As a newcomer to the Bay Area, you may want to familiarize yourself with different neighborhoods and regions before determining where to buy. Renting can provide you with the time to do more research and weigh your options.

In San Francisco, 65 percent of the city's residents are renters, and you’ll find the city is a landlord’s market with occupancy at approximately 97 percent. According to Rental Guide magazine and its website www.rentalguide.com, mid-to high-end condominium units, rather than apartments, dominate properties currently under construction in the Bay Area, and the inventory of apartments continues to be reduced by condominium conversions. These factors combined with a healthy job market and the high quality of Bay Area life, keep the demand for rentals high.

San Francisco’s Rent Ordinance regulates rents and evictions for certain residential rental units in San Francisco. There is no commercial rent control in San Francisco.

Apartment rentals range from $1,100 for a studio to upwards of $3,500 for select two bedrooms. Houses command higher rents, averaging from $2,000 to $6,500 per month depending on the amenities and location.

Other important considerations for renters are similar to those faced by homebuyers: number of bedrooms and bathrooms, schools and districts, commuting distance, and time and convenience of lifestyle options such as shopping centers, malls, restaurants and entertainment. Amenities to be considered include washer and dryer connections, a fireplace, fitness facilities and covered parking.

Prioritizing features and amenities on a checklist can help potential renters find the apartment home best suited to meet their needs and preferences. Here are things to consider during your search:

•         Are the kitchen appliances clean and working? Do the stove’s burners work? Check the oven, does it work? Is there sufficient water pressure coming from the kitchen sink faucet? What about the kitchen counter and shelf space – is there enough?

•         Does the dishwasher smell? How does it look?

•         Do the windows open, close and lock? Do the bedroom windows open onto a noisy or potentially dangerous area?

•         Check out the closets. Are they big enough to accommodate your belongings? Is there any additional storage space?

•         Check the electrical outlets – do they work and are there enough?

•         Do you see any sign of pests or bugs?

•         Do the washer and dryer work properly?

•         Is there a garage in the building for your car? If not, is there a garage nearby? How is the parking for guests?

•         How is the neighborhood? Does it feel safe? Is the building close to transportation and shopping?

•         Find out who pays the utilities. It can vary from place to place.

Resources

Part of your apartment-hunting tool kit should include helpful resources, such as the biweekly magazine Rental Guide (www.rentalguide.com), Apartment Guide (www.apartmentguide.com) and Craig’s List (www.craigslist.org), which is free to landlords and apartment hunters. At www.sfrenter.com, you’ll find an online information source for renters in San Francisco with links to top local rental agencies and tenant rights’ organizations. Another site, www.apartmentratings.com, features reviews by tenants of large Bay Area apartment complexes.

Newspapers throughout the Bay Area are also helpful for apartment searching. Most rental ads are placed in the Sunday newspapers. Look for these at a local newsstand or grocery stores with availability depending on where you’re located:

Contra Costa Times, published daily, focuses on the East Bay, especially Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Richmond, Hercules and Bay Point areas.
www.contracostatimes.com

The Daily Californian, published daily, UC Berkeley’s student newspaper, www.dailycal.org.

East Bay Express, a weekly free alternative newspaper available at newsstands and cafes, focuses on the East Bay. Good for rental and roommate listings and available each Thursday. www.eastbayexpress.com

Marin Independent Journal, published daily with listings for Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties. www.marinij.com

Oakland Tribune, published daily, focuses on East Bay listings, especially Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda areas. www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune

Pacific Sun, a free, weekly alternative newspaper with listings for Marin County. Good for rentals and roommate listings, available on Wednesdays at newsstands and cafes.
www.pacificsun.com

San Francisco Bay Guardian, a free, weekly alternative newspaper with extensive listings for San Francisco and the East Bay. Good for rental and roommate listings. Published Wednesdays, found at every café and newsstands in the city. www.sfbg.com

San Francisco Chronicle is the most widely read newspaper in the area and includes listings for San Francisco, North Bay, East Bay and Peninsula counties and some outlying areas. www.sfgate.com

San Francisco Weekly, a free, weekly alternative newspaper with San Francisco listings that comes out each Wednesday. Good for rental and roommate listings.
www.sfweekly.com

