Housing Resources

 

 

Please click HERE to access the google doc version of this document

 

Pros and Cons of living location 

 

Davis

Outside of Davis

Pros

1. Close to Campus

2. Save money on transportation

3. More chance to socialize

1. More Diversity

2. More Option of Lease (other than 12-month)

3. Close to Shopping Centers

4. More Parking Spot

Cons

1. Mostly only offer 12-month lease

2. Hard to shop

3. Less Parking Spot

1. Far from Campus

2. Have to Spend time and money to commute

 

How to know if the listing is a scam? 

  1. Low monthly rent
  2. Watermarked images
  3. Will only communicate via Email
  4. Asks for personal information via Email only, and does not have a service to run credit or verification of information
  5. Asks for a wire transfer of first months rent and security deposit, and the destination is usually out of the country
  6. They will promise to mail you the keys when the wire clears

 

How to be more cautious?

  1. Do a title search to see who the names of the actual homeowners are on title 
  2. Verify the owner of the apartment.
  3. Check the apartment in person
  4. Never pay cash
  5. View online reviews with suspicion
  6. Consider using broker

 

Websites to look at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1721160937978388

https://www.facebook.com/groups/763250590497811

https://www.facebook.com/groups/355514867958404

https://www.facebook.com/groups/335826596627749

https://localwiki.org/davis/Rental_Housing_Guide

https://siss.ucdavis.edu/off-campus-housing







 

Where To Start Looking:

  • It’s best to first narrow down living location based on the neighborhood you want to live in and then look through possible living arrangements
  • Below is a series of different regions of Davis followed by apartment complexes in the area

 

Housing Locations:

North Davis:

This area has the most options, and is generally the most convenient to live in after the near campus options in terms of nearby food and transportation. Many of the apartments in this area are relatively clean and nice to live in. There is a shopping mall nearby with a CVS, Safeway, and several other stores and restaurants. It’s largely students so you will be living around many of your peers. Unitrans has the G, F, B, and J lines that run in this area.

  • Chaparral Apartments
  • Temescal Apartments
  • Pepperwood
  • Fountain Circle
  • Almondwood Apartments
  • La Salle
  • Drake Apartments
  • Drake and Anderson Court Apartments
  • Chautauqua Apartments
  • Sterling Pointe Apartments
  • Aggie Square
  • Hanover Place Apartments
  • Anderson Place Apartments
  • Alvarado Sunset Apartments
  • Alvarado Apartements
  • Casitas Apartments
  • Parque Plaza Apartments

 

South Davis:

 

South Davis is a good option as it mirrors North Davis in that there are many students who live here and there is a nearby mall with a Safeway and Rite Aid among other restaurants. It’s also generally easier to get a rental even later on in the school year as it is less popular than North Davis. It’s also near the only In-N-Out and Dutch Bros which are great for late night. However, it comes with the disadvantage as buses are often full in the mornings and late evenings. Congestion is also a concern as buses and drivers get to campus slower due to a bottleneck on Richards Blvd heading to downtown Davis. The Unitrans W and M lines run to this area from the Silo and MU terminals.

  • Tanglewood
  • Octave Apartments
  • Avalon Apartments
  • Sharps & Flats
  • Lexington Apartments
  • Ryder on Olive
  • The Arbors
  • Sorrento

 

West Davis:

West Davis is more suburban and relaxed than both North and South Davis. There is a mix of single-family homes and townhomes in this area. There’s many parks for recreation and it’s much more quiet. Also, groceries are a bit farther and you will need to go to Safeway in North Davis or Trader Joe’s near campus for the closest grocery store. The K, Q, P, D, Unitrans lines run through this area.

  • Portage Bay
  • The Trees
  • Stonegate Village
  • The Grove
  • The Willows
  • Le Tournesol
  • Sundance Apartments
  • Arlington Farms
  • Eastlake Apartments

 

Near Campus: 

This is the most convenient area to live, as you are within walking distance to campus. There’s also the nearby Trader Joe’s and Rite Aid which are nice to have. The C Line runs through some of this area.

  • University Court
  • Colleges of La Rue
  • Orchard Park Apartments
  • La Casa de Flores Apartments
  • Parkside Apartments
  • Sycamore Lane Apartments
  • Pinon
  • Russel Park Apartments






 

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$$$ Apartments:

These are generally more expensive places to live. The advantage of these places is that they’re much nicer on the inside, provide better community amenities for socializing, and often come furnished for your convenience. Identity, in particular, offers covered underground parking, something that is rare in the city of Davis. If interested, it’s recommended that you contact their respective leasing offices as soon as possible as it’s not uncommon for some to be leased out by winter quarter.

  • Ryder on Olive
  • Identity Davis
  • West Village
  • Sterling on 5th

 

Other Options:

Zillow, Trulia, Apartments.com, Facebook Housing Groups, are all alternatives to either look for deals, single home rentals, or simply alternatives. This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other options available. 

Things to Consider:

  • Proximity to campus, groceries, downtown Davis
  • Living alone, living with housemates, living with roommates
  • In or out of unit laundry 
  • Transportation options, proximity of bus stop to front door
  • Which utilities (Gas, Electric, Water/Sewer, Internet, Garbage) are included
  • Furnished or unfurnished (furnished is generally more expensive)
  • Townhouse, apartment, or house
  • Always remember to be aware of scams 






 

Guide to Looking for A Lease: From personal experiences

  • Look early! Leases for apartments can fill up as early as fall quarter of the year prior, especially for popular sites. It’s always better to avoid problems and disappointment down the road by preparing early.
  • It’s a good idea to contact the leasing office through phone, email, or contact form as soon as possible to get an idea of availability, many times current tenants will choose to continue their lease, limiting the number of available units especially at popular complexes
  • Pricing is generally not disclosed upfront and you will need ask directly and or tour
  • Read reviews online regarding leasing managers and complexes to get a good idea of how responsive they are historically and avoid issues down the road after you are locked into a lease
  • Ask questions during the tour, especially about utilities, maintenance, furnishing, laundry, deposit, rental cost

 

Guide to Signing Lease:

  • Leases in Davis generally run for 12 months and start in August/September, and many students sign them during the Winter and Spring quarters for the following academic year
  • Generally, you will need a guarantor or co-signers to secure the apartment along with a security deposit to cover for damages. The deposit depends largely on the landlord.
  • The leasing office will usually run a credit check before offering a lease to be signed.
  • Read lease addendum packet, it often accompanies a lease document and contains a detailed outline of rules and regulations of the community and expectations of your tenancy. It’s important to read and understand this before signing your lease to avoid any consequences.

 

After Moving-In:

  • Take detailed photos of entire apartment on move-in day to cover for pre-existing damages 
  • Fill out the Move-In inventory and Inspection form, documenting the condition of the apartment and make notes of any pre-existing damages and needed repairs to avoid it being taken out of your security deposit during move-out

 

Other Online and Offline Resources:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ucdavis.apartments