What is an acceptable credit score to lease an apartment in CA?

Honestly, in California, you're usually looking at a 650 as the absolute bare minimum to get someone to even talk to you. I moved into my current spot last year and most of the landlords I dealt with were really pushing for a 700 or higher if they were in a decent area. It's super competitive out here, so if you're sitting below that 650 mark, it gets pretty rough and you might have to offer a bigger deposit or find a private owner who's a bit more flexible.

My buddy had a score around 620 a while back and he ended up having to get a co-signer just to get approved for a basic studio. If your score is on the lower side, definitely be upfront about it and maybe show them proof of steady income or good rental history. Sometimes that matters way more than just the number on your report if you can prove you aren't gonna flake on the rent.