I’d say I’m averaging 6 hours per day looking for the purr-fect Bezerkeley rental. In fact, I just slapped down $325 for an ad in the Daily Californian, only to discover that the pricey paste-up landed in the Daily CLOG SECTION, about 5 pages into the rag. (Well it’s the Internet version, so it’s still a bunch of mouse clicks to get to a student blog pile-up) Basically, I’m COMPETING with eager beaver brainiacs to find a place in the “right part of town.” Might that be Arch, Spruce, Oxford, Bonita, La Conte, La Loma, Milvia, etc.—or the whole Gourmet Ghetto?–with easy access to.
Did I say “ghetto?”–Apparently NOT what I associate with certain neighborhoods in New York City, my birthplace.
In so many words, my reserved box on Daily CAL with ” CLASSICAL PIANIST, CAT , GROWN DAUGHTER, and PIANO,” is a threat to the well-being of most landlords, that is, if I’m a renter in perpetuity. (No rent hikes for the next—–years) Fill in the blank. Did someone say “rent control?”
Go somewhere else! No Cats, besides!
A realtor friend in the know, tried to head off a housing blunder by e-mailing ahead of my inquiry. (It was an in-law set–up ABOVE ground, just a stone’s throw from the GHETTO)
“Don’t worry, this neat and clean lady is seeking a short-term rental– Has plans to buy in a year.”
Translation: She won’t get too cozy, or frame her “Home Sweet Home” embroidery on the wall.
And what about the grown daughter?
Not a boon to any rental application–with one exception–If she racked up 60K per annum.
How may other adult children had moved back with their parents as a safe haven from financial disaster.
Did I say “parents?”
In Berzerkeley, I was on the right side of the rental candidate curve, having no significant other–gay or straight–but only if I promised not to PARTY or ransack the place.
Wait a minute! The same landlord would take a student over me who partied all night.
No doubt the tenant would be pot-sniffing at a new location in less than a year. (automatic rent hike!)–while I practiced Chopin Mazurkas by candlelight.
He’d be bound for one of the Co-ops–like the infamous Cloyne Court on Ridge, with communal refrigerators leaking rotten vegetables. (I recalled the sickening aroma when two of my CAL kids lived there)
I’d be sipping a Ginseng/Green Tea sunburst cocktail while listening to Glenn Gould’s “Goldberg Variations.” Who could care less?
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In summary, I’m willing to reward FREE, life-long piano lessons to the first home finder who lands me a nice place with the following specs:
700 Sq. ft min.–prefer North Berkeley or Westbrae–not anywhere near Tilden or Wild Canyon.. no Arlington or Kensington.
Must be BART accessible!
Can be a cottage, or in-law (not underground and musty) that affords freedom to practice without complaint at designated, civilized hours.
And finally, a cat and grown daughter must be part of the package without threat of eviction for including them in my living arrangement. For the digs, I’m willing to pay $1600 per month, though I’d prefer to shell out $1500.
ME: High Credit score, Excellent refs–former homeowner for 25 years to 2005–immaculate rental history following. Oberlin grad and the rest.
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Back to my floating Daily CAL ad that appears and disappears in a heart beat.
If you spot it on the fly, click it fast enough to obtain contact info.
But just in case you have eye-hand coordination problems, here’s my e-mail address: shirley_kirsten@yahoo.com
For bio info, click: http://elcerrito.patch.com/users/shirley-kirsten
Link: (More about my Bizarre Bezerkeley housing adventure in its colicky infant stage)
http://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/on-the-berkeley-housing-trail-eugene-oneill-style/
In search of the purr-fect Berkeley Rental 