Recommend Cupertino / Sunnyvale Apartments (San Jose, Santa Clara: apartment complexes, rental market, condos)

[thorvitz]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend apartment complexes in Cupertino or Sunnyvale? Dying for some intelligent leads (vs. the garbage on Yelp)!!

Focusing on Cupertino & Sunnyvale because I want quiet, super safe (though part of me longs for my old life closer to downtown SJ where I could walk to things):
- 1 bedroom (just wife & I)
- Quiet (so good construction). Nerdy professionals (vs. students and partiers) :-)
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Very safe community and neighborhood (I also check the crime stats)

I know I'm probably dreaming but I'll pay (up to 2300/mo) for it!

I lived in and around San Jose for over a decade (last in 2010) so am familiar with the different areas. In LA now but will make trips up there once job finalized.

If you believe Yelp, every building has bed bugs or excessive car theft or extremely loud neighbors or dog poop everywhere. ApartmentRatings is polluted by obvious fake posts + angry people who were denied their deposit back. I am open to non-complexes (e.g., private condo) but few are listed in these areas (on Craigslist, Padmapper, LiveLovely etc.). Other sites?

Thank you very much!

Todd

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

It will be hard to find a place with washer/dryer. I'd say if you find one with what you want, go for it. Worst case scenario, you move at the end of your lease. The biggest problem I have with review sites, is the fact that so many property management companies pay for reputation scrubbers - so there are no negative reviews. So, you can't believe reviews anyway.

Apt mgr in CA.

[ondys]

I've rented in Archstone Cupertino and The Hamptons (in Cupertino) and I think both are quiet and safe places mostly filled with professionals and they should be within you price range. Both complexes also have in-unit washer/dryer. Reviews are not so good but I've never had any issues. Honestly if you were to follow reviews you would probably have to move to Mars..

[thorvitz]

Thanks very much. Yes, the reviews for these on Yelp & ApartmentRatings are scary:
**Archstone--multiple reviews on cars being broken into in the underground garage
**Hamptons--multiple reviews on loud partying in the hot tub + unbearable noise from upstairs neighbors (thin ceilings)

And you're right; it's the same situation for EVERY apartment I looked up. I just need some counterbalancing comments from the more credible folks on City Data.

[ondys]

Yes the reviews are quite scary. Maybe I was lucky, but as I said, I never had any issues. From these two I would probably recommend Hamptons over Archstone as the location is better and the complex is more spacious and walkable (plus friendlier management). Maintenance is great and responsive in both complexes. I had never seen anyone partying at the hot tub and I walked past it quite often. But of course, if you want less noise it would be better to pick a unit farther away from the swimming pool (but that's the same everywhere). I cannot comment on the thin ceilings as I lived on the third floor so no neighbors above me and I never heard a sound (I would always recommend taking the top floor unit). The worst thing about Hamptons is parking if you have more than one car because you always get only one reserved spot and all the unreserved spots fill up quite quickly so sometimes you have to walk a long distance from a parking spot to your place. (there was no problem with parking availability at Archstone).

[thorvitz]

Thank you! This is just what I want to know. I agree to strive for a top floor unit to minimize noise; most apartment construction is flimsy, with thin walls and single-pane windows. Can be better if the building is/was intended for conversion to condos. Hamptons location is ideal, as my wife is Taiwanese (seems could walk to Ranch 99, though across busy Wolfe Rd). For me, possibly working in Menlo Park, I could get right on the 280.

I'll keep this one on the list. Hopefully a few others weigh in with other options, because you know how right the rental market is (and I won't have much time to wait once job finalized).

Thanks again!

[newinky]

Trellis Square near El Camino in Sunnyvale.

Villa Granada Apartments and Catalina Apartments near DMV Santa Clara, close to lawrence expwy. This location is pretty close to Cupertino or Sunnyvale.

[thorvitz]

Thank You! I was beginning to think no more responses were coming :-(

Villa Granada is a great idea. Good location too!
Trellis I'd dismissed after reports of fleas, flies, and other bug infestations. I know reviews are unreliable (biased, too few) but I draw the line at bugs---not taking chances.
Catalina--seems super noisy (parents letting kids run wild + especially thin walls and ceiling).

So far:
- Mosaic (San Jose midtown area, but considering)
- Epic (North San Jose but considering)
- Cupertino City Center
- Podium (Cupertino)
- Siena (Cupertino)
- The Verdant (North San Jose, partially opens in 3 wks)
- Citra (Sunnyvale)

Please keep em coming. Vacancy is so tight, will need as many as possible! Thank you all.

[nick25]

Mission Pointe Apartments is very good..check that out.

[gh79]

Trellis, Granada are in the Santa Clara school district hence cheaper than many Cupertino Apartments of lower quality. if School district is not important to you these are good choices. Please note most people will be like you - people for whom school district is not important so don not expect a family atmosphere. More of a single or DINK or even party atmosphere.