Housing

International Services Office

Depending on what type of housing option most interests you, you can expect to sign a rental agreement (contract) for a month-to-month, 6-month, or 12-month lease. Most rentals will ask for the first month’s rent and a security deposit (usually equal to one month’s rent) and some may even ask you for the last month’s rent as well. Please note that most rentals require you to pay an application fee and credit check fee when applying to rent the unit. However, it is risky to pay deposits on housing rentals prior to arrival and we generally recommend against it.

Types of Rentals

Private room: A private room in an individual homeowner or family’s house is often the most inexpensive option. You can expect to share general living space like the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. It is important to communicate with the homeowner about any privileges or limitations before making this type of agreement. This type of housing can often be rented on a short-term basis while you search for a more permanent housing option.

Apartment: The most common type of rental in all areas, an apartment is a unit that contains a set of rooms with separate bedroom(s), bath, kitchen and living room. They are normally located in multi-level buildings and vary in size, age and the amenities included. Some apartment complexes will have swimming pools, parking and laundry rooms, and others will not. Most apartments are rented without furniture. Some apartments are advertised as "furnished." This means that a minimal amount of furniture is included with the rental.

Studio apartment: Similar to an apartment, a studio apartment is a unit where the living room and bedroom are combined into one room and there is a separate bathroom. Some studios have a separate kitchen, and some do not.

Condominium (Condo): While a condo may look like an apartment, the difference is that each condominium is privately owned. Condos are often larger in size than apartments and may have upgraded amenities. Most condos have patios or balconies, a washer/dryer in unit and parking or carport. Due to the upgraded features, condos can be more expensive than apartments.

Duplex or townhome: A duplex or townhome looks like a single-family home; however, there are two or more units that share common walls. These homes are normally less than 2,000 square feet (about 600 square meters), may have two stories, a small yard or deck and a garage. This type of rental is likely to require you to pay for all utilities, including water and trash.

Single family home: A single family home is a stand-alone unit that has a multi-room living area (bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, family room) and often includes a washer/dryer, private yard and garage. When renting a single-family home, prepare to pay for all utilities, including water and trash. Unless you are sharing the cost with roommates, this is usually the most expensive option.

Common Housing Terms

Lease or rental agreement: If you are renting a property, you will be required to sign a lease or rental agreement. This is a legal document in which the tenant agrees to make rental payments for a specified time period. The lease should outline the responsibilities of both the tenant and the landlord and should explain the requirements if you do not renew the lease when it ends, and penalties for breaking the lease. In most cases, it is to your benefit to sign a longer lease. This guarantees that your rent cannot be increased within the agreed time period and the landlord may lower your rent with a longer lease. The lease should define the amount of the rent, required deposits (damage/security deposit and pet deposit, if applicable) and to whom and where the rent is paid.

Sublet apartment or sublease: A sublet apartment (or room) becomes available when someone decides to leave their housing before the end of their rental agreement. When you sublease, you will either be liable for the contract temporarily or until it was set to expire for the original tenant. It is important to review the contract and/or have the expectations, privileges and limitations of the sublease in writing before agreeing to sublet a room or apartment. If the sublease is for a room in an apartment or townhouse, it is also important to understand all details, such as whether there are other roommates; whether laundry and kitchen facilities are available; whether you are expected to pay a portion of the gas, electric and Wi-Fi, etc. In many cases, summer sublets are common and convenient.

Security deposit: A security deposit, also referred to as a damage deposit, is a specified amount of money that is paid to the landlord at the time you move in and is held until the end of your lease. The purpose of this deposit is to cover any damages caused by the tenant beyond normal wear and tear. Depending on the damages at the end of your lease, this deposit will be refunded to you in part or in full. A pet deposit and pet rent is normally required if you plan on having a domesticated animal in your home and if the landlord allows it. The cost will vary depending on the landlord.  

Property management company: A property management company is hired to manage a rental property for the property's owner. The company finds renters and makes sure the renters follow the lease. The company may also provide basic maintenance services. If your apartment is damaged or in need of repair, in many cases, you should contact the property management company to let them know.

Tenant: The person who rents a house or an apartment.

Landlord or landlady: The property owner who rents houses or apartments to tenants.

Utilities: Include services such as water, gas, electricity and garbage pickup. Your lease will state if utilities are included in rent. If the utilities are not included, it is important to ask for an estimate of the monthly utility costs.

  • Cable television and wireless network (Wi-Fi): In most cases, cable and/or Wi-Fi are not included with the rent and if not, this will also add additional cost.
  • Telephone: If you want to establish a landline in your home or DSL internet services, or you want to get a U.S. cell phone, you will need to contact one of several providers and choose the best plan for you. Often costs are cheaper if you “bundle” your services (e.g. pay for Wi-Fi, landline and cell phone together, or some other combination). Common phone companies include: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Cingular and T-Mobile.  Once you are in the area, these companies have stores where you can talk to someone in person about what you need.

