Looking for affordable rent close to Los Altos (HELP) (San Jose: real estate, 2014)

[Khromchenko13]

Hello everyone!!
I gonna study in Portnov Computer School which is right by the Whole Foods Market in Los Altos from January till April 2014. I've try to look at the craglist but didn't find much rooms around 500$. My budget is not really big to afford a room for more that same 500. Maybe some of you knows where to look or knows somebody who can rent or share a room for that much money.
I am non-smoker and non-drinker from intelligent and hardworking family. Always keep my place clean and can keep whole the house clean if necessary.
Regards

[sonarrat]

Try San Jose. You can take the limited-stop 522 bus from downtown right to where you'll be studying.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Try San Jose. You can take the limited-stop 522 bus from downtown right to where you'll be studying.

...cuz you ain't getting anything around Los Altos even approaching affordable (it's comparable to Beverly Hills)

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

...cuz you ain't getting anything around Los Altos even approaching affordable (it's comparable to Beverly Hills)

The low-rent part of Mountain View is next to the school, but even low rent in Mountain View is upwards of $1500 minimum.

[Azmordean]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

The low-rent part of Mountain View is next to the school, but even low rent in Mountain View is upwards of $1500 minimum.

OP was looking to rent a single room, not an entire apartment. Given that, under $1000 is certainly doable, though under $500 is probably tough anywhere in Mountain View.

One place to check may be in Santa Clara near Santa Clara University. Santa Clara is much cheaper than Mountain View, Sunnyvale, or Los Altos, and with a plethora of students it may be possible to find a "cheap room" situation more easily. As mentioned, you could take the bus to your school as its right up El Camino.

Further west in Santa Clara may be an option too, and I think it runs slightly cheaper, though there are less students so probably less "rooming" options.

[Khromchenko13]

Do i need to avoid some places between Los Altos and San Jose?

[SportyandMisty]

Originally Posted by Khromchenko13

Do i need to avoid some places between Los Altos and San Jose?

If your concern is price, yes, there are some sections of San Jose that will be too expensive for you.

If your concern is crime, yes, there are some sections that could be a problem. A good dose of common sense goes a long way in keeping yourself out of trouble.

see for example CrimeReports Map

[Khromchenko13]

Thanks everybody!!!

[zitsky]

I also suggest the idea of looking for a room and using the 22 bus to get around. I used to live in/near the bad parts of Mountain View. I was close enough that you could hear the gunfire at night. Avoid the area of Latham between Escuela and Rengstorff. (I was on Rengstorff.)

If you look at Craigslist, it looks like MV rooms are almost $1,000. Could be cheaper down the peninsula.

[fashionguy]

I am wondering whether that area is still that bad with mountain view's real estate and rent skyrocketing these days. I know several friends living in the Latham Court apartments due to its proximity to work, an the rent there is not cheap.

Originally Posted by zitsky

I also suggest the idea of looking for a room and using the 22 bus to get around. I used to live in/near the bad parts of Mountain View. I was close enough that you could hear the gunfire at night. Avoid the area of Latham between Escuela and Rengstorff. (I was on Rengstorff.)

If you look at Craigslist, it looks like MV rooms are almost $1,000. Could be cheaper down the peninsula.