Finding the Right Apartment

If you've never used the Internet to find an apartment, here's what you need to know to get started.

Here's how to decide whether a studio or a one-bedroom apartment is the best solution for you.

If you check out a potential neighborhood and come across a building or two that interests you, there are ways you can find out if an apartment is available.

If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, take advantage of the growing number of free and low-cost apps available to help you find an apartment.

Apartments with two bathrooms offer many benefits, but they also mean more rent. Here's how to decide if a two-bathroom apartment is worth the added expense for you.

There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to which floor is best in an apartment building. You must weigh the factors and decide what's important to you as you go looking for the perfect apartment.

Read answers to commonly asked questions about guarantors and why you might need one when you're looking to rent an apartment.

Learn how to find an apartment while keeping fears that you won't be able to afford one in check.

Many apartment hunters are worried that something lurking in a background check will greatly hurt their chances of getting an apartment. Get tips for keeping your cool and staying in control of your apartment search.

Learn how you can get out of the dark and feel in control of your apartment search.

The type of rental arrangement you choose is a key component to consider when looking for an apartment.

Here are essential tools, resources, and information that will help you find an apartment you can happily and proudly call home.

Although it probably never hurts to try talking a landlord into lowering the rent, there are certain situations in which you're most likely to be successful.

For your apartment search to be as effective as possible, you need to try your best to keep stress out of the picture. Fortunately, this isn't as tough as it sounds.

Avoid putting yourself in a difficult position by taking a moment to go over top considerations for renters before lease signing.

When decorating a rental, the last thing you want is to discover decorating limits that you didn't anticipate when you signed your apartment lease.

If you found the right apartment or roommate thanks to this popular listings site, consider submitting a success story.

Resources to help you find an apartment that's right for you

As long as your bedroom-sharing plans don't violate occupancy requirements, your landlord should have no right to tell you that your children can't share a room with you -- or each other.

If you've got a physical disability and need an apartment with accessible features, take advantage of Web resources so you can run an efficient search.

If you value walkability, find out how a free online resource can help you find a walker-friendly apartment.

If a reasonable commute to work is important to you, use free online tools to help factor commuting time into your apartment search.

Readers tell their story about how they found an apartment, the challenges involved, and what they might do differently next time.

Readers share their advice about how to make decisions about your wants and needs when conducting an apartment search.

Readers share their advice about how they stayed organized when conducting an apartment search.

Readers share their advice about how they stayed focused and handled feelings of frustration and discouragement when conducting an apartment search.

Readers tell their story about how they negotiated a lower rent on an apartment, the challenges involved, and what tips they would offer other renters.

Many states have their own fair housing law that goes beyond the Fair Housing Act, offering protection to a wide range of people who wouldn't have a claim under federal law.

Share your story about how you found the right apartment.

Many landlords ask prospective tenants for a letter of employment. Here's how to get such requests handled promptly.

Taking this small step ensures that a landlord understands she now has the verification she requested from you, and it helps build your image of being a responsible tenant.

If your employer isn't used to complying with a request for a letter of employment, it can be helpful to give your employer sample language to adapt and use.

HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that provide information and tips for renters. Thanks to this initiative, free or low-cost rental housing advice is just a phone call away.

Some landlords practice a form of discrimination known as "steering," which refers to when a landlord tries to limit a renter's housing choices by guiding or encouraging the person to look elsewhere, based on a protected characteristic.

To find an apartment for you and your pet, be sure to mention your pet at the start of your apartment search. Take two steps to help you streamline your apartment hunting efforts.

A handy Web service lets you enter your search criteria just once for several popular apartment search sites.

If you earn below HUD's income limits, you may qualify for apartments at privately owned buildings at lower rents. But how do you find these apartment buildings? Thanks to an online government database, your new home may be just a few mouse clicks away.

If you're an alcoholic or have a drug addiction, you may be concerned that this will cause you problems in your apartment search. Here's what you need to know about how the law protects you.

Information about ApartmentGuide.com, an apartment-search Web site.

Information about 4walls.us, an apartment-search Web site.

When you're trying to find the perfect apartment, choosing a neighborhood is almost as critical. It needs to be safe and affordable, and it should provide you with everything that you need.

If you could live anywhere in the United States, which places would you choose that are best for you? Here's how to help you decide where you would love to live.

If you have children and you're looking for an apartment in a different neighborhood, research areas to find where the best schools are located.

What to watch out for and common mistakes to avoid when looking to rent your first apartment.