According to White, the guarantee is bad news for students currently living in the residence halls. Students living in the halls now shouldn't count on getting another year in the dorms, and if they do, it may not be an assignment they want. However, don't start looking for housing too early, either, warns White. You can't look for August housing in March. Unless you're rich enough to carry the rent for several months, it just won't work.
Landlords advertise for immediate occupancy.
According to White, the best time to look for housing is in April or May, when listings are most plentiful. However, if you do land an apartment, your lease will probably start in June. Consider modifying your expectations. In Berkeley's housing market, you just can't be that picky. One option is shared housing.