What is the process to rent an apartment for a 19 year old in the SF bay area?

Question

I am looking to rent a room/apartment/townehouse with my boyfriend. We're both 19 year old students who work. I make about 700 or so a month and he makes 1600 (he just works more hours =P ) So paying for an apartment is not a problem because a lot of the places around here for a 1br is about 1200 or so. Of course, more glamorous places are around 1600.

I just wanted to know more about the renting process? Especially for someone who is young and doesn't established credit yet. I've only had a credit card since April 2008 and my bf never had one yet. I always pay a bit more than the minimum balance. I know I know.. I should be paying the whole thing off. Don't lecture about it. But my bank told me it doesn't make a difference with the credit rating if I pay the whole thing or just the minimum.

So about renting... would I need my mom to co-sign or what? People are telling me different things. My other friend who just got an apartment for college said her parents had to co-sign because she doesn't work. My other friend told me the same thing. It's based on income on whether or not that you need a co-signer. So it is about credit rating or income?

Please let me know. If there are anybody out there who rented a place when they were 18-20 years old... please let me know what you had to go through! thankkss!

Answer 1

I rented my first apartment at 18 in Walnut Creek and I just filled out the app and in a week I was approved and moving in. They wanted 1st and last months rent and a security deposit. I didn't have bad credit, and my only card at the time was Macy's since I worked there. I can't imagine needing a co-signer for an apartment but who knows with evictions on the rise, but that is mostly with homeowners. I would just go look at places and when you find one, work it out with the landlord. Good Luck!