Rental Housing

Image of house key on rental housing pageRental housing is not usually offered by Realtors or real estate agents here.  I know it’s unlike most parts of the U.S., but here most houses, townhouses, or condos which are available to rent or lease are offered “for rent by owner”.  Once in awhile there are properties for lease or rent on the Multiple Listing Service.  You can find them at http://mlslistings.com.  But most will be found via Craigslist.

Rental housing resources

Here’s my best list of rental housing websites:

Bay Rentals – http://www.bayrentals.com This is a service you pay for.

Other resources:

Craigslist – http://sfbay.craigslist.org – houses, townhouses, condominiums (best resource)
Zillow – http://www.zillow.com/ – click on “Rent” tab – mixed housing types
MLSListings – http://www.MLSListings.com – very few listings of rentals, but all legit!
Rent Diggs – http://www.RentDigs.com
Trulia – http://trulia.com – click on “Rent” tab – mixed housing types (should be the same as Zillow)
Padmapper – https://www.padmapper.com – apartments
Prometheus – http://prometheusreg.com – apartments
ApartmentList – https://www.apartmentlist.com/ – apartments

Other options

What about furnished properties? Everyone is familiar with Air B & B and VRBO for short term stays.

Furnished homes, short or longer term: https://zeusliving.com/

Please also see our article on  “Short term housing

Beware of rental housing scams

 

Please note!Please beware that there are many scams around rentals.

Be extremely careful!  Some scams ask for money upfront, before you can even see the property.

Many of these homes are actually for sale, so Google the address to check.

 

 

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