Now Easier to Find San Diego Apartments

The slumping housing market is expected to boost San Diego rentals and the rental market, which is traditionally pretty tight, with a vacancy rate of under 5 percent. The housing market has actually fallen 30 percent since late 2005. And since 2006, more than 71 new housing projects have been taken off the market. In these San Diego apartments, new homes and condo conversions, there is a total of more than 4,930 units.

San Diego Apartment Rentals: An Increasing Supply

Analysts expect that these San Diego apartments, condos and homes will eventually be put up for rent, adding to the supply of apartments for rent in San Diego. However, with the drop in homeownership because of foreclosures and mortgage rejections, it means there are more people interested in finding California apartments. No doubt, this situation will be keeping apartment managers and landlords very busy.

Finding San Diego Apartments

Declining housing sales may mean that there will be more San Diego apartments, condos and houses for renters to choose from. More supply and more options in San Diego will be beneficial for those looking for apartments to rent.

If you’re looking to find an apartment in San Diego, we’re here to help. Check out our moving center for an apartment moving checklist so your move goes as smoothly as possible. We also offer up to $200 as an apartment renting reward just for locating your new San Diego apartment with us! Our goal at ApartmentSearch.com is to make finding an apartment easy for you.

The New York City apartment rented by Bianca Jagger - Mick’s ex-wife - is no longer hers, according to a New York court. On October 23, the court ruled that Jagger had been lawfully evicted from the rent-controlled New York City apartment because of her visa status. Jagger, a British citizen, has held a B-2 tourist visa for years.

Katz Park Avenue Corporation, the apartment managers for Jagger’s ritzy New York City apartment on the Upper East Side, are probably happy to see her go. Not only will they be able to raise the rent on the apartment now that she’s gone (from the rent-controlled-yet-still-mindblowing $4600-per-month she had been paying), but they won’t have to deal with the dispute she raised a few years ago about the apartment’s purported mold problems, which resulted in Jagger withholding rent payments.

The New York City Court of Appeals judge in the apartment residence case wrote in the decision, “a primary residence in New York and a B-2 visa are logically incompatible.” Many renters looking to find an apartment, whether a New York City apartment or not, are being put in uncomfortable situations in these difficult economic times. Unfortunately, it looks like Bianca Jagger is one of those right now.

Finding Your Place - Even If It’s Not a $4600/Month New York City Apartment

Frankly, if you’re in a temporary situation or limited-term contract job assignment, you should look into temporary housing solutions instead of signing the lease for a rent-controlled New York City apartment.

However, for most of us, renting an apartment is the solution. No visa, no jet-setting lifestyle, no rent-controlled New York City apartment. We just want a basic place to relax, eat the occasional meal and lay our heads.

ApartmentSearch offers some cool features to make it easy to find an apartment, like our tools to search for apartments by state and apartments in popular cities. Our moving center offers tips on making your move as painless as possible. And of course our apartment rewards program will set you up with $200 in rewards and cash for finding a place with us, whether it’s a New York City apartment, a Chicago loft or a Phoenix duplex!

“Apartments Available” is a common message at apartment complexes right now. The rental market has taken a beating from the economic crisis, and if you’re trying to find an apartment, now is a great time because rents are temporarily low and more folks are finding apartments available.

According to an October 28th article from The Wall Street Journal’s Marketwatch.com website, the Market Tightness Index has indicated more apartments available and lower rents for five straight quarters - more than a year of declines. At the same time, Mark Obrinsky, the vice president of research for the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC), says that “favorable demographics and a lower homeownership rate will benefit the apartment industry over time,” driving up rents, tightening the rental market and making fewer apartments available.

High Apartment Availability Won’t Last

In our opinion, Obrinsky’s right on the money about the rental market. The mortgage crisis has made it nearly impossible for home buyers to get loans to buy new homes. Right now, things are so bad that people are living with friends or family while they try to regroup from foreclosures and job losses. Soon, though, those people will move into apartments and reduce the number of apartments available.

The rental market is slow now, but this is just the calm before the storm. We expect to see a lot of traffic on the rental market in coming months and a lot fewer apartments available for renters.

