Good apartment deal in Silicon Valley

[SeiyaMan]

LilBlinbBlahIce, you mean $505 per person right? where's this, UC, sterling, melrose... the free ethernet sucked big time, modem speed at best:| oh yeah, the apartments are furnished.

 

[docinthebox]

Just checked today's Sunday paper. The Enclave studio deal got even better:

$1175/month
free rent until July (basically means 1 month (June) free).

That's a pretty good deal I think. If you can get a 7-month (6 months + 1 month free) lease, then it works out to be $1007/month.

If you have to lease for a year to get the 1 month free, then it works out to $1085 which is still not bad.

 

[Optical]

Just a sign of the time. People are getting laid off left and right here. For my company, we have got thru 4 (yes, 4) lay offs so far this year. I would be surprised be if I could last for the rest of the year. The gold rush is definitely over, all.

 

[XFreebie]

build your own cardboard castle apartments, contact david blaine for help

if u dont like where u live, u can always move, once the contract is up

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

Originally posted by: SeiyaMan
LilBlinbBlahIce, you mean $505 per person right? where's this, UC, sterling, melrose... the free ethernet sucked big time, modem speed at best:| oh yeah, the apartments are furnished.

Per person at Jefferson Commons. The Ethernet sucked, the management sucked, but like you said, it was furnished and we had our own bathrooms. Screw Riverside, I'm heading back to West Campus.

 

[TekDemon]

Heh I thought the prices were higher in the bay area but I guess they've really fallen. These prices don't really sound expensive to me though lol...have been through the apartment hunting process in new york city, and a good apartment in Manhattan runs about the same. On the other hand, I think the bay area might have been higher at peak(unless you wanted to live in some seriously nice neighborhoods here, in which case that's your problem)

 

[Braxus]

Dang... didn't know it was that bad around here... Looks like I'll be living with my parents for a while as there is no way that I can afford a apartment with me being a newbie to the working world soon. I thought studios were around 650-750...

Guess the only that you can really live comfy around here is if you already own a home or something... We got a 15yr morgage here @ ~$700/mo and will be paying it off this summer. Isn't one of those new huge modern "box sytled" homes but it's decent.

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Damn the cost of living in Silicon Valley is outrageous.

$1250 per month can get you a brand new townhouse (not apartment, it's sort of like a condo) here in Portland, OR. 3-4 bedrooms, lots of sq footage, 2 full bathrooms, high ceilings, washer/dryer/a/c, everything.

If you had good credit you could buy a house and pay $1250 a month in mortgage, 30 years later you'd own the house.

Yeah and the rain comes free every day... all day for 8 month out of the year.

 

[pecel]

So expensive over there.
Right now I pay $472/month for 2 bedroom apartment.
All Bills Paid + T1 Connection.

It's good deal

 

[CFI]

Oklahoma City. Corner lot with almost semi circle drive, fully fenced, boat storage area (which I don't use, ought to rent it out), 18xx sqaure feet, 3br, 2 ba, home office, 2 car garage, shower stall and BIG bathtub in master, paid 95K in 1998. built in 1990 or 1992 I forget. You do the math but it's like $8xx a month. Our actual mortgage is less than $800, though. Also, patio in the back with partial coverage.

Not a bad area though I suspect someone stole my solar garden accent lights. COULD have been those 50mph winds from that storm a few days ago I guess. >

Oke City's not too bad, could be a lot worse. BB, TRU, all the big chains. Dallas is 3 hours or less if you just HAVE to get to a Fry's. I have a friend at a certain store who does reasonable price matches for me from there sometimes.

 

[Boomer2]

What's supposedly so great about Silicon Valley that people put up with the crap? (e.g. ridiculous commute, unownably-priced housing, etc.) According to Homestore.com's salary calculator, I make in Phoenix the equivalent of $175,612 in San Jose. My commute is 10 minutes and I own a 3-bedroom house with a big yard and a view of the mountains. I worked my first 45+ hour week for the first time in a year.

So why are people killing themselves to live in Silicon Valley? Really...I'd like to know. I just don't see anything that would be worth it.

 

[jimmygates]

Wow prices have really dropped.