Initial Housing Expenses

When securing housing, please be prepared to pay expenses such as first and last month's rent, a security deposit, and internet and cable installation costs.

For many of our international students, scholars and visitors, this is their first time in San Diego and in some cases, the first time ever in the United States. Getting settled into a new place and a new life may be challenging. The following will provide you with the necessary information to get started with living in San Diego.

Rent varies greatly depending on where you live and is particularly high in the neighborhood nearest to the Scripps Research Campus (the La Jolla area). You can view average rental prices per neighborhood on Rent.com.  San Diego rentals are usually unfurnished, and utilities are not included unless otherwise specified. Utilities consist of water, electricity, gas and trash.  You will likely sign a rental agreement (contract) for a month-to-month, 6-month, or 12-month lease.

Most rentals will ask for the first month’s rent and a security deposit (usually equal to one month’s rent) and some may even ask you for the last month’s rent as well. If you are planning to have a pet, a pet deposit will be required and, in many cases, an additional monthly “pet rent.” Please note that most rentals require you to pay an application fee and credit check fee when applying to rent the apartment. However, it is risky to pay deposits on housing rentals prior to arrival and we generally recommend against it.

Neighborhoods Closest to Scripps Research

Local Hotels

If you plan to stay in a hotel for your first few nights in San Diego, there are many hotels to choose from.  Hotels close to Scripps Research include:

 

Furnished or Short-term Rental Options:

If you plan to stay in temporary housing for a month or so as you get settled in San Diego, there are many websites to assist you in your search.

Airbnb is an online marketplace for people to lease or rent short-term lodging including vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays or occasionally, hotel rooms. Airbnb can give newcomers an affordable place to stay for a few days to a few weeks while searching for more permanent housing.

Vacation Rentals by Owner is another online marketplace for people to rent short-term housing.  Unlike Airbnb, rentals on VRBO are generally small homes or condominiums that you would have to yourself.  Although slightly more expensive than Airbnb, this can be a good option if you are coming with a spouse, partner and/or family.

The Scripps Research Classifieds Listserv is an online list where employees are given permission to post housing ads, items for sale, and roommate ads. This is a good source for finding temporary living arrangements if you are looking for roommates, as well as for finding things like new furniture and household items for low prices. Contact your lab’s administrative assistant for help sending an advertisement to the listserv before you arrive.

Anatolia Corporate Housing will work with international students and scholars to help them locate short-term or long-term housing.  This is a great option if you want a shorter-term rental while you get to know San Diego a bit better.

Saba Housing works with individuals looking to rent a furnished room in the San Diego area. In most cases, these are shared homes, so you will want to be prepared to live with other people. The homes are fully furnished, with utilities and Wi-Fi already set up.

Furnished Finder is a specialized resource for 30-day and greater stays, with a focus on housing for short-term traveling professionals. Furnished Finder has thousands of furnished properties, including single family homes, condos, apartments, and rooms.

Homestay options:

Homestays are another good option for short or long-term housing. The purpose of a homestay is to provide visitors with a unique, first-hand experience as a part of a new culture, learning and practicing a new language by living with a local San Diego family.

Apartments or Houses

Apartments.com is a website that provides a database of vacant apartments nationwide for you to search through. The majority of the listings are in apartment complexes. It also offers interior and exterior photographs, floor plans, list of amenities, contact information and directions.

Craigslist is an online community for buying, selling and renting almost anything.   It features free classified advertisements that range from the traditional buy/sell advertisements and employment and housing ads to community announcements and personal ads. Craigslist can help you find roommates, rooms to rent, or your own apartment or house.  Also, Craigslist is a great resource to find furniture at very low prices, sometimes even free.  However, Craigslist is unmonitored and unregulated, so we do not recommend sending money to anyone on Craigslist without first seeing what you are renting or buying.

Facebook Marketplace is similar to Craigslist, please refer to the information above.

HUGS International Corporation is a start-up founded by former UCSD international students aiming to provide international student-focused housing.

PadMapper allows you to specify the size and cost of what you are looking for and then provides a map of exactly where that housing is, with cost and pictures.

My New Place allows you to see the location of the property on a map and gives you tips about the area. 

HotPads allows you to search available apartments and houses and save those that are of interest to you.

The San Diego Reader is the largest alternative published paper in San Diego County. It is published weekly and distributed for free in stands and private business. The reader offers a comprehensive guide to San Diego’s local theater events, movies, restaurants, and music. It also publishes a classifieds section with ads for rentals.    It can be accessed via its website, where the classified ads are updated daily.

Trulia gives renters all the tools and valuable information they need to be successful in the home search process. It also has a helpful tool to map where apartments are located. 

