Find an apartment

You have narrowed your apartment search down to two possibilities. One is managed by a property management company (PMC), or is a part of a large group of apartment communities (e.g., AMLI, Archstone-Smith, Equity Residential). The other is managed by an individual owner who may own a few properties or just the one rental you're looking at. Before you sign on the line, you weigh the pros and cons just like you are supposed to. What side of the list does this fall? Is it a pro or a con to rent from an individual landlord?

When your search for an apartment, it's easy to be swayed by the obvious things we all look for during an apartment hunt--cheap rent, big bedrooms, a great view and, if you live in a real concrete jungle, a roof deck. Finding an apartment with any one of these great features might tempt you to sign the lease as quickly as you can, before it gets snapped up by someone else. But before you sign anything, there are some things you should think about first. Here are five important apartment hunting tips that can help you make sure some trivial issues don't turn into big problems.

Why use ApartmentSearch by CORT to find your next apartment?*

Finding a new apartment is supposed to cost you money, right? It probably will if you search for apartments the traditional way. But if you use ApartmentSearch by CORT to find your next apartment, you can actually make $200! Read more to learn how ApartmentSearch.com can help you find a great apartment and earn money at the same time.

1. Explore properties at ApartmentSearch.com. ApartmentSearch is a great way to explore housing options in your new city. Over 18,000 apartment complexes across the country have agreements with ApartmentSearch and the number grows every day. "We have a national team of salespeople whose goal is to target properties and expand the ApartmentSearch network," says Creed Poore, Intellectual Property Manager for ApartmentSearch. Log on to the site to check out complexes in your destination city.

A lot of legwork goes into finding a great rental. You'll have to consider many factors, including price, location, access to mass transit, safety, and the trustworthiness of the landlord.

After you find a few possibilities, the next task list arises -- getting in touch with the right people, finding the time to schedule walk-throughs of the properties, and in some cases, interviewing with the landlord. Yes, finding an apartment is a hassle, which is why so many people turn to brokers and locator services to help them land that perfect place.

Many parents dream of buying their own house to raise their children in, but that’s not always possible. If you need to move into an apartment complex with your children, you are likely have some special needs beyond those of the typical tenant. This article will help you prepare to find a great apartment complex that’s not just safe but also fun for kids to live in. Finding the right place will take a lot of preparation and research, but you and your child will be happier for it.

Anyone who’s ever searched for an apartment knows it can be a stressful experience, especially if you’re doing it at the last minute. Finding a place with just the right amount of space and light, in just the right part of town, at just the right price, can be really rough.

It happens to all of us: we think of a thousand questions the day after looking at an apartment, and wish we’d had better presence of mind in the moment. Here’s a list of questions, loosely categorized by topic that you may wish to ask a potential landlord about your apartment. Remember to ask questions respectfully and refrain from gasping at any answer, even if it seems outrageous. If this isn’t the apartment for you, just move on. If you’re not sure you understand the answer to a question, don’t hesitate to rephrase or ask a follow-up question. This list assumes you’ve already actually seen the apartment and don’t need to ask the basic questions (where in the complex is it located?, how many bedrooms/square feet?, etc.). Keep in mind that this list designed as a guideline to help you remember to ask about what’s important to you. It’s not a litany of questions you must ask in every situation.

You’ve probably lived in an apartment at some point in your life. Maybe you’re still an apartment-dweller, or maybe you moved on to a house. Regardless of your situation, you’re now wondering if condominium living could be right for you. It’s not just for old people anymore, after all—new homeowners are considering condominiums for affordability, just as individuals at retirement age are considering them to downsize from a home to a more manageable property. Read on for some facts about condo that may ultimately affect your decision to sign that condominium contract.

Moving to a new city? Worried about how you'll find a new place to live? The brand spanking new website HotPads.com is here to help. The flashy interface and extensive information at HotPads.com may make the craigslist housing section a thing of the past. Read on to find out how you can use HotPads.com to find a roommate, a room, a house, or anything in between.

With housing prices rising steadily, the economy on the upswing and real estate developers (the people who build new apartment complexes) are re-grouping and looking for new projects, rents will likely rise in 2006. But alas, there are some parts of the country where renters will enjoy the benefits of high vacancy rates, move-in specials, and low rents.

Ah, college dormitories—havens of hedonism, homework help (and distractions), and the inevitable hellish noises. Campus-area apartments for college students are filled with people you don’t know and who don’t want to know you, far enough from campus to discourage class attendance, and not guaranteed to be much quieter or cleaner than a dormitory. So which should you pick as a college student? Let’s explore in detail some drawbacks and benefits of both options.

Finding an apartment can be an overwhelming task. Driving through town gazing at complex after complex the possibilities seem endless; but deciding how to go about finding the one that’s right for you can be tricky. On first glance an apartment can seem great, but it’s really important to scope them out before renting. Here are a few tips on how to get started looking for that perfect apartment.

With all the apartments out there, finding one that’s ideal for you can be a daunting task. When you go apartment hunting, you usually have a few things in mind: abundant parking spaces, cheap apartment, big bedrooms, resort style pool; but what you might not notice is the sleazy man sitting on his balcony by the pool with binoculars. Being gawked at by Mr. Peepy might take the enjoyment out of your afternoon swim. It’s good to keep a look out for things that might suggest the apartment is not all it’s cracked up to be. Because once you move in, you’ll realize there is more to it than a lavish bedroom and sparkling jacuzzi. We’ve got a few warning signs to help keep you out of bad news apartments.

Whether this is the first time on your own or you are no stranger to the month-to-month rent, money is tough to come by these days. Too bad each of us don’t have a magic money tree growing in our apartments; however, I have some suggestions for you to save money when you go apartment hunting.

Imagine you’re at a friend’s barbeque and everyone’s standing around talking about how much money they made from buying their homes 5 years ago. It’s common to feel pressure to buy a house. Everyone talks about how much their home has appreciated, renting is perceived to be the equivalent of throwing money away, and mortgage companies advertise insanely low rates and no money down mortgages.