How to Find a Home Rental in Southern California

When you have got your mind set on living in Southern California, renting a home may seem like a long and exhausting task, but finding a place can be simple if you have done your research and know exactly what kind of house you want. A few insider tips can assist in getting you ahead of the game when it comes to Southern California's competitive rental market and have you in your dream home sooner than most house hunters.

• 1

  Do your research. If you want to live by the ocean of Southern California, check what kind of homes are available to rent and if you can afford it on your budget. Some of the ocean-side neighborhoods where you might want to search for homes include Huntington Beach and Santa Monica in Los Angeles. Carlsbad and Encinitas are cities further south and on the coast. the city of San Diego is another ocean-side option. If you want to go inland, consider the cities of Santa Clarita and Escondido. Find what neighborhoods you would like to live in and thoroughly research them to feel more confident in your rental search.

• 2

  Search the classifieds in local newspapers and online. Craigslist.org provides free rental information specific to Southern California cities on its website. Users can do their searching by price range and location. The San Diego Reader is another website that offers not only events and activity information in the city of San Diego, but classifieds for rental homes. Checking out the local paper might give results also, so pick up a copy of the LA Times or the San Diego Union-Tribune, depending on the area you wish to live.

• 3

  Drive around the neighborhoods you want to rent in. Many homes still have "For Rent" signs in front yards. Some of these homes may not be advertised in the paper or online.

• 4

  Contact a real estate agent. If you have a busy lifestyle and want to leave the searching to someone else, contacting a broker may be an option for you. Agents typically get paid a commission for finding you a home, but it pays to have someone on your side who knows the neighborhoods you want to rent in. Some real estate agencies specific to Southern California include North County Luxury Homes, located in San Marcos, and North SD Realty by the Houston Team, located in Carlsbad.

• 5

  Know how much you can afford. It's important to know your price range when hunting for rental homes because certain neighborhoods can be more expensive and blow your budget if you are not careful. If looking to move to the San Diego area, keep in mind that the cost of living in the city is 36% above the national average, according to Rent.com. If you're on a budget and have your eye set on San Diego, consider moving to places just outside of the city to save on rent. The median price of monthly rent in Los Angeles in 2010 was $1,264, but some of the most expensive neighborhoods in Bel Air, Brentwood and along Sunset Boulevard are significantly higher in price, according to Neighborhoodscout.com. Save money and rent homes that either border on pricey neighborhoods or choose a location out of Los Angeles proper.