Excellent point and while that may all be true I would try talking this place down a few thousand dollars because it has been on the market for over 100 days. And it would be an investment deal where a rental is not an investment at all. And it isn't about only students, it's about anyone looking to get their foot in the door on CA real estate. Prices in the Bay Area have never really made sense.

Get real, you guys. Did you look at 393 Willow, the cheapest of these? It's an 825-square-foot shack. Mortgage payment would be about $1400 a month; add insurance, garbage and water, and you're looking at about $1600 a month. There's no way you could rent this place for anywhere near that.

And two college kids could probably rent a nice two-bedroom apartment in Hayward for $900 and not have to worry about rats.

These prices still don't make sense.

Mike,

That is an excellent idea! Another idea along those lines would be a way for some of the bigger companies to offer real estate services as perks to their employees. Perhaps one of those services could include ways to promote/assist employees in obtaining real estate through a savings plan whether individually or as a co-op investment. It is common to be able to set aside tax-free $$ to help pay medical bills. I think housing is just as important.

Another opportunity this provides is for small co-op investors. When I was a student my father and several of his coworkers pooled together to buy a property. Each putting in a share so that they could buy what otherwise would have been unattainable for each individually.

Yes! I really hate those 'should of' moments. I'm sure that in 2009 I will think of some of them I 'should of done in 2008'. Darn!

I could have bought a house in the Laurel in 1997, when I was a grad student, and houses there were going for ~$110K. Oh well.

Some parents are able to invest in housing for their student. I had some college friends who all went in together and purchased a house. But the main point I was making is that prices are coming down quite a bit these days and anyone who can possibly afford it just might consider buying now.

Maybe not students directly, but as an investment by their parents. Back in the "Olden" days when I went to college, my parents almost bought a house for me to live in for the 4 years. An investment for them. If they are paying the rent already, why not add in a few roommates and cover the mortgage. Even if there is a monthly deficit, it would likely be less than the price of an apartment for their student/child. Several of my daughter and son's friends had parents do this in more recent years. And with the prices falling, it may be worth it.

Um...students can afford real estate? I just graduated last May and I can barely afford my rent, help me out with how a college student is supposed to be able to afford to buy?