UC San Diego Housing Page: UC San Diego is located a few miles from Scripps Research.  It is a university with a large population of over 35,000 students, so it has a specific focus on housing and therefore, a helpful webpage with both rental tips and apartment search webpages that may be applicable to people at Scripps Research. Zillow is a website that provides a database of vacant apartments nationwide for you to search through. The majority of the listings are in apartment complexes. It also offers interior and exterior photographs, floor plans, list of amenities, contact information and directions.

 

Finding Roommates:

These websites will let you search for a private room within a shared house, or a shared room within a house.  If you have an apartment or house already but are looking for a roommate to share the lease, some of these websites can help you with that as well.  As with any situation where you may be meeting a stranger, be sure to ask many questions, talk specifically about the type of living situation that works for you, and be careful before making a decision.  Sometimes it helps to bring a friend to get their input as well.

Students and scholars who do not have a car have some options for public transportation in getting to Scripps.  Below you will find information about the bus and trolley systems that service or come near to Scripps Research.  Please be aware that public transportation in the San Diego area is quite limited and many people find that a car is necessary in order to have the flexibility to live in neighborhoods that are more affordable but farther from Scripps Research.

 

Transit-Efficient Housing

The 101 MTS bus is the only one that goes by Scripps Research.  The closest transit center to Scripps is the UTC Transit Center, where you can transfer from MTS buses 30, 31, 41, 50, 60, 105, 150, 201, 202, 204, and 921 to the 101.  Additionally, the UCSD Blue Line Trolley stops at UTC AND the UCSD Health- La Jolla Station.  It is a 20-minute walk from this trolley stop to the Scripps Research campus.

 

The Rapid Bus Route 237 stops at the UTC Transit Center

When exploring housing options, consider your commute. Selecting housing in a neighborhood with great transit service can make your commute faster, more reliable, more productive and lower impact – all while helping you save money. These routes offer some of the fastest and most reliable to the La Jolla area. Looking for housing within a brief 5-6 block walk or 1-mile bike ride from these transit centers could make your commute significantly more efficient.

Rapid 237 express bus line

Consider neighborhoods along the Rapid 237 express bus line (map)

 

Trolley UCSD Blue Line

US San Diego Blue Line trolley

Consider neighborhoods along the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley (map)

 

Bus Routes

  • 101: UTC, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside NCTD
  • 30: UTC, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Old Town, downtown San Diego
  • 41: VA Hospital, UTC, Clairemont, Fashion Valley
  • 60: Kearny Mesa, City Heights
  • 105: Old Town
  • 150: UTC, VA Hospital, Old Town, downtown San Diego
  • 201/202:SuperLoop: UTC area
  • 204 SuperLoop: UTC area, Executive Drive, Judicial Drive, Nobel Drive
  • 237: UCSD - Rancho Bernardo Transit Station
  • 921: UTC, Mira Mesa
  • 978: Torrey Pines, Sorrento Valley Station
  • 979: North University City, Sorrento Valley Station
  • 985: UCSD – N. Torrey Pines Rd.

 

Rider Information

The cost to rent a room, apartment, or home near Scripps Research in Jupiter, Florida can vary greatly depending on where you live and how far away from the beach you live. Housing closer to the beach is quite expensive. Scripps Research is located in the neighborhood called Abacoa. There are many apartment complexes in Abacoa and the surrounding area that are walking or biking distance to Scripps Research. 

Usually a one-bedroom apartment in the area will cost $1200-$1600 per month, depending on the square footage and the location of the unit. A two-bedroom apartment will cost about $1400-$1800 per month. Many postdocs and students will join together to rent a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment and share the costs.

High tourist season in Jupiter Florida is from January-April.  Housing costs during this time of the year will increase dramatically. Hotels and apartment rental costs can easily double during the height of the tourist season.  It is always best to request long-term rentals rather than monthly rentals for cost savings.

Many visitors choose to stay in a hotel for their first few nights in the U.S. There are many hotels to choose from in this area, but if you choose one of the hotels below and mention you are a Scripps Research visitor or employee, you should receive a discount.

Scripps Research has arranged with Keyes Realty to provide you with the following support and services at no charge: finding housing whether you want to rent or buy and providing information about the area, including the school system.

A representative from Keyes will contact you directly, or for more information you can contact:

Denise Talboy
VP, Global Relocation & Corporate Services
1535 Three Village Road
Weston, FL 33326
denisetalboy@keyes.com
Office: 800-749-5393 x 10255
Cell: (954) 600-4551
Fax: (954) 893-1372

These websites will let you search for a private room within a shared house, or a shared room within a house.  If you have an apartment or house already but are looking for a roommate to share the lease, some of these websites can help you with that as well.  As with any situation where you may be meeting a stranger, be sure to ask many questions, talk specifically about the type of living situation that works for you, and be careful before making a decision.  Sometimes it helps to bring a friend to get their input as well.