We are currently hunting for a new rental and having real problems, prices have increased a ridiculous amount since we took our rental here 18 months ago. We're in Silicon Valley.

We are looking for a 3 bed detached house, with a modern kitchen and bathrooms, need around 2,000 sq ft of space and a garden. Prices are currently around $4,500-$6,000 which is just crazy.

What's the average rent price in your area for this kind of house? I think I do live in the most expensive area in the US

I've just looked at rentals for my zip and $6K per month for a 3 bed house is about right.

Edit: Property taxes in NJ will be a big factor on determining the rent. Property taxes on a 3 bed in my zip could easily be $18K+ per year.

Jeepers - I pay $950 a month for my Mortgage on a 2,000 sq ft Ranch. Can you relocate to somewhere more cost-efficient? in other words, nowhere near Silicon Valley.


Jim.

3 bedroom house in Poway/Rancho Bernardo (San Diego Area) from $2,500 per month depending on size of lot, age etc.

Nearer the beach the prices rocket up.

I'd never thought about the taxes being included in rentals (don't know why, kind of obvious) I was just thinking people cover their mortgage. The property taxes for the house we are currently in is $17k per year

I kind of wish we could, but really can't be doing with relocating and starting over again somewhere new. Done that 3 times in the last 5 years.

I'm beginning to think a move back to LA would be a good idea, even though I disliked the place, at least we could afford a nice house there and I have a few friends.

So that's $1,500 per month for starters.

At least if you own the house you can claim the taxes back on your tax return. As a rentor though you are in effect paying the tax but get no relief.

And I pay $2,200 per year, Property Taxes.


Jim.

I pay $900 a month for my Mortgage on a 2,000 sq ft Ranch.

Come live by me, a 3 bed 2 bath about 2,000 sqft rents for about $1300 - $1400 a month. Bit of a long commute, my friends Dh did it for years to Sunnyvale each day, left home at 4am started work at 7ish and came home around 2.30pm getting home for dinner. Madness!
Of course he had a company vehicle and company gas card for his commute.

I wish. I have looked online at renting a nice place around Napa, but when hubby doesn't leave the office until 10pm 3 nights a week it seems a bit unfair.

Prices are going up in Silicon Valley from what I've seen. We had someone quit one of our duplexes in Santa Clara. They were paying $1450 per month for it. We advertised at $1800 and were flooded with people. It's a 960 sq.ft. 2 bed unit.
The guy who quit bought a repo house in Hollister for $260000 and was planning to commute to Santa Clara. I wouldn't fancy that as a commute.
Up here in Bend, Oregon, a 3 bedroom will cost around $900 to $1400 per month to rent. It's possible to buy for less of a monthly payment but a lot of people in this area just can't get a mortgage anymore.
Our own house, which is a 1900 sq.ft. 4 bed, 2 bath ranch on an acre plot would rent for around $1300 per month.

We were actually looking at this in case we ever had to rent out our house.

Houses the size of ours (not quite 2,000 sf but plenty of space nonetheless) go for about $1,250.00/mo around my way. $1,500.00 would probably easily get you what you need. Our place is 3 beds/2 baths, big back garden, basement that would be the full area of the floorplan but for the 2 car garage taking up some of the space.

California is bloooooody expensive - our annual property taxes aren't even as much as the low end of that rent price range ...

I pay $5,200 in Washington DC (NW) for about 2,500 sq.ft but the location is excellent

Thanks Barack!


jim.