[potatolicious]

When is the last time you rented? My impression is that the rental market is picking up significantly and there are noticeable rent raises even month to month at this point (bubble, anyone?)

Being near BART is going to set you back at least $1700 at the very low end for a studio, $2000 for a 1BR. More for both depending on quality of the place, naturally. You might hack 10% off either of those prices if you pick up a particularly sweet deal.

FWIW, I signed my current place last month, so that's when my knowledge of the current rental market ends. I talked to numerous people including an apartment hunter, all of whom expressed incredulity at how much prices are shifting, even on the order of a couple of months.

[hazzen]

I stand corrected, and should have checked Craigslist before posting. It is astounding how much rents have gone up recently. The neighborhoods I had in minde were Lower Haight (5 minutes-ish to the N, 10 minutes-ish to the rest of the lines, 15-20 minutes-ish to 16th & Mission BART) or the part of Market near the Castro Safeway (shave 5 - 10 minutes of all of those times). It seems like $1800 might be a better floor, and that is a studio-like thing. Of course, its a small market in those places so you may be able to find better (or worse or absolutely no) prices.

[juiceandjuice]

I just moved into a 3BR by Glen Park bart for $2800/mo. Technically though, it's excelsior/Mission Terrace, so that excludes me from hip status.

General San Franciscan rule: If your neighborhood has parking, it isn't hip.