Apartment Hunting in Popular Cities

If you haven’t tried to find an apartment for rent in a popular (or heavily populated) city, be prepared. In cities like San Francisco and New York, finding an affordable apartment is almost impossible. For every apartment that becomes available, hundreds of potential tenants are vying for it. With enough preparation and a little interaction, you can find a decent and affordable apartment in almost any city.

Your options:
  So you want to move to a hot city or just want to move to a new place in a hot city, but you don’t know where to start. Timing is critical in the real estate game and finding a rental is just a matter of persistence and preparation.

  If you are low on time or just don’t want to handle the search yourself, there are other options for you. One option includes apartment brokers. Apartment brokers get paid to find you an apartment (or other rental) within a city. They usually have up-to-date information on units as they become available, while the typical consumer is waiting around for ads in the newspapers or ads in free apartment guides. However, in hot cities, waiting means losing out. Some brokers charge the apartment complex a fee rather than the potential renter. Be sure to ask about the rates and if the broker can guarantee success within a specific time limit. Ask about rebate offers when you rent with specific communities.

  Your best option is to network. Ask friends about friends or family living in the desired location. Talk to members of your church, school, work or other organizations about potential contacts. Browse through online bulletin boards and community websites that involve people living in your future location.

Your own search:
  Getting an apartment in a densely populated location is going to be difficult and will require a lot of persistence and work. If you are moving to a new city, begin researching the city. Learn which areas are expensive, dirt cheap, and reasonable. Look at nearby suburbs and cities. The broader your range, the higher the probability of finding an available unit. Search online and paper guides about apartment complexes in those areas. Call each one and get an idea of how often rentals become available, the price range of rentals, and if there is a waiting list. Call back often. Visit websites of complexes and online rental services and sign up for any mailing list available. Keep an eye on the financial market of the city. If companies are laying off, closing down, or moving out, more renters might be leaving the city.

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