Laying the groundwork

March 24, 2006 | By Drew AuthorMy First Apartment

This is the street that I live on right now, off-campus at La Salle University in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. I like to think of it as the French Riviera of La Salle. It’s a pretty nice place, but it’s really far from the city. It’s a city of 1.2 million people, and the…

Aloha means hello

March 22, 2006 | By Drew AuthorMy First Apartment

My brother lived at home until he was 26. While home offers many of the creature comforts that so many of us crave, personally I can’t help but feel dirty mooching off Mom and Dad for a long time, and I’m determined to step out of the shadow of my dependent brother. Besides, they live…

Week two – no luck yet

March 22, 2006 | By Jeff AuthorMy First Apartment

We’ve been looking at several 3-bedroom apartments in the last four days, but nothing has seemed right yet. One apartment was cool, the landlord seemed reliable, but the bedrooms were closets. I did not realize it would be this difficult to find a place. It’s not like our requirements are that tough, either. We’re looking…

It’s a start…

March 22, 2006 | By Kelly AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello, all. So, my name happens to be Kelly, and I happen to be looking for an apartment in New York City – while living halfway across the country in St. Louis. I’m graduating from University one month after my 21st birthday, and two weeks after my lease is up. I need to find a…

Beginning the Hunt in Houston, TX

March 22, 2006 | By Laura & Steve AuthorMy First Apartment

It never ceases to amaze Steve and I just how many apartments there are in Houston, TX! Since we both work from home, we aren’t concerned about finding a complex near our places of business, which should help us, but actually just broadens our search. The process is further complicated by the fact that we…

So it begins

March 17, 2006 | By Jeff AuthorMy First Apartment

The apartment search is slowly progressing. There’s promise out there, but lots of B.S. to scour through first. The good news: my friend Kopala found out that his girlfriend is going to grad school and can’t live with him for a couple years. So, I don’t have to worry any more about being home poor…

The Van Down by the River

March 14, 2006 | By Jeff AuthorMy First Apartment

I live in Chicago, in my parents basement, which is also our family/TV room. I have no wall, no door, no lock to separate my bed from the TVroom. I get no privacy. I need to move out. And boy have I been trying. I had two friends who decided to get a 2 bedroom…

Leases: The Important Stuff

November 23, 2005 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

The key thing to remember about anything to do with leases and rental agreements is: GET IT IN WRITING!

Strategies for Finding your First Apartment: Brokers, Craigslist, doormen and more

November 23, 2005 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Start your search by telling everyone you know – that means at work, the gym, the corner coffee shop, extended family, grandma, the newsstand guy – what you are looking for.

Let the Hunt Begin

November 23, 2005 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Welcome to My First Apartment, a brand new website dedicated to helping you survive your flight from the nest and into the great, wide world of renting. As experts in the field of screwing up and learning by experience, we have amassed a wealth of tips about what to look for when scouting for a…