If you’re unsatisfied with your current housing situation, you should consider looking to rent an apartment on our website or swinging by one of our local apartment rental offices for a chat with one of our apartment finders. We anticipate that there will be far fewer choice apartments available for renters to choose from in the spring.

Source: MarketWatch, October 28, 2008.

The security deposit landscape is changing. No longer do you have to hand over a huge stack of bills to move into an apartment. There’s a new player in town, the surety bond. Instead of having to float the security deposit on your new place and pay the new security deposit at the same time, a surety bond cuts the size of that move-in cost by 80-90 percent.

Of course, such a powerful tool has its drawbacks. First, the entire amount of the surety bond is a cost, not a security deposit. You never get it back. Second, unlike security deposits, surety bonds only cover you for a fixed period, usually five years. Lastly, you’re still on the hook for any damage when you move out of the new apartment.

Still, for many folks who believe in good apartment maintenance, surety bonds can make the difference between finding a new apartment and being stuck in one.

How Surety Bonds Replace Security Deposits

With surety bonds, the fee goes to the bond company, not to the apartment manager. That company guarantees that the apartment management will be compensated for the amount of the deposit even if you cause a lot of damage and skip town. Of course, we really don’t encourage that kind of behavior - especially since the surety bond company will destroy your credit and search for you to make sure you hold up your end of the security deposit/surety bond promise!

In the case that you do violate apartment etiquette with some damage, you pay the surety bond company because they are the ones who have guaranteed the quality of your apartment tenancy. They then pay the landlord for the damage.

Where to Find Surety Bond Apartments

These bonds are too new to be widespread, but their popularity is growing. To find an apartment near you that takes surety bonds, try searching at SureDeposit, one of the biggest bond companies.

Other Security Deposit Techniques

If surety bonds don’t sound like a winner to you, but you still choke at the cost of a move to a new apartment, consider some other security deposit ideas.

1. Borrow money from family or friends. You only need the money for about a month - time enough to get your security deposit back from your old place.
2. Take out a personal loan from your bank. Again, you only need it for a month.
3. Ask your boss for an advance on your paycheck.
4. Ask your new apartment managers if they’ll put the security deposit on your credit card.
5. Move all your purchases to your credit card and save up money in your bank account that way. Then use the extra cash to pay the security deposit. And don’t forget to pay off the credit card when you get your old security deposit back!

We hope these apartment security deposit tips have been helpful to you. Happy renting!

Accessible apartments are apartments with certain options that make them easier to navigate for people with disabilities. Finding an apartment nowadays is hard enough, but it’s even trickier for the physically disabled who want to rent an apartment that is affordable and furnished with wide hallways and sinks that have clearance for wheelchairs. Other accessible apartment features include handrails for maneuvering around bathrooms and low countertops that allow wheelchair users access to kitchen facilities.

The Demand for Accessible Apartments

According to the most recent Americans with Disabilities Report, in 2002, 18 percent of our population had some form of disability. With the number of aging citizens constantly increasing, this percentage is sure to have grown over the past six years. Meanwhile, many forward-thinking apartment builders are including accessible apartments in their projects, but apartment managers at existing apartment complexes are often unable to say “yes, we’re accessible” to disabled renters.

Financial Assistance for Accessible Apartments

Finding accessible apartments can be a lot easier for the disabled apartment seeker and/or their families through the use of several housing services. Using the aid and assistance of organizations such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development and state housing finance agencies is definitely recommended for anyone having difficulty finding an accessible apartment. Also, the search for accessible apartments can be eased by Section 8 vouchers and housing vouchers specifically for people with disabilities. These agencies and programs are set up to provide aid for people with disabilities that might not enable them to work or earn enough to afford high-end accessible apartments.

Rent an Accessible Apartment with Us

If finding the perfect accessible apartment seems daunting, then using the assistance of an apartment locator might be the best option. An apartment locator will do all the work in searching for accessible apartments in the desired area that meet the accessibility needs of the tenant. At ApartmentSearch.com, we not only have a very easy-to-use online apartment searching option, but we also have local offices in several metropolitan areas that can be of further assistance in your search for accessible apartments.

If you need assistance in locating an apartment and you have specific accessibility and/or financial needs, contact our apartment search professionals today.

