Renting sucks. Though, let’s be honest, we could include home ownership with this. But for now, the focus is on non-ownership. Searching for the right price doesn’t lock that number in. Renter’s insurance, parking fees, utilities, and anything else managers love to add are commonplace.

So many things about renting an apartment has changed, especially the price. Living in Memphis, the expected prices wouldn’t exceed much more than a thousand a month. For some minds, that sounds expensive.

Then the pandemic happened. Over the next year or so, I noticed rental and buying prices spiking up hundreds of dollars if not by a thousand. Artificial inflation at its finest. Companies from outside of Tennessee began buying land or old buildings. They would renovate or build from the ground up. The lowest of these shiny new prices were around $1,600/mo. and those were the smallest living spaces. The larger spaces were easily in the $2k range and rose higher than Mt. Ranier in Washington.

On top of that these companies have adopted certain kinds of phrasing to keep out lower income holders. One manager I spoke with mentioned requiring 2.5x rent so, “the renter can live comfortably here.” It’s stated more and more now that we shouldn’t pay more than 30% of our income. If that were the case, I can’t afford to live anywhere.

And a lot of people have disagreed with my experience. They have flat out told me, “that simply isn’t true.” They are also middle aged cis white men that haven’t had to think about renting more than a car in over thirty or forty years. They get their own micro-rating of one out of five stars.

As I look for rental properties closer to $2k, I bear in mind that this is still considered pretty low for the west coast. Memphis rental and buying costs have skyrocketed to a degree that makes sure that I can never own land in Tennessee. That’s fine, they don’t want me there for other 🏳️‍🌈 reasons.

I have been here almost a week and have found a couple of perspective places to stay. I have driven to Fairfield, California and was asked why I even made the venture. I was taught that I should get the feel of the land; see if I would actually enjoy living there. I think since the Covid virus has affected life so much in the past two years it is tough to argue visiting a place in person right now. [Southern accent] Well, I’m not from ‘round here. I know what the place looks like; just gotta see what’s around it. That alright?

The search for an apartment is just as frustrating as it would be in Memphis. The biggest difference is the new hilly land I get to travel and get the lay of. If that isn’t exciting, I don’t know what is! Well, except for finishing my first novel. That’s a much different experience.

I give the concept of Renting in the West Coast three out of five stars.