[puckerman]

What are the best sites to look for an apartment or for a roommate?

I haven't looked for a place since 2004. Back then, classified ads published on-line were the best source. The ads were legit because they were paid for.

Craigslist seems to be one place where people post, but there is a lot of re-posting there and tons of scam artists.

Padmapper looks pretty good because it apparently pulls from other sites. You can also search on a map.

Zillow seems alright, too.

I have always rented directly from landlords and landladies. I have avoided complexes, because they have a bunch of crap I don't need. Plus, private landlords and landladies would rather keep a good tenant around. After a one-year lease, they will give you month-to-month.

[Nitro]

Honestly I would say just hit the pavement in the neighborhoods you want to live in. Agreed, Craigslist is a cesspool. A lot of nice deals can be found by owners who either don't want to or don't have time for posting online and dealing with tons of responses. Apartment agencies can be good too. Also try (if you're in the U.S.) domu.com among many others. Your credit score might also be a factor here.

As for roommates, why not people you already know? Or find people through them?

[evilhei]

Finn.no is good site if your looking apartment in Norway. Kv.ee for Estonia

[Biz]

Depends which market you're looking in. Where are you looking?

Craigslist is still the go to site, all other sites are full of inaccurate or outdated information, CL is the most accurate up-to-date site because agents have to actually post the ads themselves in real time.

PM me for more info, I'm in the business and can point you in the right direction.

[The Beast1]

For the UK http://www.roommates.co.uk has been a gold mind especially for London.

I found a great apartment via craigslist in New York but I had room mates already picked out. The room mates section on CL wasn't that bad either (same city). Craigslist in London though is a cesspool. In the room/share section you'll only find people soliciting rooms for sexual favors (no joke).

[Player_1337]

If looking in NYC- check out StreetEasy.

[AneroidOcean]

Craig's List is still your best bet in the US, but remember that the quality can vary widely.

Commercial sites can be decent as well but you'll be paying a premium and likely dealing with a management company and apartment communities. Some can be good, but I'd rather live in a home without a million neighbors above/below/to the sides myself if I were renting.

[Cr33pin]

[Fast Eddie]

In USA, Craigslist, and it's not even close. Especially for finding shares/roommates. Of course, as with most things in life, the things with the highest ceilings also have the lowest floors, so you have to use your wits and do your due diligence. But I really wouldn't bother with any other platform, there is no comparison.

[puckerman]

(06-18-2015 08:21 AM)Nitro Wrote:  

Honestly I would say just hit the pavement in the neighborhoods you want to live in. Agreed, Craigslist is a cesspool. A lot of nice deals can be found by owners who either don't want to or don't have time for posting online and dealing with tons of responses. Apartment agencies can be good too. Also try (if you're in the U.S.) domu.com among many others. Your credit score might also be a factor here.

As for roommates, why not people you already know? Or find people through them?

I've already asked people I already know. There's been very little help there. I did find one place that way many years ago. I know it's a good way.

[puckerman]

I found a place that I'm going to have all to myself. That being said, here are some lessons learned:

1. While women will post ads claiming they are open to male and female roommates, they will later say they want females. They will do this after visiting. Some women are open about it in their ads. Others are totally dishonest about it.

2. People who post actual phone numbers are better than ones who don't. If they don't give out a phone number after a couple messages, don't waste your time with them.

3. Some actually want meetings at neutral sites before showing the place. I again found such meetings to be a waste of time.

4. You don't have it until you have it. Keep all your options open until you actually have something signed on paper. This may mean wasting money on more than application fee. But it's worth repeating--you don't have it until you have it.

[puckerman]

Why did this take so long? My main reason is that I wanted a month-to-month agreement after one year. I got that hopefully. And when I get close to the end of the year, I will start looking for a job in another city. Austin is unlivable, and it's definitely not the city I moved to back in 2004.

[Htownanddown]

Quote:

Why did this take so long? My main reason is that I wanted a month-to-month agreement after one year. I got that hopefully. And when I get close to the end of the year, I will start looking for a job in another city. Austin is unlivable, and it's definitely not the city I moved to back in 2004.

Just curious man cause we've talked a couple times, what's pushing you out? Cost of living, traffic, attitudes? Its funny when people ask where I live, they always end up saying things like Austin is cheap! The girls are amazing! I love how laid back it is! I usually just say, Ya that was 10 years ago.

[puckerman]

(07-01-2015 06:35 PM)Htownanddown Wrote:  

Just curious man cause we've talked a couple times, what's pushing you out? Cost of living, traffic, attitudes? Its funny when people ask where I live, they always end up saying things like Austin is cheap! The girls are amazing! I love how laid back it is! I usually just say, Ya that was 10 years ago.

Austin never was that cheap, and it's gotten worse. It gets more expensive the closer you get to downtown. Unfortunately, I currently work there.

I will NOT live more than a half-hour away from work. My time is valuable, and commuting is the least productive activity a person can engage in.

The best thing about Austin is that there is no concept of "dressing up" here. That is one thing I will miss if I go elsewhere.

Traffic is, without doubt, the big reason why it has gotten expensive. When I lived in Columbus, Ohio, the suburbs were more expensive because it was okay to live there and work in Columbus. The suburbs had "good schools," which is why they were more expensive.

The place where I'm moving might be the worst neighborhood I've lived in. But after two months, it was the best deal I could find.

If I do stay in Austin, I will be buying a place.

[Brian Shima]

Austin has steadily gotten worse in every way since the late 90s and early 2000's. Having a roommate is unheard of and frankly bizarre in Texas