Searching for apartments is not what you had in mind for 2009, but nonetheless, it has to be done. Here are three tips to help you get started in finding a new place.
Search Online. Many rental listings are easily available online, so the days of hunting through the newspaper may be close to over. MyNewPlace.com aggregates many rental properties across the country. You should also find out the names of different rental companies and check to see if they have Web sites (most do). You can often find apartments and houses for rent on their sites that aren’t being widely marketed, which can mean less competition for getting into the apartment.
Talk to Friends. Word of mouth is always a good thing. Plus, the Internet allows you to talk to many people much quicker. You can send a Facebook message to friends or just make a comment about it to a couple friends on their walls. Their friends can see those conversations and can chime in to let you know about available apartments. Emailing local friends and family to see what they’ve heard about is good too.
Walk the Neighborhood. I sometimes do this to see where I want to live. Once again, you can find places that only advertise with a rental sign on a window and potentially have fewer people to compete with to get the apartment. Conversely, if you’ve found a property online, definitely take some time to walk the neighborhood to see what amenities are nearby, what the transportation situation is like, and how safe the area is.
Hopefully, these tips help you get started in your transition back to renting and make life a little easier after foreclosure.
