Austin apartments are enjoying a great market right now–ask anybody. UT’s student newspaper, The Daily Texan, reports a record apartment market in Austin:

“Austin now has the distinction of possessing the strongest apartment market in the state, outpacing other major cities in Texas by several percentage points, according to a report by the Apartment Realty Advisors. By the end of 2006, the occupancy rate in Austin reached nearly 94 percent, compared to roughly 89 percent occupancy in both San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth and 88 percent in Houston.

“Not since the most recent building peak in 2001, when 11,665 units reached the market have Austin apartments seen such a a healthy boom. Right now, construction is picking up mainly in downtown Austin, where apartment units from four separate projects nearly reach the 800 mark.”

Austin Apartments: Up-and-Coming Apartment Projects

Trailing downtown Austin, South Austin apartment projects are also on the rise, according to O’Connor and Associates, an Austin apartment firm. Among the big names, SoCo Lofts will contribute 300 brand new units to the growing South Congress neighborhood, and Alexan Onion Creek will add almost 400 new Austin apartments to the Southpark Meadows retail development. The Villages of Bella Vista off of Brodie Lane will match the Alexan’s numbers in the Southwest Austin apartment market.

Pat Jones, an Austin apartment sales director, says, “Right now the economy in Austin is booming…the growth is healthy. Developers will add more units to match the supply with the demand.”

So, if you’re looking for an apartment in Austin, you’re in the right place! Just click below to get started at ApartmentSearch.

Busy, on the go entrepreneur and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki knows what busy, on the go people need. That’s why he and the folks over at Nononina have created Alltop.com, which is the perfect site for busy, on the go apartment dwellers. Alltop is an information aggregator. That is, Alltop is a website that collects top stories from all over the web and groups them based on topic.

News You Can Use

Alltop can make your life easier. For instance, if you want a quick fix of environmental news, you simply visit green.alltop.com. There you have all the top environmental news stories collected for you in one place. It’s sort of like an online magazine rack where you can quickly scan all the top headlines and decide what you want to read.

All the Top Information for Your Life

Naturally, at ApartmentSearch.com we are interested in news that make apartment life easier. Therefore, our favorite section of Alltop is lifehacks.alltop.com. Lifehacks features great news, articles and tips to make your life easier. A quick scan shows stories about everything from time management and improving your relationships to guitar hero tips. If you want to figure out how to save money, repair a sink and find an apartment fast, there is no better place to start than Alltop!

How Do You Tell the Real Apartment Reviews from the Useless Apartment Reviews?

Apartment reviews are funny things. Just like everything else on the Internet, you have to take them with a grain of salt. Some apartment reviews are clearly written by an unbiased Good Samaritan to help others find an apartment. Other apartment reviews are obviously the ravings of a dissatisfied tenant or possibly even a competing apartment complex.

You’ve probably seen apartment reviews like the ones at the sites we mentioned in our earlier blog about apartment ratings. But how do you form a valid opinion to find an apartment from the apartment reviews you’ve seen? Can you pull valid information from apartment reviews that are angry and biased? Can there be misinformation and propaganda in helpful apartment reviews?

Here are some apartment review tips we’ve collected that will help you find an apartment more quickly:

Look for a Common Thread in Apartment Reviews

If one apartment review talks about the sparkling cleanliness of the complex’s pool, that’s a good thing, but doesn’t carry too much weight. If five reviews, written in different styles, praise the pool’s condition and the apartment maintenance, you’re probably looking at some factual information.

Throw Out the Best and Worst Apartment Reviews

There are always people who will love or hate an apartment complex, and apartment reviews reflect that. Since you’re working to find an apartment that is best for you, not for the extreme optimists and extreme pessimists, try to ignore the most extreme comments that you see.

Fake apartment reviews will often appeal to your emotions by mentioning rats, roaches, bad attitudes and slow service – or on the positive side, flowery friendly encounters with residents or an apartment manager who may or may not exist. Control your reactions to these apartment reviews. They may be true; they may be false. If you scare at the first mention of an apartment’s pest problem in a review, you may be walking away from a great place.

