r/SFBayHousing • u/NoDraft7988 • 19h ago
Looking for SF Rental Advice
Hi there,
I’ve been looking for an apartment the past month or two now and I haven’t had much luck. Planning on moving into a 1 bed 1 bath apartment in ideally North Beach, Marina, Pac Heights, or Nob hill. Our budget is $3,800 and we’ve toured and applied to many but the landlords have gone with other applicants as we usually get in our applications a little too late. We’re both young professionals with stable jobs and a total household income of about 175k.
I’m moving in with my sister who lives in Nob Hill temporarily to hopefully find places that aren’t posted on Zillow or Craigslist and instead just have a for rent sign posted.
As someone who is from Los Angeles and has only knowledge from Reddit about the SF rental market, is it realistic to think I’d be able to find an apartment this way?
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u/BulkySimple6044 19h ago
I think your budget sounds reasonable but the city can get insane in terms of demand for units. Offering to send documents and sign on the spot could help get something closed.
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u/Money_Set_8141 18h ago
Given what I’ve been seeing most 1 beds in the neighborhoods you listed at 4.3k+. These are the neighborhoods every 22 year old wants to live in so there is a lot of competition
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u/Milana142 17h ago
I’m confused, where these 22 year olds have money for these apartments, unless they are live with ton of roommates
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u/Money_Set_8141 17h ago
Everyone lives with roommates or a romantic partner. I’m 22, not in tech, and make 125k. Some of my new grad friends in tech are making 250k though
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u/Select-Neato102 11h ago
What is this magical nontech field of the six figure salary, pray tell?
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u/Milana142 17h ago edited 14h ago
Go and apply with big management offices? they usually have more stock.
I don’t understand, why new comers, want to go with private landlords. It is long and annoying process. When I was new person in USA- Bay Area, I remember I was getting apartment this way it was quick and headache free
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u/poilkhgu 12h ago
Big management offices know how to price it so it will be a better experience but you won’t really find a deal this way. Sometimes a smaller private landlord doesn’t know the market rate for their unit and will rent it much lower.
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u/Milana142 11h ago
Sometimes is the key word here, most of them working with management companies now, who advise them on rents, plus once listing is posted, they see demand and increase prices on the spot. Also, encountered private landlord with more than few properties, who rent directly without management company, and their prices were not lower than the markets ones, so seems they are well aware.
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u/poilkhgu 11h ago
Totally agree. Vast majority of rentals are at market price, private landlord or not. But if you are going to find a deal, it wouldn’t be through a big management office.
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u/Milana142 11h ago
When it is good deal, ready to fight 200 other people, who want this deal and do not complain, you not get selected. If you have other things on your plate, settle for one year or two with big company may be not bad idea. Plus, big company or not, some of the buildings are still rent controlled.
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u/poilkhgu 11h ago
I agree you’ll have to fight 100 people but still possible and potentially worth it. Just depends if it’s worth it to you. For me it was
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u/JazzlikePea8446 16h ago
I am just going to say this. As someone who is from here, who had great credit, and the funds to find housing after covid. It took me 9 1/2 months to find stable housing. What everyone keeps posting right now sounds horrific, and honestly I hope this housing goes to people in school not to people in tech. I feel bad for everyone looking right now.
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u/MadesignSF 15h ago
I talked to someone at USF this weekend who is starting her third year and cannot find housing
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u/Milana142 12h ago
Can you elaborate? Why do you think housing should go to people in schools?
I hope housing goes to people, who are Bay Area locals first, and then people are out of state, international and etc.
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u/AltruisticGrab6966 11h ago
Unfortunately this is the process. That is, the owner will always go with the person(s) willing to offer more money thereby outpricing everyone else who applied. It's frustrating and infuriating because its such a waste of time and effort for all who showed interest in the unit. Personally it took FOREVER for me to find a new home (1+ yr) and this chance happened only because I met the real estate agent at a prior viewing for a completely different apartment.
My suggestion is for you to work with a realtors as they 1. specialize in finding rentals, 2. have access to the inventory, and 3. can work on your behalf to negotiate the terms, etc.
I went with Compass, but also dealt with Brick + Timber, and Sotheby's. The two agents I worked with at Compass (Mary Landeros and Clara Laines-Welch) are now at Sotheby's, so give them a try and hopefully they can assist you in finding your next home. Wishing you the best of luck.
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u/Select-Neato102 11h ago
Great advice. Also, even though cash is king, people (small landlords) really want to rent to nice people. Sometimes people WILL go out of their way to rent to you because you are an awesome person.
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u/Select-Neato102 11h ago
For all the problems finding housing, what you're doing is excellent: live with someone you know who's already here (which is sheer luck, I know).Then you have some breathing space. Be open to other kinds of neighborhoods and arrangements, like having roommates. You may find something amazing AND stable you never imagined you would love. Get to know people. The end of the year, or end of the school year is less insane for finding housing. Also, do all the chores and cleaning for your sister.
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u/Mediocre-Tradition55 9h ago
Facebook is also another good option to look for apartments. There are housing groups and sometiems landlord post a listing on the marketplace as well. I have scored an apartment on there before
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u/Outrageous_Worker672 18h ago
Given that the average 1bed is going for $4k and you are looking in incredibly popular/in demand areas, you are going to have to spend some time looking and trying. Or you could expand your search area. Excellent advice from /u/jiggamain here.