Welcome to CIIS!
We are thrilled to welcome you to the San Francisco Bay Area and our unique educational community. This page hosts a general overview of HOUSING RESOURCES. You will be able to find Step by Step guides and different tools and tips to help you navigate your search for housing in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For all the international students out there (including those out of state) who are coming from different backgrounds, contextual settings and or that English is not your first language your first step is to understand the terminology.
TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR SEARCH
The University of San Francisco has good advice on how to find housing in the Bay Area. Go check it out.
Before starting your search ask yourself the following questions:
What is your rental budget range?
Do you want to live in an apartment or a house?
Do you prefer urban or residential? Quiet or noisy?
Do you enjoy living near the water, parks, or restaurants?
Is living close to CIIS important to you?
Are you sharing or looking for a private room?
Are you looking for renting a house?
Is someone else coming with you on this journey?
Do you have pets?
HOW TO GET STARTED
Many students have gone through this Housing process. People who are coming from different states and even those of us who come from farther away from a different country. From the Student Affairs Office, we want to make this as comfortable as possible.
We have developed a Step-by-Step guide, written by CIIS students, to advise you as you make your move to San Francisco Bay Area.
We have also taken the time to further collect information on the different areas, regions, and neighborhoods of the Bay Area for you. The only thing you have to do is click here. This document is a starting point it summarizes all the beautiful neighborhoods in the Bay Area, and you can go from there.
If what you are looking for is a list of Housing Resources that will help you land then we have develop a list for you with names, phone numbers and web-pages of Hostels, Hostels, Resident Clubs, Facebook pages, Cooperatives etc. for easy access. Please click here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If you are looking for housing in the Bay Area, be sure to sign up for the Student Listserv (see left section), where CIIS students often post about their available housing options. These are useful resources as you start your housing search in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We also have a Bulletin Board which can be found in the Student Affairs section at the bottom of the page. There you can post if you are looking for housing and you will also find people offering rooms. You will be able to connect to the Student Community as well.
FUNNY, INTERESTING & ENJOYABLE ARTICLES
How to Conquer Apartment Hunting By: Sam Harnett
How to Survive Renting in San Francisco: Five Rights to Know By: Jamie McKenzie
SF Startup Survival Guide: How to Find an Apartment in San Francisco By: Jason Evanish
We hope this will serve you in joining us in the Bay Area!