Looking for a new apartment or maybe renting a house. Budget is around $1,200-1,400 for a 1BR or small 2BR. I know that's tight.
I'm not expecting luxury. I just want somewhere I feel safe walking to my car at night, where packages don't get stolen daily, and where the neighbors are normal.
Every "affordable" apartment I find online has reviews that read like horror stories. And the nice areas are all $1,800+.
Is there a middle ground or does it not exist anymore?
I found a garage apartment behind someone's house for $950/month. Private entrance, quiet street, great neighborhood. Wouldn't have found it on any apartment website.
Older suburbs that haven't been "discovered" yet by flippers. The apartment complexes built in the 90s-2000s that are well-maintained but not trendy. Those are the sweet spot.
Drive through the area at night before you sign anything. If you feel uneasy at 10pm on a Tuesday, trust that instinct.
Facebook marketplace for house rentals. A lot of smaller landlords don't list on Zillow or Apartments.com. Some of the best deals are private listings from owners.
Look for areas near good school districts. Even if you don't have kids, school district quality correlates with neighborhood safety and maintenance. It's a useful proxy.