Renting a home here is pretty expensive. Usually anywhere from $2800-$5000/mo. Sometimes a cheaper one will come on the market, and you’ve got to jump on it fast. Check craigslist and the Union-Tribune every day. Have a rental agency (or 2 or 7) be looking for you and ask them to call you as soon as something inexpensive comes up. Check the MLS every day (or have a realtor do it), also. There are some rentals on there. Check anywhere else you can think of.
Before you rent a house, you should try to be familiar with the rental market. You should have a good idea of what any particular house should rent for.
Then, when you find one at a bargain, get over there that day. Tell them how stable you are, how much money you make, what a great tenant you’ll be, that you’ll be staying a while, your wife loves to vacuum and clean, your kids will love the house, etc. I’ve seen a few houses for rent below market value, and there were hordes of people wanting to rent. So get in there and be the one.
