I found place to stay! I can finally stop spending 5+ hours a day poring through apartment listings. Although a studio is all I can safely budget for—these Bay area prices, even with these incredible rental concessions…—it looks quite spacious, and I’m already looking through Pinterest for décor ideas. It even has an in-unit washer and dryer—bless.
On a broader note though, searching for apartments virtually has been an absolute mission. Oakland is supposedly similar to Baltimore: gentrification is rapid and perceived safety varies considerably by block. I’m lucky to know folks who live in the area and could help narrow down my search, but I think I still looked at over 20 buildings on my short-list, and ended up needing to create a spreadsheet (now available on my Resources page) to organize it all. I also appreciate how virtual tours allowed me to visit multiple complexes in a more condensed timeframe; it made comparing between places a bit easier. Looking back, I can’t believe I managed it 5 years ago when I literally signed my lease the day I flew into Baltimore, sight unseen.
With that box finally checked off my list, I can now get started on other things:
- Transferring my car title
- Updating my driver’s license
- Scouring for car (and rental) insurance
- Ordering a cashier’s check for move-in
- Hunting for internet providers
It’s all coming together, and wow are things getting real.
