Renting 101: Renter’s Responsibilities

January 19, 2017 | By Kalee AuthorMy First Apartment

We can find tons of articles about the responsibilities of a landlord, and many responsibilities of a landlord are required by the state or are included in your lease. For instance, landlords are responsible for things like maintaining a safe apartment building with access to adequate heat, water, and electricity. But do we ever think…

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…

3 Common First-Time Renter Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

October 3, 2013 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

Moving into your very first apartment creates a range of emotions as broad as anything you’ll find in Oscar-winning film. Drama! Inner turmoil! Giddiness! Apprehension! Triumph! In the emotional flurry of searching, packing, and moving in, it’s understandable if you feel overwhelmed and distracted, and make a few rookie mistakes. Here are some common ones…

Our Most Popular Advice for First Time Apartment Hunters

April 11, 2013 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

As the spring apartment hunting season kicks into high gear, here are some of our most popular post for first time renters. How much do you need to save before you can afford to rent an apartment? The short answer is about 10% of your annual salary, but check out these two posts here and here for how…

Renting 101: Look for an Affordable City That Matches Your Interests and Personality

September 8, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

For many recent grads, the first year after college is an exciting, but fraught time: you’ve achieved your educational goals, you’re at the top of the heap … and now you’re expected to join the so-called real world, doing entry-level work. The point is, you need to decide where you are going to start building a life. One option…

Renting 101: Negotiating with Your Landlord

August 3, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Negotiating is perhaps one of the scariest aspects of dealing with landlords. This is because, for whatever reason, American culture is almost completely devoid of bargaining. In fact, it’s almost taboo: if you walk into a store in the U.S., you expect to pay the list price. No American negotiates the price of a duvet…