my lease is running out and I'm ALSO looking for a place to live in the city and im in the same boat...i cannot go over 600....but to the OP check out oakland north/temescal. its super chill, its like oaklands response to the mission minus the violence. its still in a funny stage, lots of young people, a few H*****s. and you would be a five minute ride away from montanovelo...the best shop(for expensive ass sh it) in oakland besides the bent spoke(the best spot for everything repair related). yah.