dissapointed and frustrated...

[thoreau]

All of the places I went and interviewed at this past weekend - chose other renters. Even the one where she emailed me back after meeting me and told me I was "at the top of her list, but she had to honor other appointments." All of them might have worked out as tremendous opportunities to lower my monthlies and get a firmer grasp on my checkbook. I really don't want to call my landlord and retract my notice... I really need this to happen. I thought it was going to be a whole lot easier. when I got the fourth and final "well I picked someone else to roommate with me" email - I nearly lost it.

I have a great stable job - a great quiet low impact dog - and well. fuck it all. I just wish the world was a little less expensive. I'll start looking in East Bay this weekend.

Comments

[jhitchin.livejournal.com]

Is this the rental version of "You have a heart the size of Texas"?

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

basically - yes. and it's just as infuriating. the lady up on twin peaks rented to a dog walker who offered to walk her dog as part of the rental agreement.

[jhitchin.livejournal.com]

Oh, I get it now. You have to offer incentives to the person renting the room. Hm... what kind of incentive could you offer... Hm....

[bootedintexas.livejournal.com]

texas is my department.

but bob does have a big heart.

[eireangus.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry to hear this! The SF rental market is so nuts!!! Have you thought about the peninsula? Keep on going, even though I know it's tough.

[snapperboy.livejournal.com]

How very frustrating this must be. That said, I am amazed at your positive outlook and perseverance. You are very inspiring to me.

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

I totally forgot about this, but have you tried an apartment hunter? They are usually free, and that is how Phil and I found our place on Church! There are a few of them in town and I bet you can find a 1 bdrm in your price range!

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

http://www.easyroommate.com/ looks good. So does http://www.roommates.com/ - you should check them out before moving across the Bay.

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

http://www.apartmenthunterz.com/ has small 1 bedrooms listed around the price you were looking for. So does http://www.rent.com/rentals/california/san-francisco/san-francisco/

Hopefully this will help.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

this is really very sweet of you :) thanks. I'll keep you posted. I just got really down this morning. when all six of the places I looked at over the weekend went 'elsewhere'. :(

[whatuttercrap.livejournal.com]

I know that most people consider the San Leandro/Haward area just west of the Nevada State Line, but you can find some brilliant apartments over there on the cheap. I had a wonderful 2 bdrm apartment that was a 10 minute drive from BART for only $750 a month.

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

Sorry it's turning into such a hassle for you - it sounded like it would be easy with that first twin peaks apt. Well, I believe in Karma - none of those were meant to be; the right one will come along and it will be absolutely FABULOUS!

eHugs!

[trulygrateful.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I've missed something, but let me question something here: did you give notice to your landlord BEFORE you started looking (or even found) a place to go to? I was under the impression that you just about had something lined-up.

Putting one's self into that situation is totally unheard of here in NYC and I would imagine it's pretty much the same in SF also. You're fortunate, if I understand what you've written correctly, that at least you have the potential to renig on the verbal agreement with your landlord.

Anyone legit that's looking for a roommate will accept thirty days notice, as should your landlord for moving out (though landlord's are not required to take thirty days; some can take ninety as a minimum).

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

my lease states 30 days notice - so I gave in on May 1st. thinking I'd have time to find a new place to move to. Which I will. the way my lease works is - no 1/2 months - so 30days notice from the 1st of the month is the only option. I've been looking at different neighborhoods to move to - and I have to get out of my apartment. When the rent went up in February it came to $1800 a month or within a couple hundred dollars of 1/2 my monthly income. and while I could stay there - I spend two weeks out of the month basically sitting at home reading and not having any life whatsoever - and I'm not saving at a decent rate at all. I'm living very close to paychecktopaycheck and that simply won't do any longer. I have larger plans for how/where I want my money to go.

so - yes - I gave notice on my apartment. because I will have a new place to move to by May 31. I thought hte roomie option in the city was the right choice - but after nearly 5 different room-mate situation interviews going to other folks - it looks now like I'll prolly be moving east bay and remaining living with just me and Miss Kate.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

I discussed with several friends before I did it - and it was teh right jump to take. I was petrified to do it - but it makes me make teh change rather than cruising a bit on craigslist at room-mates and doing nothing (like I've been doing since the rent went up in February)

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

Was the rent increase more than 2%? Seldom do any of my tenants move out for 2%. Anything more than 2% is illegal.

Contrary to popular opinion you don't ever have to leave your apartment, notice or not. The notice will get your deposit back, but nothing in the rent ordinance says you have to end your tenancy even if you change your mind five times. To enforce a "half month" rule would be an illegal rent increase, so that's bogus too. It would be kind to keep your landlord informed however. We had a tenant decide not to leave today, with the new tenant's moving van in the driveway. Legal, but not very nice to anyone. Your landlord cannot force you to leave as long as you pay the rent, they cannot enforce a half month rule either. San Francisco is a whole 'nuther animal.

http://www.sfgov.org/site/rentboard_index.asp

IMHO, you have a great apartment, in a couple of years it will seem like a bargain, hell it is a bargain now. Give it up and you'll never get anything like it again when your income goes up a bit.

[nudewoody.livejournal.com]

It is the law of supply and demand combined with rent control. I know that doesn't help matters. I wish you success. I have to agree with placeintheheart. I wouldn't have given notice until I had something lined up.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

every single place I look at - is renting immediately. I would have to have paid double rent to secure a place - and those funds aren't available.

I had to give notice - so I'd have funds free to pay deposit and such on a NEW apartment for June 1 - since the deposit on my current apartment will be refunded "within 21 days of tenancy."

[septimuswarren.livejournal.com]

Sorry, baby. I know how rough that can be.

[balanceinchaos.livejournal.com]

Wife and I felt that way a couple months ago when we tried to locate a place that wasn't a postage stamp, wasn't creepy, was willing to take pets, and was within our budget. It will happen, sometimes you just have to look in unexpected places.

*hug*

[surewood31.livejournal.com]

Your apartment hunt ia bout the same as my job hunt.

Hang in there. I have to honestly believe that just when things are darkest, light will shine.

[broduke2000.livejournal.com]

Too bad you ain't an "official" minority.

I took that up with the FCC one year at a convention. Hundreds of straight, white radio station owners in the audience.

(I could tell you the outcome, but I'm being told that it's better that I post my experiences in my own journal, where 1-2 people may actually respond)