European to Palo Alto

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

You won't get a very nice place in a nice neighborhood for only $2,000/month for a 2BR in the South Bay

Wrong. You definitely can. I live in an apartment and neighborhood most people (everyone except snobs) would consider to be nice and desirable. It's a nice looking apartment complex, peaceful, safe, and a pretty area with lots of trees. It's also conveniently located. Almost everyone living in this complex and in the surrounding complexes are professionals, mostly IT/engineers.

[TheGreatCurve]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

Wrong. You definitely can. I live in an apartment and neighborhood most people (everyone except snobs) would consider to be nice and desirable. It's a nice looking apartment complex, peaceful, safe, and a pretty area with lots of trees. It's also conveniently located. Almost everyone living in this complex and in the surrounding complexes are professionals, mostly IT/engineers.

Well, how nice can it be then? LOL

BTW, when was the last time you renewed your lease? Because rents have gone up a lot in the last 4-6 months.

And if you're sharing an apartment with a stranger, you'd definitely want at least 2 bathrooms. So a nice, luxury 2BR/2BA apartment in a great location and that's not much more than 10 years old, like those at Cherry Orchard in Sunnyvale, currently go for about $3,000/month. Thus, $2,000/month is not going to get you anything nearly as nice nor as desirable.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

Well, how nice can it be then? LOL

You got me there

BTW, when was the last time you renewed your lease? Because rents have gone up a lot in the last 4-6 months.

We renewed it in Feb. We're paying $1850 now. They're probably renting the same units to new people for $1950 or $2000.

[TheGreatCurve]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

We renewed it in Feb. We're paying $1850 now. They're probably renting the same units to new people for $1950 or $2000.

Hmmmm....must be pretty small, with only 1 bathroom, no big swimming pools, fully equipped gyms, tennis courts, etc. and must be really old and not in a prime location? Maybe it's next to the train tracks, loud busy streets or highway, bad school district, sketchy neighborhood, low walkability score, etc.?

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by TheGreatCurve

Hmmmm....must be pretty small, with only 1 bathroom, no big swimming pools, fully equipped gyms, tennis courts, etc. and must be really old and not in a prime location? Maybe it's next to the train tracks, loud busy streets or highway, bad school district, sketchy neighborhood, low walkability score, etc.?

None of the above.
But if someone wants to pay $1000 more each month for a luxury apartment with a couple extra amenities that they may never use, that's cool.

[TheGreatCurve]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

None of the above.
But if someone wants to pay $1000 more each month for a luxury apartment with a couple extra amenities that they may never use, that's cool.

So where exactly is this fantastic apartment in the great neighborhood that rents for such a low price?

[gone down south]

Yeah, either there's something seriously wrong with the apartment/complex/location, or you just got lucky and can't assume that other places will have similar rent levels.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by gone down south

Yeah, either there's something seriously wrong with the apartment/complex/location, or you just got lucky and can't assume that other places will have similar rent levels.

I've lived in a bunch of apartments in my lifetime and there's nothing wrong with it at all. When we moved in a year ago, we talked them down below market rate, and then when we renewed they didnt' increase it much, so I'm sure we're getting it for less than what other people pay, but I don't know how much less. I'm assuming only a couple hundred dollars, but I might be wrong.

If we're able to negotiate, I'm sure other people can too if they just try.

[TheGreatCurve]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

I've lived in a bunch of apartments in my lifetime and there's nothing wrong with it at all. When we moved in a year ago, we talked them down below market rate, and then when we renewed they didnt' increase it much, so I'm sure we're getting it for less than what other people pay, but I don't know how much less. I'm assuming only a couple hundred dollars, but I might be wrong.

If we're able to negotiate, I'm sure other people can too if they just try.

If it's a large, professionally managed apartment complex owned by a for-profit corporation, it would be VERY hard to negotiate much below market rates because they all share rental pricing information amongst each other several times a month, so they know exactly what the pricing should be for their "product". The leasing manager would be fired by the corporation if he/she were giving tenants "deals" well below market rates, especially in this current market of very high demand and low supply of rental housing. Any special "deals" would have to be approved by the corporation.

Is your apartment more than 10 years old?

[crisis2012]

Thanks everyone, I'm looking to share in Palo Alto/Mountain View/Menlo Park and so far 1.000 is just above minimum if you want to get a descent room in a shared house. South from there is the ghetto in East Palo Alto.
Someone commented that I didn't clarify what exactly I'm looking for. Well: safety is priority number one, quiet neighborhood would be another, easy commute would be the third.
So you think it's asking too much?

Thanks,