6 Tips for Apartment Hunting in a More Expensive City

February 19, 2017 | By Kalee AuthorMy First Apartment

Whether you’re a pro at moving or you’re moving into your first apartment, moving is stressful. Moving to a more expensive city is even more stressful, especially when it comes to finding an affordable and safe apartment that you love. Don’t worry, though. Do your research, and you’ll find an apartment suitable to you and…

How Do I Rent From an Individual?

December 14, 2014 | By Chloe AuthorMy First Apartment

Renting a living space from an individual will be different experience than working with a company, but it can open doors for you to rent in a more personable, flexible, and friendly way! You may not have the convenience of 24/7 maintenance, a workout room, or the community gathering spaces of many apartment complexes, but…

Countdown to Your First Apartment: 4 Steps to Conducting Your Search

January 13, 2013 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’re looking to move into an apartment for the first time, you’re in luck: this is part two of our three-part series. Today’s topic is how to search for your place. Last week we talked about getting ready (i.e., budgeting, saving for moving costs, and credit scores) and next week we’ll have a discussion…

Beyond Craigslist – A Brief Guide to Apartment-Hunting Web Sites

October 30, 2012 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

We recently listed a few resources for those who want to get off the beaten path and find an apartment without using the internet. But, of course, the web is an invaluable research tool, especially once you’ve figured out how to narrow your search, and how to harness the wealth of information without drowning in the onslaught. …

How I Found My Dream Apartment in One Weekend (after Much Planning)

April 3, 2012 | By Christina AuthorMy First Apartment

As I think back on how I found the apartment of my dreams, I am realizing that there is so much I need to tell you guys! Finding your dream apartment is not easy. It takes time, diligence and patience (the latter of the three I admit I often lack), but when you finally find…

When Is the Best Time to Apartment Hunt?

January 19, 2012 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

You may be surprised to learn that, like most shopping ventures, there are better and worse times to go apartment hunting. And. . . like most monetary expeditions, supply and demand has a very large part to play. Check out our calendar of rental months below and the pro/cons to having your lease begin with…

WIN – A Free T-Shirt By Sharing Your Apartment Hunting Tips!

September 15, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Apartment hunting can be the total worst – we know. So, we wanted to offer you a lil’ pick-me-up – in the form of a free coolness. . . Specifically, a rad new t-shirt from Scared Panda, a t-shirt shop that specializes in shirts that reflect the different communities the founders have lived in and experienced. The t-shirts are…

Get Going – Rents Are Moving Up!

June 15, 2010 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As many frequent readers of My First Apartment can attest to – I don’t have a very high opinion of the New York Times’ rental section. Their articles are myopic and outdated and the tone tends to more closely resemble that of an Upper East Side doyenne than a breaking news reporter. I still have…

Stop that Check!

September 21, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s been a bit of a crazy apartment week. When I last wrote, I had realized that my future management company was full of scammers based on an almost too late Google search. As such, I didn’t want anything to do with them. But, I’d already given them a $700 which I know wanted back…

Play Detective Before You Sign That New Lease!

September 14, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I just started apartment hunting and already nearly signed a bad lease. How close was it? I’d already put down the deposit. Luckily, I found out that the management company(starts with D, rhymes with Kermont) was legendary for being horrible to its tenants. I found out. . . through some smart detective work. You’re probably…