Rent an Apartment Using Our Handy Guide

Renting an apartment can be a daunting task for anybody. There is always that fear hidden in the back of your mind that you are going to be stuck in an apartment you don’t like for the term of the lease. Knowing that the fear is in all apartment dwellers, we have composed this rent-an-apartment checklist of items to assist you in picking out the right apartment.

Internet and Cable

Internet and cable television hook-ups or access may not be first on your mind when you are looking at a potential apartment, but they might become important after you have moved in. Take note of the location of the hook-ups and whether or not that location will work for your needs. If you don’t notice internet or cable hook-ups, ask the leasing agent the status.

Laundry

Laundry facilities are another important item to check off your list when looking to rent an apartment. If your apartment doesn’t have washer and dryer or hook-ups, you will want to find out if there is a community laundry room on the property. If not, remember that you will need to use a laundromat, so their proximity to the apartment complex is a factor.

Storage

When walking around the apartment, make sure that there is enough closet space to fit your storage needs. There may also be a separate apartment storage room for your extra items; ask your leasing agent about this before you rent.

Phone Reception

In a time when most people have just a cell phone, having good cell phone reception in your apartment is vital. If you’re trying to find an apartment, while you’re out looking at complexes, call a friend and walk around the entire apartment and check the strength of your cell phone reception. If you can’t make a phone call, you might need to rent an apartment elsewhere.

Utilities

If the utilities aren’t included in the rent, your summer and winter utility bills can be a huge shock. When you rent an apartment, be aware of climate factors like direct sun exposure, strong winds and proximity to ponds or lakes that might freeze in winter. Ask about the utility bills, insulation and “green” construction. If you can, discuss utility costs with a current resident in private before renting an apartment.

Necessities

Finally, you might consider checking the proximity of gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores, etc., before you rent an apartment. Although this may not weigh into your final apartment decision, it is good to know how far you have to drive when your gas light is on and you’re late for work.

We hope that this checklist will come in handy when making your rental decisions, but if you still need help, give us a call. We are more than happy to assist.

Apartment Rentals Increasing

Apartment rentals are on the rise, which may seem a little odd during a slow economy. If you really think about it, the increase in apartment rentals actually makes perfect sense. With all the foreclosures on homes because of the slow economy, you have to wonder where all the people who lived in those houses are going. Simple - they are renting apartments.

Apartment Renters Are Staying Put

According to an article in BusinessWeek magazine, fewer people are moving out of apartments to buy homes. In fact, the rate of people moving out of apartments to buy homes is around 14 percent compared to 20 percent last year. There is also the fact that lending standards have gotten stricter, making it more difficult to qualify for a mortgage.

Apartment Rentals Make Sense in Slow Economy

The article also mentions that renting an apartment makes more sense to a lot of people during uncertain financial times. To some it is a much safer feeling to be locked into an apartment lease instead of being locked into a mortgage. The parts of the country where there is an increase in apartment rentals directly corresponds to the parts of the country where the job market is going strong. Areas that have seen a decrease include Florida, California, Arizona, Nevada and New Jersey, according to the article. Areas that have seen an increase in apartment rentals include Tacoma, Seattle, San Francisco and Oklahoma City.

Apartment Rentals: Searching Made Easy

Apartment rentals being on the rise means that the vacancy rate across the nation is going to be lower. It also means that finding apartments that are available is going to get more and more difficult without some assistance. ApartmentSearch.com is a valuable tool for people who are trying to find an apartment to rent. Our search function makes it easy for the apartment hunter to visit virtually any complexe and apartment management office without ever leaving their home.

An apartment garden might seem like an elusive dream to an apartment renter.

Do you miss the taste of fresh vegetables from your grandmother’s garden or the sight of beautiful plants and flowers from your parent’s meticulously manicured lawn? Do you daydream of your very own garden, only to stop because you realize that you rent an apartment? To rent, by definition, means to be without gardening possibilities, right? There isn’t any way that you can have an apartment garden, is there?

Of course there is! Apartment gardens are very much possible and surprisingly easy to get started.

Starting Your Apartment Garden

To begin, you will need to determine a few things. First of all, you will need to find an apartment space that will accommodate your garden. Will it be inside your apartment or outside your apartment? This will determine the types of plants that you will grow. If it is going to be outside on your patio or balcony, you will need to watch and see what part of the balcony gets the most sunlight and which part gets the most shade. Sun-loving plants will go in the sunnier part of the balcony and shade-loving plants will go behind them. You might have to rearrange some furniture on your balcony to make it all work.

