More available places June 1st or July 1st? (Oakland, Berkeley: renters, crime)

[daena2010]

Hey Everyone,

I've noticed that certain cities and towns have more places to rent during June with a july 1st move in) and others have more places to move in during may with a june 1st move in date. I am wondering what will be less competitive or a better time to shop around for places to rent instead of just applying to whatever I find because nothing is available. Any Advice? Will be going to UCBerkeley so I am moving around that area (Thinking of moving to San Pablo all the way down to North Oakland)

Thanks so much for any help,
Daena

[beb0p]

You absolutely do NOT want to be competing with everyone and their mothers for a place during the summer months. Yes, there will be more inventory, but the number of renters will be 1,000X what you are seeing now.

Rents always go up during the summer months and even crappy places fly off the shelves; because after losing their twentieth places in two weeks and school about to start in a week, people get desperate and just rent whatever and overpay for it. Don't be that person.
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[daena2010]

Originally Posted by beb0p

You absolutely do NOT want to be competing with everyone and their mothers for a place during the summer months. Yes, there will be more inventory, but the number of renters will be 1,000X what you are seeing now.

Rents always go up during the summer months and even crappy places fly off the shelves; because after losing their twentieth places in two weeks and school about to start in a week, people get desperate and just rent whatever and overpay for it. Don't be that person.
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I don't want to move during the summer but I have to because my school ends the last week of May and the the UC begins right after summer. My lease now ends on june 1st, so I would be without a place.

[Ruth4Truth]

June is actually the best time. UC is out at that point, and the students won't be back until August. Even so, you have to have your paperwork ready, the market will still be competitive. Try El Cerrito and Albany; slightly lower prices, and still close to UC. Significantly less crime than in much of Oakland, especially NW Oakland, where you're thinking of going.

[beb0p]

Originally Posted by daena2010

I don't want to move during the summer but I have to because my school ends the last week of May and the the UC begins right after summer. My lease now ends on june 1st, so I would be without a place.

And that is exactly why the summer is so competitive. Not to mention, most families chose to move during the summer when school is out.

If you can, do your work early and look for a place sometime in May for a lease that begins in June. It starts getting heat up at during the last week of May and get really crazy in July/August. So May/June is your best bet but do except a lot of fellow lookers in June and like Ruth said, you have to have your documents in order ready to go on the day of the open house.
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