I used to live in the Colonades in San Jose. My rent was $1500 a month for 1 bed 1 bath. Also I had to pay for water, trash, and utilities.


At $1250, that would have been a hot deal!



-Jimbo

 

[geckojohn]

Hey,

I'll be moving to San Jose in a few months and I'm looking for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment near the downtown area... I'm looking to spend under $950. Do you think this is possible? Any recommendations or suggestions?

Thanks,

geckojohn

 

[docinthebox]

I live in Silicon Valley because I love software/computer engineering and this is where the action is. I mean if you're interested in OS, what's more exciting than to work for Sun extending the Solaris kernel. If you're interested in database, you can go work for Oracle improving the database engine. If you're interested in routing, go work for Cisco or Juniper implementing routing protocols in embedded software for routers. If you're a computer architecture person, work for AMD or Intel. I just can't think of any other place that's quite like Silicon Valley in this respect.

Other advantages of living here include sunshine most of the year and yet skiing/snow within driving distance (Lake Tahoe). Beautiful surroundings (eg. Yosemite, Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz). And, as I realize recently, the convenience of being able to RMA most hardware (eg. video card, hard drive) by driving there in person and handing the faulty hardware to the company (eg. I did that with my Elsa video card and my IBM drive. Both RMA addresses happen to be in the Bay Area.)

Actually, housing is about the only thing here that's much more expensive than other parts of the country. Most other things (eg. food, clothes etc.) are pretty affordable.

 

[Optical]

I have to agree, it's a techology mega but the companies are going out (aka "under") fast. There are a lot of talented people here looking for a job, so I seriously doubt they are looking for new comers.

So so true on the RMA thing, I work next Lexar, VA Linux, Dazzle and a bunch of others. That was one cool thing about working here. Hopefully, I don't have to return anything.

The main reason that drove me up here was for the stock options which is worth crap now. Yes, I do like the technology but this is overall not an affordable environment compared to the rest of America. Who wants to live in a dinky apartment especially with a family (like me). Even with this market dump, "ok" looking houses here start around $500K (about 1200 sq. ft or so). Yes, you can get them cheaper if you willing to commute for 2 hrs. You have to at least come up with about $100K cash for down pay to get a decent monthly mortgage. A regular house for rest of america (2000 sq. +) can easy cost from 600K to 1Million+! And don't expect to expect to have Brat Pitt as your neighbor.

Silicon Valley is not the only place in town on technology, companies are decentralizing from SV and are opening divisions in varies cities around the country. One thing you left out is the gas prices here. It's always hooving around 1.85 - 2.15 depending on the area. That is a big cost factor for commuters and a shock for outsiders.

If I could do it again, I would probably stayed away from SV. I just don't think it's worth it. A normal work shift is around 12-16 hrs/day and people don't complain about it. It's the freaking norm here. For those that are attracted to the exciting world of SV, I would highly recommend them to revalue the current life style vs. life in SV. It's not as rosy as you think. Jobs are available elsewhere with the same challenge/pay if you look around.

It's probably more ideal for the single folks since they are more willing working the crazy hours. Personally, I've been burnt out and not a whole lot to show for (financially) after 2 yrs here.

 

[IgorTs]

$1125 for a nice 2 badrooms in West San Jose. I believeit's reasonable price.

 

Hmm....I don't feel so bad now, of course I'm not in Silicon Valley either! My 2 story 2 bedroom, 2 bath, one office townhome is only $600/month. Big kitchen, and fireplace. Heck, I even have a huge back porch w/ privacy fencing and a decent sized fenced in yard. The only down side is my new neighbors (2 guys in their 50's) get drunk and sing Kareoke to the same Cher CD over, and over, and over...

What's funny is they built some 1 bedroom, 1 office homes right behind me (before that it was secluded by really cool oaks, but now there's two hot chicks behind me, so the trees can go!) and the rent on those is $800, for pretty much only half of what I get!!

 

[Lucky]

<---Has a three bedroom, 1 bath 1500 square foot apt. to himself in a downtown scene surrounded by clubs and bars.
<upside> I only pay $650/month rent.
<downside> Its in southern ohio.