What is the best way to search for an apartment?

[Sadie22]

I remember when DH and I were looking for our first apartment, we picked up a publication called Apartment Guide or something like that for the area, and then drove around looking for available apartments. We probably also checked the newspaper.

One of our sons is looking for a place, and he's checking out apartments and houses to share on Craigslist.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

All of the above...The magazines are useful with the maps and pictures. Craigslist (I don't use it but others swear by it), zillow, rent.com, realtor.com (click rentals). These will have houses too.

Right now we are just using a realty company that can par down all the choices. We used the magazines to choose the area and to get a good idea of reasonable rent for amenities. And we only have to pay one time for the credit and application fee since the real estate office is handling all of it.

 

[zurgswife]

I just found a place to live using Craigslist.

 

[melifeld]

I find that this varies greatly by where you live.

 

[dawnball]

Around here, I use padmapper. It pulls from a variety of sources (including craiglist and apartments.com, and will overlay walkscore, transit, commute distance, neighborhoods, etc.

 

[tikistitch]

I use an apartment locator. The one I go to is a local based company, but they don't charge me for anything and she can get me deals that I can't get if I go in on my own and speak to apartment managers.

 

[bananasplitkids]

I was just in that same position. I looked on craigslist, pad mapper, zillow, apartments.com. Another thing is to look at apartment hunters they do all the work and find great deals for you and if you use them they will include free moving which is great. Also if you can drive around an area you are interested in that is how I found my apartment.