Hunting for apartments in San Jose, CA

When I first moved to San Jose, I had no idea where to look for apartments. I looked online and tried to find some advice, but I felt pretty much on my own when I set out for housing. I didn't really know anyone in the area and had never really been there before, so driving around was pretty daunting.

The first apartment complex we moved into was pretty expensive because it was in Silicon Valley and they were very nice. However, they ended up getting too expensive and we had to move. We found a pretty nice complex in West San Jose and they were much cheaper, but we learned soon after that people had been murdered in the rooms.

Here are so little tips I managed to scrounge up if you're looking for apartments:

• The expensive places are up north: Silicon Valley are where the people make a lot of money. My friends up there made at least $800 a month and their apartments ran around $1,500 for one bedroom, $2,000 for two. A lot of the complexes are so nice, with air conditioning and heating, great views, clean kitchens with all the appliances, and so on. We were on the fourth floor, in the corner of the complex, so it was always quiet and the scenery was nice. However, our apartment was $1,600 a month... too much for one bedroom. For that matter, South San Jose is also more expensive near Los Gatos; good schools and more can be found there, not to mention some absolutely beautiful homes.
• If you're looking for something cheaper, check out places near colleges or the eastside. There tends to be somewhat more crime on the eastside. Check out apartments near Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, and San Jose City College, where you can find some student-price-range places. They also have great access to public transportation. West San Jose is a great place to look for this.
• Downtown San Jose is generally pretty expensive, with high-priced lofts and condos in the $300,000 to $500,000 range. Parking is also pretty terrible. However, there are little houses and small places right on the outside of downtown that are cheaper; many students live in those areas, so they tend to be louder with parties and such.
• Most places in San Jose are pet-friendly, but you'll likely have to pay a deposit.
• Definitely check out craigslist for some great deals. That's how we found our last apartment.
• It can be worth it to find someone else to room with; you can get a very nice two-bedroom (or more) place and split the rent for a pretty decent price. While one bedroom might cost $1,500, only $300-500 more can mean one more room, and another to share can make it affordable.
• There are a number of affordable houses for rent near downtown and college areas. Many people put places up for rent year-round, and this could be a great time to search.

Please pitch in if you have more tips for housing in San Jose!