Finding an apartment, in New York City or St. Louis or anywhere, is a major undertaking. The author of the article below missed a huge resource – using brokers (apartment Locators) to narrow down your search. There are free locator services in virtually every major city in the U.S.
Start with www.apartmentsacrossamerica.com. If your city isn’t listed, contact a locator in your state. They will direct you to local services in or near your township of choice. The key here is to work smart. Locators are a great information source to begin, and often quickly resolve, the tedious task of finding that perfect apartment.
Thanks to the real-estate slump it’s a renters’ market out there. Vacancy rates are still pretty high and landlords in many areas are willing to bargain, in some cases offering a free month’s rent or waiving fees. Home prices have also fallen back to earth since the boom years.
via Apartment Hunting in a Renters’ Market – The Juggle – WSJ.
