Applying to Rent

There are two ways to apply to rent here:

1.  Apply online:  Please complete the On-Site Application.  You'll also need to email me your proof of income,

2.  Apply in person:  Print, complete, and sign the Application to Rent for each adult who will occupy the apartment.  Once you have the applications ready, contact me through email (propmgrjay@gmail.com) or by phone (408-446-3077) to arrange an appointment to submit your application in person.  All adults must be present.  Your application must be accompanied by proof of income.  

Once I've received your application and finished verifying your rental history, I should be able to have a decision on your application within 24-48 hours.

If you want to guarantee you will get the apartment if your application is approved, you must secure the apartment by submitting a holding deposit.

Securing your apartment

Please note that apartments are rented on a "first come, first served basis."

That is to say the first person who submits an application (that eventually gets approved) AND a holding deposit, will get the apartment they are applying for.

Holding Deposits

Types of payment accepted
     Your holding deposit must be in the form of "Guaranteed Funds";  In other words, Money Order or a Cashiers Check.  Although they can be more expensive, I recommend a cashiers check from your bank, because if your application is not approved for some reason, it is usually much easier and faster to get your money converted back from that check to cash in your account than it is with a money order purchased from a grocery store.

Your cashiers check or money order should be payable to the "Blue Hills Studios."

Holding Deposit Amount
     It must be equal to the amount of rent that would be due during the period you want me to hold the apartment for you.  For example, if you want me to hold the apartment for you for 1 week, the holding deposit would equal 1 months rent x 1/4.  If you want me to hold it for 1 month, the holding deposit would equal 1 months rent x 1.  If you want me to hold an apartment for 3 months, your holding deposit would be equal to 1 months rent x 3.

Contract
     At the time you submit your holding deposit, we will sign a contract that will identify the apartment being secured for you, the date you must take possession of it by, and the way your holding deposit will be handled.  The contract will specify that if you move in, the holding deposit will be applied to what you owe at move in, and if you don't move in, it will be charged for the daily rent loss and the balance refunded to you.  For example, If at move in, you owe $1000 for your first month rent, and $500 for your security deposit, and you've already submitted a holding deposit of $500, all you'll owe at move in is $1000, as the holding deposit will be applied to your account, resulting in a $500 credit.  If you fail to take possession as required by the contract, and I'm able to re-rent the apartment after losing 3 days of rent as a result of you breaching the contract, I would charge your holding deposit $99.99 (1000 / 30 x 3) and return $400.01 to you through the United States Postal Service within 3 weeks.

If you have any questions about how this works, please email them to me and I'll get you an answer as quickly as I can.

Proof of Income

I often have people ask me about proof of income, what does it mean, etc. so I thought I'd write a quick article to provide a little more information for my customers they can read at their leisure to learn more about what it is exactly that I need.

Any of the following WILL work:
- Pay stubs from an employer (most recent 60 days)
- Bank Statements (most recent 90 days) - This must be the monthly statement, not simply a print up of your account activity.  There is one page of your statement I'm looking for.  It is the page that you would use to balance your check book.  It contains the "account summary" or "account at a glance" that lists a total of your deposits and withdrawals for the month, as well as your beginning and ending balance for the month.  It should also contain your name, the banks name, and your account number.  In this example, I'm looking for the part of your statement that contains item number 3 in the picture.
- W-2/1099/1040 for the last tax year

The following MIGHT work:
- An employment offer letter from a local company

Pre-renting Apartments

Vacating residents usually give me 30 days notice of their intent to vacate.  It's always my goal to have the apartment pre-rented before they vacate and surrender possession of the apartment.

Pre-renting means I have received an approved application and a holding deposit from the next renter before the current renter has moved out, and I'm holding the apartment for the approved applicant, expecting them to take possession as soon as possible after the current resident surrenders possession.

It doesn't always work out that way, but that's always the goal.   Submit your application and holding deposit as soon as possible to ensure you are able to secure yours before it's gone!