How to Put Aside Emergency Fund Money While Paying First-Apartment Rent

August 2, 2022 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When moving into your first apartment and getting started with adult life, one of the most important things to do is to start building up an emergency fund. It can be difficult to do that while paying other expenses, especially first-apartment rent, so read on below for four tips and tricks to start putting aside…

What Is The Median Rent for a One-Bedroom Apartment?

January 31, 2022 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When looking to move into your first apartment, the most important choice is where you’re going to live. Many variables can help you make your choice, and one of the most important is whether you can find affordable housing in a certain area. Read on below to learn the national median rent for a one-bedroom…

Is it Legal to Pay Rent via Venmo or PayPal?

December 30, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

One of the first things you need to figure out when moving into a new apartment is how you’re going to pay your rent. These days, most people manage pretty much everything from their cell phone, so why can’t paying rent be the same? Venmo and PayPal are two of the most popular mobile payment…

How to Find a Guarantor

October 7, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

For first-time renters or those looking to rent without proof of stable employment and income, landing that dream apartment may take an extra effort. When you’re credible but not quite meeting all the marks, a landlord may recommend you find a guarantor, allowing you to meet their requirements in a combined group effort. If you’re…

How Can You Get Rent or Mortgage Relief Despite the CARES Act Expiring?

August 19, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Starting Aug. 24, the CARES Act will stop shielding millions of renters from eviction. On July 31, jobless workers stopped receiving $600 weekly enhancement benefits. President Trump has issued a memorandum lowering the unemployment benefit to $400 a week, but some people may not receive the payments for weeks. Additionally, underfunded states may not have…

How Soon Are COVID-19 Rent Protections Expiring?

June 2, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In late March, the federal government passed the CARES Act, which banned evictions for 120 days in many rental apartments. This no-eviction period is fast expiring, leading many renters to wonder what their options are if they still cannot pay rent – a likely scenario given that unemployment has not improved since the pandemic began…

How Can You Get COVID-19 Rent or Mortgage Relief?

May 12, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

During the two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders necessary for public health and safety have resulted in massive unemployment, in turn affecting apartment renters’ and owners’ budgets. Rent and mortgage payments become considerably tougher to pay without income, and though there were some federal interventions to delay evictions and foreclosures at the start…

First Time Renter Mistakes to Avoid

May 7, 2017 | By Sarah AuthorMy First Apartment

When browsing for your first apartment, it’s easy to get in over your head! From amenities to floor plans and square footage, to location…there is SO MUCH to consider before making a final decision as to where you’ll live. Here are a few common first-time renter mistakes to avoid, which will keep you secure and…

Tips for Hassle-Free Splitting of Bills with Roommates

June 30, 2013 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

You know how it goes. One roommate has the cable bill in his name. Another roommate has his name on the electricity and heat. And you’re the one that mails in the rent check. And then there’s groceries, which you try to trade off on, but it may just be that you’ve footed the bill…