Sacramento Apartments and Rentals

As the capital of California, Sacramento is a city of opportunities, including for terrific deals on apartments and rentals. Sacramento, which is located in the central portion of Northern California, is the sixth largest city in the Golden State. Its metropolitan area is the fourth largest behind Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

Although more famous for the discovery of gold at his fort, John Sutter was instrumental in founding Sacramento after the Swiss immigrant settled there in 1839. The city blossomed during the Gold Rush, which started in 1849. That is also the year in which area citizens adopted a city charter, making it the oldest incorporated city in the state. The city prospered as money from the Gold Rush funded growth and expansion. Its location made Sacramento a major distribution and transportation hub.

Today, Sacramento is a bustling city of more than 1.4 million people. It's busy downtown business center is surrounded by residential neighborhoods generally grouped into four areas: Central Eastern, Southwestern, Southeastern and North of the American River. The area is known for its historic downtown, pretty residential areas and friendly people.

The Sacramento and American rivers add a natural element to the busy city and provide an outlet for water sports lovers. The city's central location also puts you within easy driving distance of San Francisco and the Pacific Coast, as well as the ski slopes of Lake Tahoe.

In recent years, Sactown, as the locals call it, has developed a bike-friendly reputation. In fact, it earned the No. 10 spot on Shape Magazine's Top 10 Fittest Cities in America in part because of the number of commuters who use two-wheeled transportation.

Sacramento has dozens of neighborhoods to choose from when selecting your next apartment or rental home. Some of the popular neighborhoods include: City Center, Walsh Station, Ben Ali, Cordova and Bombay.

Not surprisingly, the top employers in Sacramento are the state, county and city governments. Other top employers include the school districts, hospitals and health systems, and the universities.

Local colleges and universities include the University of California at Davis, which also includes a world-class medical center and a renowned research hospital. California State University also maintains a campus in Sacramento. Plus, Los Rios Community College District offers four campuses for community college students.

The cost of living in Sacramento is about 14% higher than the average in the U.S. Monthly rental costs may be higher than average as a result. Studio apartments begin at about $550 and go up to $665, while one bedrooms rent for $800 to $1,175. Upscale apartments and lofts are priced higher. Two bedroom rentals start at about $850 and can range up to $3,000 for a luxury rental. Condos are a bit pricier, but you often get a little more room and expanded amenities. Two bedroom condos typically rent for $1,00o to $1,500 monthly.

There's always something to do in Sacramento, from culture, to sports, the arts, history or recreation. The city boasts its share of cultural venues and entertainment, such as the Crocker Art Museum, the California Automobile Museum, the Ballet, Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera. The city is also widely recognized for its large collection of community theaters.

Sports fans can root for the NBA's Kings, or the River Cats, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Oakland A's.

For the history lover, there's Old Sacramento located along the Sacramento Riverfront.. This 28-acre national historic landmark and State Historic Park blends the city's colorful history with trendy retailers, dining and entertainment. Increasingly popular are underground tours where you can explore excavated foundations and enclosed sidewalks hidden since Sacramento raised its streets after the disastrous floods of 1861. You can also tour the historic Governor's Mansion or visit the California State Railroad Museum.

The city offers literally hundreds of spots for outdoor recreation with its 207 parks. Plus there are 81 miles of off-street bike trails, and 13.5 miles of running paths, 10 skate parks and nine dog parks. The rivers offer waterborne fun with boating, wakeboarding, jet skiing and swimming.

There's no shortage of shopping, dining and nightlife destinations as well.

The annual California Exposition and State Fair has been held in Sacramento since 1859! Every July millions of visitors take in the fair at the Expo Fair Grounds, a 356-acre site next to the American River. The city also celebrates its history during Gold Rush Days in August.

There are fun events for nearly every taste and interest from the Sacramento Music Festival each May to Jazz Jubilee on Memorial day weekend to the Shakespeare Festival in summer. Movies are honored at three separate film festivals annually for French, Japanese and horror films.

Sacramento is a wonderful city with many sites, attractions and neighborhoods , along with a healthy does of history. Get started on finding your new Sacramento rental home today.