<p>Hi everyone,
I was wondering what reasonable price for an apartment really close to campus would be....that is a studio... Is $1200 too high??
Also, what do i need to watch out for when signing a lease???
Any tips or stories of personal experience would be appreciated!!
Also, what is a reasonable price for a sublet apartment for the summer???
Thanks!</p>
<p>$1200 is a rip-off for a studio, even if it’s near campus. You can rent a one bedroom with that money.</p>
<p>If you are lucky, you can find some in the $700 range, but these studios are usually in utter crap condition; your dog probably lives better. </p>
<p>I’d say $800-900 is reasonable, though they are still kinda hard to find. Studio within 5 blocks from campus usually go for $900+.</p>
<p>Bring your checkbook when checking out apartment. Wouldn’t hurt to bring a copy of your credit report either. When you see something that is half decent and is sub-$900, I’d say go for it and write the check ASAP; they’ll be gone in no time. During Berkeley’s apt hunting season, you can’t really find an ideal place for an ideal price. You will have to make some compromise. Don’t like it to be on the top floor 'cos it will be ****ing hot during the summer? Suck it up, or pay a little more for another place. </p>
<p>Source: personal experience.</p>
<p>My studio is $670 in gourmet Ghetto (north berkeley). You would have to be crazy to pay $1200 for a studio!</p>
<p>I agree with HypnosX. </p>
<p>Lease concerns are typical so do some research/ask parents about the common pitfalls. Usual terms here are “school term” (August to May) and yearly leases (often August to August or May to May). There is rent control, but they are allowed to adjust rent at every renewal period within a certain percentage range. They (that is, an apartment building – this rarely goes for renting a room in a place or subletting) almost always charge a credit check fee of ~$30 and expect you to pay it when you turn in your application.</p>
<p>BE PREPARED TO SNATCH SOMETHING WHEN YOU LIKE IT. I cannot stress this enough. Apartments go FAST here and something you like is likely to be appealing to someone else as well. Be prepared with your basic information (including rental history and income, or the appropriate co-signer information) and a check ready to pay the application/credit-check fee. Sometimes you get looked over even if you’re plenty ready the day of. Don’t stop looking for an apartment until you have signed a lease.</p>
<p>Hot water and garbage are usually included, water is often as well, but most places will ask you to pay PG&E. Be sure to ask about internet service and TV if you’re interested in having them because the age of the building plays a huge factor in what’s available to you. </p>
<p>Your move in cost is going to be pretty high: if you rent your own apartment, expect a deposit of 1-2x rent plus the first month’s payment (so 2-3x rent due before you move in).</p>
<p>Thanks for the information, really helpful. ;D</p>
<p>Oh. And laundry. XD</p>
<p>Sometimes there is laundry available in the building. Sometimes there is not, and then you have to get your laundry to the laundromat. Very few situations allow you to do laundry in your own machines; if you have this, you’re probably living in a co-op or an in-law apartment in someone’s house. 
</p>
<p>If this matters to you, be sure to ask! I know that one threw me for a loop when I first started looking at apartments.</p>