San Jose Mercury News is published daily with extensive listings for the South Bay, the Peninsula and areas southeast of the Bay.
www.mercurycenter.com

San Mateo County Times is published daily except Sunday with listings for much of the Peninsula.
www.sanmateotimes.com

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, published daily with listings for Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties.
www.pressdemo.com

renting with Pets

If you have a pet, two web sources can help. The San Francisco SPCA website at www.sfspca.org/opendoor includes information on pet-friendly apartment buildings. It even helps pet owners create pet “résumés” summarizing the pet’s best qualities and examples of your responsibility as a pet owner, which can be presented to potential landlords. The Humane Society, Silicon Valley (www.hssv.org/resources/html) provides tips on how to find pet-friendly housing.

Lofts and Condominiums
for Rent

Condominiums and townhomes often offer amenities similar in some ways to apartments but sometimes offer better construction and more interior luxury. Availabilities exist throughout the Bay Area, with numerous sources noted below.

Temporary/Corporate Housing

Temporary or corporate housing that provides fully furnished, comfortable lodging with flexible lease terms is an economical alternative to hotel living. Temporary housing is well-suited to people facing a variety of situations: homebuyers encountering various delays, homeowners who are renovating their homes, new residents or visitors searching for an apartment or house, tourists or business people on an extended stay, personnel who are relocating, visiting executives or corporate clients.

Today, temporary or corporate housing is available in many locations and varieties, from moderately priced compact efficiencies with all the basics to luxury, high-rise penthouse suites priced comparably to daily hotel rates. Telephone service usually is included, while other amenities can differ from one establishment to another.

To assist in your search, there are a variety of specialized agencies and websites to consider, including ones below.

San Francisco and the Bay Area – Agencies and Resources

American Marketing Systems Inc.

www.amsires.com

CitiApartments 

www.citiapartments.com

CitiSuites

CitiSuites is among the industry leaders in providing short-term furnished apartments in downtown San Francisco. For more information, visit www.citisuites.com or call 877-784-8373.

Lofts Unlimited 

www.loftsunlimited.com

Metro-Rent 

www.metrorent.com

www.mynewplace.com/apartments

online marketplace for apartment rentals, connecting renters and owners of all types of properties.

RentNet

www.rentnet.com

San Francisco for Rent 

www.sf4rent.com

SF Real Estate Services 

www.sfrealestateservices.com

Saxe Real Estate 

www.saxerealestate.com

The Rental Source 

www.therentalsource.com

Trinity Properties 

www.trinity management.com – includes short-term housing for corporate clients.

East Bay/North Bay

Bay for Rent 

www.bay4rent.com

E-Housing

www.ehousing.com

Tenant Finders 

www.tenantfinders.com

Peninsula

Bay For Rent 

www.bay4rent.com

M&M Relocation Center 

www.rentnet.com

South Bay

Bay Area Rentals

www.bayarearentals.com

Rental Experts

www.rentalexperts.net

What To Expect

In San Francisco, it’s wise to arrive at every prospective rental prepared to write a deposit check to hold the property. Also bring a copy of your credit report for the building manager or leasing representative. Landlords will want references from your previous residences, as well as your basic employment information. They can request only nonsmokers, they can prohibit pets other than a working dog, and they can bar you from having overnight guests for more than a certain number of nights per year.

If asked to complete a rental application, have available the following information:

•         Current and former addresses

•         Current and past employment

•         Credit references

•         Copy of your credit report

•         Pet résumé that summarizes your pet’s best qualities

You may be charged a nonrefundable application fee to cover the cost of processing your application: running credit checks, verifying rental histories, etc. Properties also may charge an application deposit, which usually becomes part of a security deposit if the application is approved. If the application is declined, the application deposit usually is refunded.

Many apartment communities have strict policies regarding pets, often limiting them to 20 pounds and requiring a pet deposit. When outside, a pet must be kept on a leash and walked only in designated areas.

Apartment communities employ full-time maintenance people to handle repairs and perform preventive maintenance, with some offering 24-hour emergency repair services. If leasing from an owner, be sure to establish responsibilities for repairs and maintenance.