I´m finally in Madrid, and I am living in a shared piso in Alfonso XIII. It´s utterly beautiful, it´s literally next to a metro stop, it´s quiet, it´s safe, and it´s 420€ a month (gastos included). I got it through an agency called Sal y Ven on Paseo Recoletos.
The problem is the price: 420/month for a shared 3-bedroom apartment (which is currently empty until next week, so for now it´s a little more okay than in the future). This price doesn´t include VCR or DVD or WIFI or Internet. There kitchen is tiny, and so will the apartment feel once two others have moved in.
Furthermore since I´m in Madrid, I want to live in an area that feels like Madrid - Callao, Tribunal, Plaza Mayor, Plaza España, Opera, Moncloa, Arguelles, Bilbao, Sol or anywhere between. La Latina and Lavapies are out, so are Barrio Salamanca and Retiro, or any further out.
When is the best time for apartment-hunting? Which are the safest and quietest? Any recommendations or advice or preferences? Is this a pipe dream: to hope I can live in one of these neighborhoods for 250€ to 350€ a month?
I know, I know, be persistent. And I will be. But for the moment, I need a little encouragement mixed with good old-fashioned advice on neighborhoods and the housing situation.
Cheers,
Tanya
Posts: 35 | Location: Indiana, USA | Registered: 23 September 2005
When is the best time for apartment-hunting? Which are the safest and quietest? Any recommendations or advice or preferences?...good old-fashioned advice on neighborhoods and the housing situation
well, the topics of neighborhoods and apt. hunting have already been VERY much discussed on these forums so i can only refer you to the SEARCH PAGE to do your homework
quote:
Is this a pipe dream: to hope I can live in one of these neighborhoods for 250€ to 350€ a month?
that depends on how many people you live with. for example, if you want to lice with 1 other only, no way you will pay only 350 a month.
that budget could get you a plce with maybe 2-3 others. 250 is on the low end, will be hard to score a decent place for that little. i know people who live in an apt. with 4 total and pay 250 plus expenses so it is possible.
dvd player, vcr, wifi: most places will not have them so you may want to get your own. member lena is selling (if still available) a dvd player, click HERE to see her classified ad.
sal y ven usually houses people short time and are more expensive than finding your own place. so, you may end up having new housemates every month of you stay where you are. the agencies serve their purpose of housing you when you are new here and know nothing about the city nor about finding a place to live but they are not good long-term as they get a piece of the pie every month you are there, hence your rent is higher.
i agree that alfonso xiii is not very "madrid-like" and i do not blame you for wanting to move to a diff. area.
I commonly book housing through Sal y Ven as well as many other agencies here in Madrid and the rent is not 420 euros a month. It is actually 420 euros for only 28 nights (15 euros a night). If a month had 30 days for example it would caost you 450 euros and if it had 31 days it would cost you 465. Next. the average rent for a room in a shared flat is still 350 euros a month. This could be with or without utilities included. You should go have a look at each place and walk around the neighborhood to get a good feel before taking a place. Be sure you know what is expected as far as a security deposit goes (usually one month's rent) and how long you will have to stay in order not to lose it. If you agree to take a place for 6 to 9 months in order to get it and leave earlier chances are that you will not get it back.
rent is not 420 euros a month. It is actually 420 euros for only 28 nights (15 euros a night). If a month had 30 days for example it would caost you 450 euros and if it had 31 days it would cost you 465.
I talked to the woman (Isabel) at Sal y Ven, who was recommended to me by EBC. The reason my rent is 420/month is that I get a discount by going through EBC. It doesn´t sound like much - 30€, but I´m counting pennies right now.
I will definitely talk to her about 28 days versus 31 days. Thank you for pointing that out.
I don´t mind to share with a few other people, or even half a dozen or more as long as I had a decent bedroom with a lock and ample shower time.
And I most definitely am not desiring the sort of situation where I get random new roommates each month. I agree that Sal y Ven is good for short term, but I don´t think I´ll be staying with them.
Thanks for the help. I´ll just spend some time on Madrid.loquo.com and work on my Spanish in the meantime...
Tanya
Posts: 35 | Location: Indiana, USA | Registered: 23 September 2005
Um, rent for my one month is 420€. No funny stuff going on that I´m not aware about.
But, to a happier topic...I found the exact apartment I was hoping to find! It´s between Sol and Opera on c/ Santiago off c/ Mayor. It´s expensive, but everything is included (cable and wireless internet also), there´s an elevator, and it´s the fourth floor of a five-story building. I do share it other people, but they are cool, and I can see the Palace from the windows, so what more could I need? Funnily enough, it was the first place I looked at, and funnier enough, I beat out six or seven other interviewees for the apartment...
Cheers,
Tanya
Posts: 35 | Location: Indiana, USA | Registered: 23 September 2005
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