The fact is, if you spot an apartment review that lays it on thick, complaining of rodents, fleas, noise and bad service, you are probably reading a fake apartment review. Read the other reviews for the apartment complex and see if they confirm or contradict the original review writer.

Inspect the Writer’s Facts and Style

If someone is trying to spread bad publicity about a competitor through fake apartment reviews, he or she probably has a lot to do. Not only are there many competing apartment complexes in every neighborhood, but there are at least three major apartment review websites. That means the fake review writer has little time to do a lot of writing. As a result, fake apartment reviews are often short, sloppy and light on details.

Real apartment reviews sound like a letter from someone you know. They often cite facts, names, dates, locations and most importantly, details about the specific apartment complex. A fake apartment reviewer probably doesn’t know the apartment complex as well as a true resident.

Keep an Eye Out for Apartment Review Dates and Authors

It’s common sense, but if you see a lot of strong apartment reviews – whether negative or positive – posted during a short span of time, that should raise your eyebrows. Also look for strong reviews that appear on different apartment rating websites by the same user or people with similar usernames.

Consider Renting a Place with ApartmentSearch Apartment Rewards

This tip isn’t really apartment review-related, but not many people know that you can earn a substantial apartment-search reward when you use ApartmentSearch.com to find an apartment. All you have to do is find an apartment here, mention us to your leasing agent when you apply for the apartment and then claim your renter’s reward! With all the cool apartments you can find at ApartmentSearch.com, why not do it online and earn some cash at the same time? The extra scratch might make a nice dent in the security deposit!

Hopefully these tips will make it a little easier for you to find an apartment that fits your needs! Good luck searching!

Apartment Lease Questions to Ask Before You Commit

Finally done finding an apartment that’s right for you? Well, hold on before you sign the lease. There are some apartment lease questions you need to ask before you can be absolutely sure that this apartment is right for you. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to begin your apartment search, you will need to register at ApartmentSearch.com. This will allow you to see all of the apartments that fit your search criteria and take you one step closer to your new home.

Once You’ve Found the Perfect Apartment

The most important part of the Reward process is telling your apartment complex where you found them. Make sure you write down ApartmentSearch.com by CORT as the referral source on your rental application and you are on your way to a $200 Reward. At this point, you will want to let ApartmentSearch.com know that they helped you find your apartment. To do this, go onto www.ApartmentSearch.com and go to the ‚ “Claim Reward” tab, where you will find step by step instructions on how to claim your Reward.

How the Reward Works

You might be asking yourself, “What’s the catch?” Well, you will be pleased to know that there is no catch! When you source ApartmentSearch.com for finding your apartment, your apartment complex pays ApartmentSearch.com a referral fee. As a result, ApartmentSearch.com can provide you with a Reward as a thank you for using their site to find your apartment at no expense to you!

The Reward

The Reward is anywhere from $100 to $200. In most cases, you will get a $200 Reward, which consists of $100 in CORT Bucks and a $100 American Express card that you can use anywhere AMEX is accepted. You can use your CORT Bucks at any CORT Showroom nationwide to buy or rent furniture for your new apartment.

If you are in a city that offers a $100 Reward, that consists of $100 in CORT Bucks. The $150 Reward is $100 in CORT Bucks and a $50 AMEX card. Click for a list of cities and their corresponding rewards.

When Do I Receive My Reward?

Once ApartmentSearch.com has confirmed that you’ve signed your lease, they will send you your $100 CORT Bucks. This is convenient, so that you can get that last piece of furniture you need for your new place. You will receive your AMEX card once your apartment complex pays ApartmentSearch.com for the referral. Go ahead and allow around four to ten weeks to receive your AMEX card so that ApartmentSearch.com and your apartment complex can get all of the scores settled.

For more information, read the terms and conditions on claiming your reward and good luck finding your perfect place!

Renting a college apartment takes some forethought, but it can be done efficiently. Some people even find it fun!

Looking for an apartment in a college town, either for yourself or a son or daughter, can prove to be a daunting task for even the most independent student or trusting parent. With proper planning and research, renting a college apartment can be an easy and rewarding experience for all parties involved. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing an apartment. Read below for some factors that I’ve found most important during my college career.

