<p>Any of you Fall 2011 transfers living off campus have any idea where you're going to live (and with who)? I live in SoCal so it's already difficult enough for me as it is to check out some of the places around campus. Any other socal people in a similar predicament? </p>
<p>Also, I don't know anyone who is transferring this year or is already at Cal :(</p>
<p>I’m from Orange County and I’m going to be living off campus with a friend. As wack as this sounds, you should start checking out the Craigslist ads! There are soooo many people renting out rooms for really cheap that are right near campus and living with new people can help you get to know some other people in the area. I would sincerely recommend taking a day or two to go up there and make a schedule to look at all the potential places. Cal Rentals is okay but the places on there seemed way more expensive than on CL. You can also try to talk with people in the Cal transfer facebook groups to get to know some people a bit :)</p>
<p>padmapper.com is your friend. it includes Craigslist postings.</p>
<p>@Game_theory, I am in the same situation, do you have a plan to go up there?</p>
<p>I am also in Orange County and I went to CAL last week to attend the CALSO and find a room. It is very hard to find a good deal. Most rooms near campus are very expensive. I made many appointments and interviews with the owners or potential roommates, and luckily, I finally got a good room with a year contract. You should start looking for a place now because many people are leasing for a year. Don’t wait until it’s too late.</p>
<p>I transferred to Cal from San Diego and I moved up here about 2 weeks ago. I had never been here before and I didn’t have the money or time to just come up and look around and then stay back down in SD for the summer. (my only income are grants so I can’t afford not to take summer sessions)</p>
<p>I drove up here and stayed a few days in a hotel while ■■■■■■■■ CL and ended up getting an apartment that is a 5 min walk from campus for 900/month including utilities and internet, which is about the same as SD. There appears to be an abundance of places right next to campus, but you really have to hunt for anything less than 1300 it seems. And unless you can afford it, you’ll most likely need a roommate (I moved with my bf so that wasn’t a problem).</p>
<p>You’ll have to look on Craigslist. I was looking a couple of weeks ago and I noticed that the rooms go out pretty fast. By the time I reply to the ads most of them have been taken already. I finally found a studio though about 3 blocks away from Cal for $750.
What you want to do is stay at a hotel like the above comment said. Get a hotel near Berkeley and look on Craigslist all day. Most of the time they want you to rent the place as soon as possible anyways.</p>
<p>I am having a ***** of a time. I am coming from San Diego too. I won’t be able to move up until August. </p>
<p>I am probably going to have to live in friggin Oakland.</p>
<p>Keely, do you still see deals like you got around town??</p>
<p>Just look on CL for a general idea, but it doesn’t really help much to look for places to live on there any sooner than like a week in advance. I see so many for rent signs in the neighborhood on my walk to campus. I’m sure there’s still plenty of selection, but logically the market will get much tighter in July and August when new students are coming in. I came at the end of May when all the graduates move out. I would say the sooner you can make it up here the better. Plus then you have more time to get your bearings. – coming from SD, you will be surprised at how many Asian restaurants in place of where taco shops would normally be lol. </p>
<p>We did look at a couple places in Oakland and um, no. Scary. I even asked if it was safe there and the guy said, ‘you’re not from around here are you…’ Here close to campus, however, I feel pretty safe about parking my car on the street and everything is within walking distance. Kensington is really nice and Albany is alright, too.</p>
<p>I did personally find my place on 6/8 and the movein isn’t until 8/1 though it was really difficult.</p>
<p>Man, I don’t move out of my current spot until August 1st… guess I’m gonna have to pay rent in two places if I want to find one by then.</p>
<p>You know, all of Oakland is not bad. If you have to look outside of the Berkeley area, Rockridge to Broadway is very nice (I rent a studio for $935, with parking included although a car is not necessary, right on College with a 20 min walk to campus, or 10 min bike ride, plus the 51 bus goes straight there) and there are lots of Cal (mostly grad) students and CCA students living here. It is a middle to upper class neighborhood bordered by Alcatraz, Claremont, Broadway, and Telegraph. There are at least 5 buildings along College Ave near me that have new “for rent” signs right now - Cal students have left for home or the summer. </p>
<p>Temescal is decent, too, although grittier and a bit cheaper. There are lots of young people living there, a mix of Cal students and young professionals and artist types (I hesitate to say hipster…ok, hipsters). I would look for a place north of 58th and east of Shattuck, and up along Telegraph all the way to campus. Again, probably about a 25 min walk to campus, 15 min bike, and 10-15 min bus on the 1 line. </p>
<p>Finally, if you have a car and might be willing to commute just a bit to campus or want a less “student-y” neighborhood, the area along and near Piedmont Avenue has tons of apartments or rented condos, usually not very expensive (rent a great 1 bedroom for the same price as a crappy studio), usually with parking included. It is a middle class neighborhood, so quite safe. </p>
<p>All of these areas are listed separately on Craigslist. These neighborhoods offer great cafes, pizza places, shops, walkability, safety (although this is an urban area, so be as aware here as in Berkeley), and apartments that might be bigger and/or cleaner, and cheaper than those near campus.</p>
<p>Thatgirltoo, you’re right about college ave being nice. I live on telegraph and Dwight and I’ve explored that area behind me around college/Alcatraz and it seems like a really pretty and chill neighborhood. I just visited a couple apartments more south on telegraph as you get into Oakland and I really wasn’t digging the industrial ghetto vibe. Plus, where I am now I hardly need to use my car at all and everything is within 10 min walking distance, which will really save money in the long run.</p>