Living a summer in California

[GingerNinja]

I have a friend living in Santa Clara this summer for an internship he took. Here's been looking around on Craigslist for awhile and he's been struggling to find anywhere that will take him from May to August.

He has $1200 a month from his company plus another $500ish a month from his moving bonus. Does anyone have more experience with finding housing in the Bay Area? He was looking for help and this is the one spot that I know had all the answers.

 

[carvers4math]

Did he already check local colleges for summer housing only? Son had an internship in Wichita and WSU was offering their campus apartments. He didn't do it as he found a less expensive option. Also seems like the employer should have info on similar options or apartments that will do a three month lease.

 

[ianoconnor]

I agree, ask the employer for recommendations. If they've had interns before they should have an idea of where to look.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Sounds like the Bay area is a ***** for housing.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/...ured-eastward-as-home-prices-head-6764475.php

"While the escalation has been dramatic, the East Bay is still a bargain compared with San Francisco, where the median three-bedroom single-family home goes for $1.47 million and the median price for all residential units is $1.1 million."

 

[isukendall]

Good luck.

 

[GingerNinja]

Yeah he's talked to colleges and they're full and he's talked to his employer and they aren't much help. He might just have to use the money to buy a camper and become a hippy.

 

[carvers4math]

Has he looked into extended stay motels? The cost might be bad in that area.

 

[cybychoice]

Stay farther away and commute? I would have to assume there is a train the could get him close?

 

[Buster28]

AirBnB will often have long-term rentals available. I know I have seen them frequently up around Berkeley. I have no idea what the pricing is around Santa Clara, but might be worth it to see what there is.

 

[Wesley]

How about a four man apartment?

 

[Lyddea]

I have a friend living in Santa Clara this summer for an internship he took. Here's been looking around on Craigslist for awhile and he's been struggling to find anywhere that will take him from May to August.

He has $1200 a month from his company plus another $500ish a month from his moving bonus. Does anyone have more experience with finding housing in the Bay Area? He was looking for help and this is the one spot that I know had all the answers.

$1700 a month can, maybe, get him a bottom-of-the-market 1BR apartment in Santa Clara, although probably not for just 4 months. Things get cheaper moving in to San Jose, and in South San Jose he'd be able to find something. However, commuting north from South San Jose is not fun.

If its just the summer, he's best off looking for a room or a roommate/sublet situation. IMO over short time periods saving the hassle of a big commute is worth sharing a living space.

 

[GingerNinja]

Thanks for all the help everyone hopefully all of this helps.

 

[carvers4math]

Google employs a ton of people in that area, wonder if their HR people could give you some tips? Or some other large employer.

 

[TOFB4ISU]

My son pays $3700/mo for a pretty nice but no frills 5 br house in Santa Cruz.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I can see that the COL hasn't improved in the Bay area since I lived there in the early 80s. Houses that we could afford to buy were halfway to Sacramento. Moved here (with a substantial pay-cut) and bought a house within three months. Reason #16879614664414516541687614 why I LOVE Iowa.

 

[cloneluke80]

do this:

http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-berkowitz-bedroom-pod-in-san-francisco-2016-3

or this:

http://qz.com/524138/rent-is-so-hig...t-im-a-software-engineer-and-i-live-in-a-van/

I would be all over either of those as they would make the experience that much more exciting and a better story later in life.