SAN DIEGO – In San Diego’s competitive rental market, timing and speed are crucial, advises Pacific Beach resident and Rent Shorebird cofounder Alden Kane.

“The best deals go quick,” Kane said. “If you find something that meets your parameters, don’t wait — because it’ll likely be gone in a few days.”

Kane emphasized that timing is everything. Summer months, particularly August, experience the fastest turnover due to San Diego’s large student population, while November and December often provide rare opportunities.

“No one wants to move during the holidays, which means you’ll see incentives like two weeks free rent or more flexible lease terms,” he said. He also noted that the rental market has softened slightly in recent months, with listings remaining active longer and prices stabilizing — offering prepared renters a modest advantage.

According to the Southern California Rental Housing Association and Rentometer, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego is around $2,438 per month, while two-bedroom units average around $3,313. The city’s vacancy rate increased to 4.22% this spring, up from 2.64% last year.

For those with financial flexibility, Kane recommended beginning the search two to three months in advance, even if it means temporarily paying double rent.

“Say your budget is $3,000 and you find a place two months early for $2,400 that checks every box,” Kane said. “Over a year, you’re saving $7,200 — even after paying $4,800 in overlapping rent, you’re still ahead.”

Kane acknowledged that convincing renters to break from the “hyper-efficient mindset” of perfectly timing a lease can be challenging, but asserted that the long-term payoff justifies it.

Launched in March 2024, Rent Shorebird is a full-service rental platform co-founded by Kane and Steve Ohanesian. After several months of beta testing to develop a comprehensive database, Rent Shorebird aims to provide renters in San Diego’s challenging market with a competitive edge through real-time data and tailored rental insights.

“Our mission is really about community — helping people find places where they can feel at home,” Kane said. “We focus mainly on local property managers and smaller portfolios — single-family homes, multi-family units, and buildings with fewer than 16 units — because those tend to offer more stable, tenant-friendly environments.”

Unlike larger apartment complexes that often pursue aggressive annual rent increases, Rent Shorebird’s database primarily excludes such buildings, instead highlighting properties where landlords value longer-term, respectful tenant relationships.

“Good landlords who appreciate their tenants and foster easy communication can make a huge difference in the rental experience. It’s a two-way street — tenants who take care of the place and keep good communication often see better outcomes,” Kane said.

Kane and Ohanesian met as electrical engineering students at the University of Notre Dame. After relocating to San Diego post-graduation and becoming roommates, the pair conceived Rent Shorebird.

“Steve and I were living together when I got engaged and my fiancé was going to move in,” Kane recalled. “Steve needed to find a new [place] and I told him, ‘Speed, speed, speed — if a place’s been on the market two days, it already has 15 applicants.’ Anything good near the coast or in a walkable area goes fast, so Steve said, ‘We could automate this.’ That’s how Rent Shorebird was born — to make apartment hunting faster and more efficient.”

When Ohanesian had to move out, he put his database to the test during his search and found a three-bedroom, two-bath home in Mission Beach.

“A lot of our success stories come from people we know well who’ve found places and are happy, then invite us over for barbecues. That’s the community we want to build,” Kane said.

Rent Shorebird averages approximately 35 active members monthly, most subscribing to the Classic plan, which costs $19 per month following a 7-day free trial. The plan includes real-time text and email alerts, access to a sortable rental database, and an interactive map of available listings. Members may also opt for discounted pricing by paying $39 every three months or $79 annually.

For more information, go to rentshorebird.com.