Pre-Move Visit to New York City, and Why I’m Going To Move to Queens

November 12, 2014 | By Ben AuthorMy First Apartment

Six months ago, I made the decision to move to New York City after I graduate from college in December. As I was doing research and trying to find answers to all of my questions, I realized it would be best to just take a trip from my current home in San Francisco to visit…

How I Did My Long Distance Apartment Search

October 29, 2014 | By Jessie AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’ve ever tried remotely searching for an apartment in a new city, then you know it’s not exactly easy. When I was still living in Des Moines, Iowa, but planning my move to Denver, I spent hours on the internet, just searching for apartments. After figuring out which neighborhoods I wanted to focus on,…

4 Lessons Learned from My U-Haul Move to DC

August 21, 2014 | By Mary AuthorMy First Apartment

We packed up the U-Haul and off we went at six in the morning. It was a smooth seven hour ride to Washington DC, with no traffic and cheap gas in Pennsylvania. Then we hit problems. So, here are some lessons I learned from my move. (Note: They will apply equally to all the other rent-a-truck companies,…

My Five Step Moving Plan Progress Report: 5 Stars!

August 3, 2014 | By Mary AuthorMy First Apartment

I am only a week away from the big move and now I feel couldn’t be more prepared. My last post was about my five step plan to find an apartment from afar and the best way to move without spending too much money. I think I have done just that. With my mother getting…

Apartment Search from Afar with a Five Step Plan

June 28, 2014 | By Mary AuthorMy First Apartment

I am a 2014 engineering graduate with a seven hour move to make in August, from a small town to Washington, DC. Moving to a location that is so far away is complicated, especially when you don’t have the time to visit the area. As any good engineer I have approached the upcoming move with a detailed plan…

How Safe is Your New Hood? 8 Ways to Check

April 8, 2014 | By Melissa AuthorMy First Apartment

When moving to a new neighborhood, whether a few blocks or thousands of miles from your comfortable bubble, it’s easy (and important!) to question how safe the new area is. Especially if you won’t be living in a building with 24-hour security or a doorman, you’ll want to make sure you feel protected in your new…

Where to Stay in a New City While Apartment Hunting

March 4, 2013 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

Sometimes, it’s just not possible to find an apartment before you arrive in a new city. Maybe you got a sweet job offer, but it required you to drop everything and get there immediately. Maybe you totally meant to find a place a long time ago, but, well, kept putting it off. Or, perhaps you live a…

Aussie Chick Plans Move from Melbourne to Manhattan – Introducing Alex H.

November 6, 2012 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello world! I’m Alex – a 27-year old Aussie chick who is on the move! I would love you to come with me on my journey to finding the perfect home as I relocate from Melbourne, Australia to New York City this winter. Yes – you read that correctly. I am leaving the gorgeous Australian…

The Do’s and Don’ts of a Long Distance Apartment Hunt

March 13, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

So you’re moving to a new city, one nowhere near where you currently live, and you need to find an apartment. What to do? Last year, Alissa covered moving to New York on short notice, and Katherine covered her needs for moving long distance to LA. Also, Alissa gave some general tips in 2006 that…

Renting A Moving Truck – And Moving Cross-Country!

September 23, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hi, I’m Alex, Alissa’s boyfriend. As regular readers to this site know, Alissa (and I) just completed a cross-country move from hipster-y Brooklyn to frat-y Chicago. The move went well – thanks for asking! But I’m sure what you’re really interested in are tips on how to do it. First: take a deep breath. Moving…