Apartment Gardens of the Container Variety

Container gardens are the easiest to start, grow and move around if necessary. You never know when you might decide to relocate and want to take your garden with you. To begin a container garden, you can go out and buy some terracotta pots (which are the quickest and easiest) or you can recycle old water jugs, coffee cans, and even some old bowls. Mixing these containers with some bough pots will make your garden a little more eclectic.

Apartment Gardens Can be Bountiful

There are several types of plants that you can grow in your apartment garden that will yield beautiful and rewarding fruit, vegetables and flowers. Some examples are squash, cucumbers, beans, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, herbs, onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and even pineapples.

Now that you know a little bit more about apartment gardens, search out your perfect spot and begin today!

Apartments in Austin are being built at a record pace, according to apartment industry research firm M/P/F YieldStar. Currently, 12,810 Austin apartments are slated to be built through the end of 2009; that is the third-largest new supply in the country.

Apartments in Austin: An Apartment Renter’s Paradise

M/P/F reports that apartment renters in Austin have the pick of the litter right now, with occupancy rates in the Texas capital city down somewhat (1.8 points) from the same time last year. That means that Austin renters and new arrivals who are seeking apartments for rent face less competition than usual in this popular city.

Apartments in Austin: Great Deals in the Future

Fortunately for Austin-area apartment seekers, an abundance of apartments in Austin equals rent discounts, apartment rewards and other renting incentives. We expect apartment managers and landlords will be busy as we enter Austin’s prime apartment leasing season.

New Apartments in Austin

At the same time, the builders of the newest complexes in Austin are seeing their apartments leased out for much higher rents than normal. These apartment complexes, which see rents starting at about $1,300 and going up to almost $13,000 a month, are located mostly in the downtown area as well as the trendy Domain area of Austin.

Finding Apartments in Austin

If you are in the process of finding an apartment in Austin and you want to know where you can find the trendy new apartments mentioned above or the apartments with the best rental deals - or just an apartment that has the amenities you desire - than come to ApartmentSearch.com and let us help you find your perfect new home.

“Laundry wash day” are words that strike fear in some people. For some reason, doing laundry is a daunting task to people, especially residents who’ve never had an apartment to rent before - and thus have never done their own laundry before. Never fear, we are going to break down the laundry process into steps that every apartment dweller can follow.

Laundry: Step One

Before you even begin doing laundry, make sure that you have everything you need. It’s no fun to gather a load of laundry and then have to go on a search for detergent. So gather up the laundry detergent, fabric softener (either in sheet form or in liquid form), stain remover, laundry basket, and quarters (if you are using a community laundry room), then head to the washing machine.

Laundry: Step Two

The next step in doing laundry is to sort your clothes into colors. You will want to separate the whites, the bright colors and the darks from each other, otherwise your white socks might end up looking pink. Don’t forget to check the pockets to make sure you don’t wash anything that shouldn’t get wet. You might even find money in your pockets. Now that’s a nice reward for getting that dirty laundry washed!

Laundry: Step Three

Once you have separated, it is time to start loading up the washing machine. First, you should add the detergent and then start filling the washer with water. Use cold water for your colors and warm water for your whites. The regular cycle should work for most everything, but for delicate clothes, the gentle cycle is best. Once you have about half of the machine filled with water, toss in your clothes and close the lid. The washing cycle can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.

Laundry: Step Four

Once your clothes have finished washing, you will want to move them to the dryer. First, separate out the delicate clothes and the clothes that shouldn’t be dried in a dryer (refer to your labels), you will want to put these clothes on a drying rack. For the rest of the clothes, throw in a dryer sheet with the laundry and then set the drying temperature. I recommend low or medium for everything to avoid shrinking your clothes. The drying cycle should take about 45 minutes to an hour.

Laundry: Step Five

Once your laundry has finished drying, promptly remove it from the dryer and fold it to avoid wrinkles. See, that wasn’t too hard, was it?

One final tip: if you are using a community laundry room, please respect your neighbors and remove clothes from the washer and dryer as soon as they are finished. Happy washing!