apartments

Craigslist

Oh, Mama's. We'd gladly trek across the city for a plate of your French toast, but with this week's Craigslist deal, we wouldn't have to. Located just half a block from Mama's brunch spot and Washington Square, this North Beach cottage is the perfect location for late morning brunches and leisurely strolls–two necessities for happy living, says us.

Craigslist

There are generally two types of city inhabitants: those eager to jump into the thick of metropolitan life in all its gritty, raw beauty, and those who balk at the thought. If you consider yourself the former, this week's Craigslist deal is for you. Located downtown in the 'love it or leave it' Tenderloin, it's not a home for the weak of heart. But for central location, ease of transportation, and authentic city living, it can't be beat.

Craigslist

Looking for the quintessential San Francisco experience? How about living in a stately Victorian with cable cars running right outside your house? That's what you'll get with this week's Craigslist deal, a remodeled studio in Russian Hill. The main room features a high-coved ceiling, refinished hardwood floors, and ample windows that both let in a lot of light and provide a spot for gazing out onto the bustling street below.

Craigslist

A studio on Union? Hmm... you're planning on getting into some trouble, aren't you? A perfect crash pad for a bro or broad new to the city, you'll be within spitting distance to the heart of the Marina's nightlife. And since it's a studio, you won't have to hear it from your roommates the next time you bring the after-party home.

Craigslist/Photobucket

Oh, where to start. This week's Craigslist deal is a true beauty, from the luxuriously designed kitchen with professional stove, double-drawer dishwasher, and farmhouse-style sink, to the claw-foot tub and penny tile floor of the bathroom. Located at Sanchez and 25th Street, it's just two blocks from Noe's bustling 24th Street, where you'll find plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, a Whole Foods, and, of course, more strollers than you can shake a rattle at.

Craigslist

Nothing like a rowdy night in the Castro to remind you how fun the lively neighborhood can be. Yes, there's no denying it's great destination for an evening of debauchery, but with a central location and some of the best weather you'll find in the city, it's also an incredible place to spend your days.

Craigslist

City living is, by nature, not for the claustrophobe. Live here without a trust fund and at one point you'll probably have an apartment the size of a half-bathroom in the Midwest. Fair enough; we're all for small-space living, and it's a price most would pay to live here. But something feels inherently wrong to us still with living, eating, and sleeping in the same room. The pungent cooking fumes saturating your sheets, dirty dishes infiltrating your dreams–and don't even get us started on crumbs in the bed.

Craigslist

Usually to get your hands on a rent controlled apartment you need to have lived in the same place for a long time, or inherited a great deal from someone very kind. To get a rent-controlled place handed to you by a stranger? Not likely. That is, until this week's Craigslist deal showed up. In exchange for helping the current renter out of their contract, you get a new lease (no awkward "lease on a lease" or secrecy from the landlord here) without getting the monthly rent raised.

Craigslist

A spacious Victorian sounds like an oxymoron; usually these quintessential San Francisco homes are heavy on architectural charm but short on space and light. However, this ground floor unit located across the street from Buena Vista Park manages to have its built-ins and room to enjoy them, too. The living room and bathroom both offer plenty of space to move about, and the kitchen looks like a traditional galley that's been stretched to accommodate even the most ambitious of cooking projects.

Craigslist

Apartments near downtown are usually either a. too expensive; b. in the Tenderloin; or c. way, way too expensive. This listing, located at Stockton and California, is surprisingly none of the above. It's within walking distance of Union Square and the Financial District, and a steep enough hill away from Chinatown to discourage throngs of tourists from meandering nearby.