rgb123

I have moved to a lot of places, Craigslist is usually more confusing than helpful until you have a good feel for a neighborhood or area. A lot of ads are not specific enough about where they are or where a neighborhood is located or what type of neighborhood it is, that is in addition of course to the scams and other posts that can be very misleading.

Padmapper is better since a map is involved, but even then if you have no context for the area its very hard to know what a safe or nice area is, going by "most expensive" and "least expensive" is about all you can use to make inferences if you don't know the area. Most people are starting with a blank slate, I know I was almost every time I moved, its nearly impossible to decipher all this from Craigslist...and I am good with maps and geography and research. Its too much.

I would find a map of neighborhoods ...maybe something like this: San Diego Neighborhood Map - RossAnthonySD.com

and keep that with you when looking online at ads, as some ads won't even call it by the neighborhood name but some other slang term or acronym, or cross streets (that's the worst...) and you just won't know really without searching long and hard until you finally form a mental map.

Then, take suggestions like lmrsd's for the nice or safe neighborhoods that people recommend, and if you find an ad that seems like a good deal but is not one of those places, do some research on it specifically.

Read through posts on what the bad areas are (or not so great).

you have to be a detective if you are not nearby.

I totally agree with you. Its near impossible given the size of San Diego to dissect good/bad. Its just points on a map with 0 reference to anything really.

But definitely start with a price search first, considering they may have no idea about any areas. Then come back to c-d and do a thread search or post back here with a few areas listed.

[rgb123]

yeah I'm not really sure what I was responding to, actually, except to say that yes, craigslist is full of scams, but even if you can identify those, its still a can of worms!

It is a good place to get a feel for the range of rents. Then again, I thought I'd easily find a place for $1400 by looking at CL. Not really true in the end considering what I went for! Closer to $2400 lol