<p>I am planning on starting college this upcoming fall at SBCC, and from the looks of it I really want to live in Isla Vista, hopefully on DP. It's been 3 years since High School, and I finally decided that I don't want to miss out on college life anymore. So anyway, I live in NYC, and will be buying a car here and driving cross country. The earliest I can go is the end of March, while the latest I guess would be the beginning of August just in time for school. </p>
<p>The question I have is when is the best time to come to Santa Barbara as far as finding a place to live. I notice most of the places in Isla Vista make you sign a lease, so when are there the most housing options/openings during the year? I would love to come at a time when there are lots of housing available. Any other advice for moving to IV/living in IV or SB in general is also much appreciated. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>“lots of housing available” does not really describe IV at any time. Typically in the spring groups of students get together and rent places to stay. And more desireable places, like ocean-view DP, tend to be hard to find if a group wants to rent the whole place; in a 3-room place, often only some of the residents graduate any given year so the rest look for a few people to fill their space, this repeats every year. </p>
<p>So one thing you could try is perusing the housing board postings at SBCC <a href=“http://www.sbcc.edu/housing/[/url]”>http://www.sbcc.edu/housing/</a> and UCSB to find a group of people that need 1 more person in their group. Even after places are rented out there are always spaces in apartments opening up over the summer and even during the school year; not a bunch, but they are there. A roomate changes plans and they need to fill the space.</p>
<p>Or are you looking for your own single room to rent? Those tend to be hard to find and expensive in IV; typically students live 2 to a room.</p>