The most important factor is location. You can save considerable time and money by walking or biking to classes instead of driving (and trying to find that impossible parking spot) if you live close to campus. But, this often comes as a tradeoff, as apartments closer to campus tend to cost more. This rule is by no means set in stone, but finding a cheap apartment close to campus takes more time and work. Trust me, it’s worth it.

A second factor to keep in mind when renting a college apartment is the neighborhood. For example, you might find a dirt cheap apartment, but it isn’t such a good deal if it’s in a crime-stricken neighborhood. Instead of solely relying on price, try to find a balance between proximity to campus, cost and the nearby amenities. Consider the distance to the nearest bank, movie theater, bus stop or grocery store. Also, it’s important to consider your neighbors. Is your apartment in a neighborhood surrounded by other college students or by elderly people? Remember that when you move into your college apartment, the neighborhood can affect the way you feel about your new home just as much as the price.

You may also want to seek out apartments that take pets. No one wants to leave a pet behind and dogs and birds can be invaluable in scaring away would-be thieves. Another important factor is the physical layout and facilities of the apartment. Is the bedroom big enough for your bed? Can the kitchen fit all of your appliances, such as a microwave, coffee maker, or washing machine? If you have a car, does the apartment complex have adequate and safe parking? If you plan to live with roommates, is there enough space for everyone? These are all important questions to consider.

Apartment ratings can be an important help, too. Apartment rating websites often have a wealth of information about the pros and cons of popular apartment complexes, making it much easier for you to weed out the bad seeds when you’re renting a college apartment.

Finally, how do you plan on paying for the apartment? This can be an especially important question for college students, as money tends to run tight. First, check to see if the heating, electric, water, cable and internet are all included in the monthly rental fee or if you have to pay for them individually. Also, make sure to ask about the average monthly costs from past tenants to see if you are consuming too much energy. Check to see if everything is clearly stated on your lease agreement, including the date of payment and the terms of the lease. As you will be probably living in the apartment for months or even years, it’s important to take the time to carefully read over the contract. This will help you to avoid future disputes with the landlord down the road.

Living in an apartment during your college years can be one of the best experiences of your life. Take the time to think about what qualities are important for you. Then browse through our list of apartments for rent to find your perfect college apartment. Don’t forget to claim your reward for renting through ApartmentSearch.com!

Decorating Your Apartment Is Like Furnishing Your Life

Decorating your apartment should be something you look forward to. But that’s not true for everybody.

For some apartment dwellers, finding an apartment is the big challenge and decorating an apartment is an afterthought. Apartments become places where they just store stuff. They think of it as a temporary space, and figure that with the restrictions in their lease about painting the walls that they’re stuck with a generic white apartment treatment that looks like every other apartment on the floor.

With a little decorating creativity, though, you can make your apartment feel more like a real home that says something about your personality. Whether it’s candlelight and pastel-colored, fluffy pillows, or a display of your favorite team’ sports memorabilia, here’re some ideas to get your creative juices flowing and your apartment decorated in style.

Decorate Your Apartment in Themed Spaces

The important thing here is to brainstorm, and not worry too much about how you’re going to decorate. Just get your creative cap on, or invite your more creative friends over to brainstorm ideas and help you with decorating your apartment.

Mentally Divide Your Apartment

Even if it’s only a one bedroom apartment you’re living in, take a look around and mentally partition your apartment into some divisions around which you can create a few different decorating themes. Use the # of bedrooms + 3 rule. That is, you can usually choose a theme for each bedroom in the apartment, and create three other themed spaces. More themed spaces may create a busy, crowded feel; fewer themed spaces may give the impression that you stopped decorating your apartment halfway through.

For example, the best corner in the apartment could become a mini antique display, a spot to highlight family photos, or a morning meditation spot. By creating themed spaces, you’re taking a small, homogenous space and giving it variety. You’ll also make your small apartment feel bigger. That’s what decorating your apartment is all about.

