Saturday tradition....

Every saturday morning as i'm on my way to work, i grab my copy of the OC Post from the driveway of my mom's house, pile in the car and drive... Normally after i do a bit of "work" ... then i grab my paper and go straight to the coupons section and start clipping away... but the last couple of weeks i've found myself looking to make sure that there are homes for rent in the area that fit in with my budget. I figure with home prices lowering, and with myself moving out in a year, its definently time i really start hunting to make sure there are places out there that I can afford.

I want to keep my rent under $700 when i move out... so i have cash for utilies too... which i really have no idea how much i'll need for that... i think i'll ask my mom what her bills are... (we live with 3 ppl... it might be a good way to estimate)

So... what did i find... [Assuming the adds arn't lying and these places are decent (i'm not calling the numbers and asking more info because i'm not planning on moving out and i really don't want to give these people a false sense of hope.] A total of three places. *=best option, **= 2nd best choice, ***= 3rd best option

• **1 townhome--- in a near by city, The commute wouldn't be that bad. It's a 3 bedroom, 3 bath which is why it rings in at number 2... no bathroom sharing is always a plus. It's also an end unit so that means a bigger yard or patio and more privacy. It has a garage so that will help with parking... but if we took this place we would probably have to get a parking pass for the third person. fireplace, AC, patio, and a quiet location. $1900.00 a month (633 a month per person)...
• ***1 penthouse condo---in the same near by city as the second place... and while the add says its walking distance to a lake and lots of shopping centers and schools, this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, only has a 1 car garage which definently means shelling out cash for parking and finding parking... not to mention the hassel when friends come by to hang out. It's "upgraded" and is going for $2000 a month ($666 a month per person)... it takes the third spot because it technically fits in... but i don't think i would actually move in and take it... the 1 car garage part suxs.
• *1 refurbished home--- This place is the best of the three because its located in the city i currently work and live in and it fits the requirements (3bed/2bath). It's an actual home which makes me happier because there is generally more privacy and there will be places to park along the street... but it has a large yard, which means a gardner will have to be hired... or i get to experiment with the lawn mower again and my green thumb. [i used to mow the lawns when i was in high school for my mom cause she didn't want to hire a gardner and she couldn't do it herself... eventually i bailled cause i was getting all that crap in my lungs and it was horrible... but i could do it if i had to] Fireplace, AC, new paint and carpet, 2 car garage, $1875 a month ($625 per person) ------it had a web site... and i think its already taken. (not like i was planning on taking it in the first place)

I also poped on by the rooms for rent section... and i also found three places.

• Its a condo to share with a perfect stranger... and share a bathroom (1 1/4 bath)... dunno what "hrdwd"means... or what "W/D" means... but it has a fireplace, a yard, and i'd have to pay half the utilities. 650 a month... location wise, this is best but the bathroom thing gives me the creeps... its like living in the dorms all over again.
• 3 brd townhouse, 1 mile from the beach with pool, jac, spa, and tennis courts.... (which means theres an association fee) its 650 a month and a 1/3 of the utilites.
• then in the same beach city theres a bedroom in a home... full privileges... includes utilites and is close to the beach for 650... This is the best bet i think... but its kind of far away.... i'd be leaving for work at like 4:30-4:30am!!!

Its a start in the research that will hopefully get me on my way to my own place.