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Rent higher here than Fresno. Cool, let's be snobs
The latest rent figures show that the average apartment rent in Bakersfield is higher than Fresno.
A real estate research firm with a great name, RealFacts, says the average rent in complexes of at least 100 units in Bakersfield was $822 during the fourth quarter of 2006. That puts Bakersfield 16th highest out of 26 California metropolitan areas, with Fresno 21st at $771 and Visalia-Porterville 19th at $782. Rents actually went down in Bakersfield from $834 in the third quarter. We're not in the big leagues. San Francisco is sporting a $1,996 average rent and Los Angeles has $1,614. But in 2003, I was paying under $600 a month for a two-bedroom apartment in northeast Bakersfield. That same apartment is now $750. I'm just feeling good we are a more exclusive city than Fresno. Posted by Steve E. Swenson 10 comments from 8 users
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posted by
jbaldwin
on Jan 18, 2007 at 09:23 PM
I fondly remember renting a one-bedroom studio apartment in Berkeley in 2002 for $1,000 a month. And the year before, I had three roommates in a three-bedroom apartment in Berkeley for $2,300 a month.Ah, the price you pay to live among the liberals. Luckily, this conservative valley town is also cheap! Cheap enough that I bought a house! Forget renting ... posted by
anonymous
on Jan 19, 2007 at 07:26 AM
Since I moved here in Sept 2006, rent for houses in what I called 'crappy' areas has increased about $200 more a month. I believe its because these people that bought houses to make money is now crying.
I do not buy houses, I only rent. Why? Because my husbands job moves us around and we have about a month to be in our new location. To buy a house, the process is too long. Its not snobs, its greedy and stupidity. posted by
NancyII
on Jan 19, 2007 at 07:34 AM
When I moved out of my 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath townhouse almost 10 years ago, the rent was $430. It had a patio and small fenced yard. Now my grandson and his wife are renting a nice apartment, 2 bedroon and 1 bath with no patio or yard and are paying $700 a month for it. They looked high and low but the rent was a lot higher every where else so they took this one. Their plan was to rent as cheaply as possible to save money to buy a home. I'm amazed at the cost of an apartment these days. It just shows how things have changed in the rental world as well as the cost of buying.
posted by
rzaroch
on Jan 19, 2007 at 11:04 AM
How is paying more for rent giving you a good feeling?
what a crappy way to be exclusive these would be better: Bakersfield air now cleaner than Fresno's Local culture thriving better than Fresno Fresno students flock to CSUB these would be cool, paying more for rent...hell no...I pay 625 for 2 beds and i bath, cheap but its a cheap ass apartment and the toilet leaks and it is in the GHETTO...but I love being around the less wealthy, the lower middle class and such...a lot more down to earth... posted by
anonymous
on Jan 19, 2007 at 11:27 AM
I got divorced in late 2000. I hadn't gotten on my feet yet, when I ran across a lovely little house for $80,000. I was also driving a vehicle with 190,000 miles on it. So, I decided the best thing to do was wait until I was a little more financially stable and had replaced my vehicle with something more reliable. Biggest mistake I ever made! The following year, the prices started to skyrocket. Now, the only thing you can get for $80,000 is a 20-year old mobile home. And there's no way that I'll ever be able to afford a $250,000 mortgage. And by the way, that lovely little house just sold again recently for over $300,000.
posted by
TomW
on Jan 19, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Rents have gone up for a number of reasons, mainly because so many people who want to buy a house can't. We all need someplace to live, so if you raise the housing prices you'll raise the rent as well. In a year or so, rents will come back down as housing prices fall and more renters can afford houses. Unfortunately, it'll be on the backs of foreclosures.
posted by
anonymous
on Jan 19, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Wow, jbaldwin, you must make A LOT of money! Wow, you bought a house! And we know you didn't buy it in 1995! WOW! You lived in San Francisco!
Housing, be it renting or owning, is terribly high for most people in this town, because the salaries don't match the cost of living. Renting does have many advantages, particularly if you are single and don't want to buy into something that could turn into a money pit. Read up on it. Home ownership is not for everyone. However, there are plenty of people who want to own a home that just can't. So YOU, jbaldwin, are one of the lucky ones. I bet you have a gardener too. And maybe a maid. Gee, everything is so CHEAP here...... posted by
TomW
on Jan 19, 2007 at 01:00 PM
To put it in perspective anny , a 1 bedroom condo in the Berkeley/Oakland area starts at 300,000. Most houses start at 450. A 2000 sqft house runs about 700+ depending on location.
posted by
jbaldwin
on Jan 19, 2007 at 03:29 PM
Unfortunately, anonymous, I don't have a maid or a gardener. I bought a lovely old Craftsman in Oleander with a no-money-down, interest-only loan of $235K and I'm restoring it myself. I haven't paid a single person and so far the living room is as far as I've gotten. Check out my handiwork at my blog, http://people.bakersfield.c...I did move to Bakersfield from Berkeley specifically because of the affordability. For the record, I make an annual salary of $40K. posted by
natek77
on Mar 7, 2008 at 12:24 PM
You're ignoring the more important fact that Fresno's home values are higher. Its a more desirable place to live, that's why.
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