Functional and Random Spaces in Your Apartment

Your themed spaces can be functional and random. For example one corner could be your dog’s, with his doggie bed and a few pictures of him on the wall above it, while the general living room area can evoke a relaxing, laid back feel, with a recliner as the main focus.

A Central Decorating Theme

Try making your apartment’s themed spaces revolve around a central theme. Your living room area could be decorated in a South American fiesta theme, with a large map of the continent on the wall, while your apartment’s bedroom can have an Asian theme, with bamboo pictures and thrift-store lacquer furniture. Use your own style and interests to define how you approach decorating your apartment.

Physically Decorate and Divvy Up Your Apartment’s Space

A divider can be a great way to decorate your themed space and give you even more of a feel that you’ve got more space than you do. These are a great cure for the layout of a studio apartment, which feels like (and is) one big room.

Here’s a creative alternative to the usual wooden dividers: head to your local crafts or sewing store, and ask them about large, folding table pads, used to protect tables from needles and to provide a work surface. You can throw a large sheet, blanket, or other cloth over them to create a different look, and nobody knows what’s under there. Not only might this save you money, but the foam type of material inside makes a great sound absorber, which is important in a small apartment. You never know when you’ll have trouble quieting noisy apartment neighbors, too.

Stay tuned! In our next blog, Decorating Your Apartment Part 2, we’ll give you some tips on how to add color to your apartment while keeping the apartment management happy.

Apartment ratings can be extremely helpful when searching for that perfect apartment. Apartment ratings and reviews tell potential residents whether an apartment complex will be a good fit for them. Thanks to many helpful Web sites, finding that perfect place to call home is a lot easier than it used to be. Tons of current and former residents are eager to give their two cents on whether they liked their apartment, often rating things like grounds, office staff, amenities and safety in the apartment ratings. Here are a few Web sites that provide apartment ratings.

Apartment Ratings at ApartmentRatings.com

Apartment ratings at ApartmentRatings.com give people the chance to read real apartment ratings by real residents. In fact, this site has over 579,000 apartment ratings of residences all over the country. There are quite a few funny reviews, and of course there are plenty of livid ones and positive ones. Reviewers on this site definitely aren’t afraid to speak their mind, and it’s a good thing — you can be warned about potentially unsafe apartment complexes or unhelpful management by viewing the apartment ratings on this site. It is free to use.

Apartment Reviews: No Shortage of Apartment Ratings

ApartmentReviews.net is another place to find great apartment ratings. Like ApartmentRatings.com, you can search this site to find apartment ratings of residences all over the country. The mantra of this site, similar to other apartment ratings sites, is to “help others choose the right apartments.” Talk about good karma — reviewers on this site are also honest and helpful, and clicking on a state on the map will lead you to a page listing cities in that state. From there, you pick your city, and you’ll see a list of apartments along with peek at the score of the apartment. Apartment ratings include factors like security, parking, management, appearance and maintenance.

College Apartment Reviews at RateMyApartments.com

RateMyApartments.com seems to be more aimed toward the college crowd, with a focus on college apartment reviews. This can definitely be a helpful tool for students who have little or no experience in renting a college apartment. Many new renters might make the mistake of signing a lease for a place that’s the cheapest, or the place that looks the nicest. But failing to check out apartment ratings is a huge mistake that they’ll undoubtedly realize down the road. This site makes moving into that first place easier for college students. Users must choose their state and then the college they’re attending. After that, they’ll be taken to a page that lists apartment ratings for complexes near that school.

Any views and opinions expressed on ApartmentRatings.com, ApartmentReviews.net, and RateMyApartments.com are strictly those of the author and not shared by ApartmentSearch by CORT. ApartmentSearch by CORT does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of these facts, views, or opinions. ApartmentSearch by CORT specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from facts, views, or opinions of individuals or organizations not affiliated with ApartmentSearch by CORT appearing on this Site.

Apartments that take pets can seem tough to find. This can be very frustrating if you have a dog or a cat and need to find an apartment, but don’t lose hope – it’s not impossible to find apartments that take pets if you follow a few guidelines. Read the rest of this entry »