How to find an apartment?

@Edited By Chu-Cheng, 2008.04.20

Housing rent spent in LA is expensive, especially around UCLA. For new students who are looking for living outside the campus, our advice is that, in addition to the price, also consider the location and security. Here are three considerations discussed in the following:

• Money (Truely inaccurate):

The personal financial situation is crucial for selecting your apartment.  The average life expense of the current Taiwanese students ranges from $400-700.  Here is provided a table giving a general idea about certain types to rent.
 

Type	Cooking	Parking	Rent	Furnished	P.S.
Living Room	*Yes	*No	$500-700	----	* uncertain
Studio	Yes	Yes	$750-1000	$1150+
One-Bedroom	Yes	Yes	$1300-1700	$1800+
Two-Bedroom	Yes	*Yes	$1800-2500	$3000+	* parking for 1 or 2   bathrm  for 1 or 2
Three-Bedroom	Yes	Yes	$2500-3000	$3500+	parking for 2 or 3   bathrm  for 2 or 3

• Location:

Considerations about location are if near school, near bus lines, and good neighborhood, and so on.  The following areas, where most Taiwanese students living on, are evaluated:
 

Area	Rent	Dist to UCLA	Neighborhood Safety	Bus Frequency	Living Convenience
Gayley & Tiverton	High	Walk	Good	No need	Fair
Veteran & Willshire	High	2-4 Bus Stops	Good	Frequent	Fair
Brentwood	High	20-30 Bus mins	Good	Fair	Good
Beverly Hill	High-Fair	25-35 Bus mins	Good-Fair	Fair	Good
Santa Monica &  West of 405	Fair	15-30 Bus mins	Fair	Fair	Good
National & Overland	Fair	30-40 Bus mins	Fair	Less Fair	Good
Palms & Culver City	Budget	35-50 Bus mins	fair	Less Fair	Good

• Security

Girls usually really care about security but guys also have to pay attention. Our suggestions are that don't live near supermarket since a lot of homelesses and drunk people will gather there, and go look the neighborhood during day and night time once you are interested in some apartment.   Most girls also seek a apartment with security gate.  But it's usually equipted in luxury apartments.

Here, we show you steps to find a apartment:

• Get here and stay in a temporary place.

• Gather information of apartment for rent -- look around, watch for email information, or go to rent agents.

Source : UCLA housing web, LA times, Bruin newspaper,TSA reclycler, renting office/website, craiglist

• Call them to make a appointment with the manager.

• Go take a look

• Negotiate and have a second thought.  If satisfied,  sign the lease.