Apartment hunting

WHERE TO FIND APARTMENT LISTINGS

Where do you start looking for an apartment in the United States? There are a few places where you can begin your search. Which way do you think would be the easiest and cheapest way to find an apartment? Which way do you think would be the most expensive way to find an apartment?

a) classified advertisements in newspapers
b) classified advertisements online in city-based web sites
c) housing offices of universities
d) real estate offices
e) listings placed on public bulletin boards
f) asking friends and/or relatives about places to rent

If you chose e and f as the cheapest way, you are correct! It doesn't cost anything to respond to a public bulletin board listing or to ask a friend or relative about their recommendations for places to live.

If you chose a, b, c or d, you have picked some of the most expensive ways to find an apartment. You may have to pay money to the people who help you get the apartment. This money or fee is equal to one month's rent and is paid to the realtor who shows you the apartment and helps the owner rent the apartment. In newspapers and online advertisements, most of the ads are from realtors who charge this kind of "fee".