<p>I am looking for a roommate and a north side apartment within 0 to 3 blocks from campus.</p>
<p>How much per month should be considered cheap, moderate, or overprices</p>
<p>You're looking at $1500/mo at the very least. Most are going to hover in the $1600-$2100 range. Expensive will be more than that (or going with any of the corporate-owned complexes like the Berkeleyan or Gaia or Library Gardens, where 1 bedrooms start at ~$2195). </p>
<p>Utilities (including internet) should be ~$80/mo. Water, hot water and garbage are almost always included, but you usually pay PG&E separately.</p>
<p>Just checked Comcast. Cable TV plus internet will be probably around 80 for the first six months (66 promotional rate + HD box fee + modem fee), then over 100 later. The deal will probably change by mid-May when I will need to move in for summer session A.</p>
<p>Uggh... this is going to be expensive. Living in Bowles next year might end up being cheaper.</p>
<p>I currently live in a 1+. My rent is $1425. I pay ~$120-140 in utilities including internet and satellite TV. </p>
<p>The only reason living off-campus is cheaper is if you split the apartment with more than one person. I noticed Library Gardens was advertising "cheaper than dorms!" which I thought was a little odd because, like I said, 1 bedrooms start at $2195. The catch? 3-4 roommates! Considering the sizes of the apartments, though nice and new... hahahahah.</p>
<p>If you're willing to get a little further from campus, they get cheaper. Still, 2 bedrooms is always going to be on the pricey side in Berkeley. You have to go waaaaay out of town (Oakland, Walnut Creek, El Cerrito) to get ~$1400 2 bedrooms.</p>
<p>^^Before your comcast rate increases, call them and threaten to switch to AT&T. They'll usually continue your promotional rate. It's worked twice for my parents but you'll spend a good half-hour whining/complaining to their call center.</p>
<p>If that doesn't work cancel the comcast service and switch it to another roommate's name for another promotional rate.</p>
<p>Are apartments usually furnished? I noticed that Library Garden and Gaia are bot furnished. It others aren't, you would need to drag everything from home?</p>
<p>Apartments are not usually furnished. I don't even think units at Library Garden and Gaia are "usually" furnished, just that they have units which are. Allston Lofts might be the one exception to non-co-op housing which is usually furnished, but they are also ridiculously expensive. If there is furniture, it will cost you more to have it there, be sure of it.</p>
<p>You would need to do what everyone else who moves into a new place does -- move it from your old place or buy new stuff. Most apartments are equipped with a refrigerator and stove and not much else.</p>
<p>I rent a 2BR 1BA condo in north Berkeley on Euclid (about 1.5 block from campus). It's a really convenient location and I love the neighborhood. Unlike what most people believe, it's actually close to everything! It's about 5 min for me to walk to Evans or VLSB and many libraries are all so close by. I pay $2500/month... and I agree that it's super expensive!! However, my apartment is really spacious and I share it with 2 other roommates. We convert the living room to the bedroom so each person still gets her own room.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend north Berkeley to anyone : ) It's that good... and I would never want to go back to the south side!!</p>
<p>Normally you would need to buy furniture for any apartment you rent. However, you can probably take care of it for less then $500 easily (Ikea). If you really want to save $$, go on craigslist and you can probably buy bed, desk, and bookshelves for less than $200.</p>
<p>When would be a good time to actually start looking? I will need some place to live over summer session A</p>
<p>Keep an eye out now (yes, seriously), but you probably won't have to go directly searching (that is, making appointments, visiting, filling out applications) for another couple months, say, early March.</p>
<p>You DO need to be looking, though. Summer places -- and year leases beginning in the summer -- get snatched up pretty quickly, and though you can find something when it gets closer, it won't be ideal and will probably be expensive. Also be ready to get the apartment taken out from under you and don't set all your hopes on a single place.</p>
<p>The rental market near campus is BRUTAL.</p>
<p>At least one of the fraternities rents rooms to non members of both sexes during the summer sessions for a very reasonable rate. Ask around. I have never seen an apartment for less than 1100.00 for a one bedroom anywhere near campus, although there are plenty of two bedroom apartments available for around 1600.00 near Telegraph and Blake.</p>