Articles by

Amalia Otet

Amalia Otet is an online content developer and creative writer for RENTCafé. She loves all things real estate and strives to live beautifully, one green step at a time.

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tips for first time renters

Five tips to make your life easier when moving

Is there anything fun about moving? Some would say no cause packing your entire life in a few bags can be rather stressful; yet it’s…

for worth west 7th neighborhood

Fort Worth’s West 7th keeps growing, but an end is in sight

With the construction from the 7th Street Bridge going on, residents and patrons of this recently hip area of near-downtown Fort Worth are grumbling through…

deep ellum rentals

Affordable rentals in Deep Ellum? We’ve found them!

Get into Dallas’ hippest neighborhood without spending…well, more than you’ve got. Deep Ellum, Dallas tops multiple charts are one of the hottest neighborhoods for young…

Hollywood

Hollywood Hills: a gateway to high-class living

Entering Hollywood Hills is like stepping into a little corner of heaven, a distinctive neighborhood chock-full of history and LA charm, with stylish hotels, cozy…

rentals in chicago for investors

Chicago apartments luring investors back to the market

The real estate market continues to see a surge in multifamily development, mostly due to the overall economic context and the renters’ positive attitude towards…

New apartment

Jumpstart the spring moving season with these easy tips

Just as nature turns back to life, apartment renters are back on the road this spring season, hunting for new places to call home. Here’s…

Phoenix has re-energized its downtown core with new development.

Phoenix rent and occupancy rates up and holding

Despite a strong spike in the housing market (to the tune of about a 35% increase in home values), the market is now suffering from…

Outer Richmond, image via About.com

Neighborhood profile: Richmond District

Bordered by parks and the ocean, the Richmond District has a reputation of a comfortable and practical neighborhood with exquisite international restaurants. Named also Outside…

interior-design-series-modern-colorful-dining-room

Budget-friendly decorating ideas for a cozy home

Both challenging and rewarding, decorating an apartment on a tight budget truly does call for ingenuity. You’ll have to be twice as agile and have…

Phoenix' younger population ranks are on the rise.

Phoenix: young and growing with good times ahead

In case you haven’t heard, Arizona’s economy is in a solid rebound. Home prices are indisputably on the rise, apartment leases are being hiked, fewer…

Free things to do are everywhere in SF on Dec. 28

San Francisco rents level off in 4Q ’13

The headline is certainly encouraging but it begs the question: is it too late to matter? With San Francisco rents among the highest in the…

House Lamp

Upgrade your rental home with these cool gadgets

Smart living calls for smart solutions to enhance our daily experiences. I’m not so much a fan of futuristic homes, they are just too impersonal…

The Station on Central is right across from the light rail.

This week’s featured neighborhood – Central Phoenix

I’m willing to go out on a limb here and share my contention that Central Phoenix is the best place in the entire Phoenix area…

Los Angeles traffic

Positive outlook for L.A.’s residential market

The real estate industry saw a boom in the multi-family sector, with an abundance of new developments entering the market and old properties restored, all…

modern bedroom decorating ideas

Apartment decorating on a budget in L.A.

Interior design is one of those endeavors that can capture your entire time and budget if you let it. It’s so easy to get carried…

Rental agreement

4 great reasons you should rent instead of own

The notion that renting a home or apartment is a superior fiscal strategy to owning is one that flies in the face of many years…

A view of Russian Hill

San Francisco real estate heats up in 2013, renting may be only affordable option

The kind folks over at Redfin have a post up predicting the hottest neighborhoods nationwide for 2013 and – surprise surprise! – the Bay Area…

Los Angeles skyline

Most sought after apartment amenities in Los Angeles

With the avalanche of new rental properties entering the Los Angeles market, there will be plenty of choice for renters looking for a new place…

Traffic in San Francisco

Apartment market report – San Francisco is booming

A healthy housing market is characterized by low vacancy rates, low foreclosure inventory, and strong job growth. All three exist in San Francisco, making it…

chicago rental market

Chicago rental market recovery poised to continue in 2013

Total nonfarm employment for the Chicago Metro Area stood at 4,383,200 in November 2012, up 37,200 or 0.9 percent, over the year, according to a…

Young couple working on laptop at their home

Do you need help with your apartment rental search?

If you have extra cash to burn and want to take all of the legwork out of your quest for a new San Francisco apartment,…

Happy couple in their new home concept

Phoenix’ 2013 rental real estate forecast

2012 was a good year to be a Phoenix apartment renter. There were bargain deals to be had, selection of units was plentiful around the…

Dog clog bed

Decorating your new apartment with your pet in mind

If you think your dog or cat is a part of the family, it seems only fair to include its needs in your apartment redecorating…

bike friendly cities

Chicago cycling its way onto a greener tomorrow

Great news for Chicago! Another project for biking improvement and better air quality has come to fruition, adding two-way protected bike lanes, on Dearborn Street…

window treatments for apartments in chicago

Give your Chicago rental a fresh look with the right window treatment

Most often it’s the drapes or window treatments that catch our attention the moment we step into a home. The right treatment can really pull…

potted-kitchen-herbs

Apartment living goes green with easy plants for your Phoenix apartment

Between living in Phoenix and living in an apartment, there are handfuls of reasons why your place is lacking any sort of plant life. It’s…

Happy new renters

Phoenix’ 2013 rental real estate forecast

2012 was a good year to be a Phoenix apartment renter. There were bargain deals to be had, selection of units was plentiful around the…

Is real estate right for you?

Phoenix home prices are shooting through the roof!

There are more renters in Phoenix and its surrounding cities than ever before. We saw some of the highest rates of foreclosures than any city…

Chicago's South Loop via 1000 South Clark Apartments

Meet the greenest members of the South Loop community

Caring about the environment and being eco-savvy is no longer just about recycling and hybrid cars. Reducing our carbon footprint is strongly tied to the…

San Francisco's housing supply grew slowly last year.

Renting in San Francisco, 2013 edition

Welcome to another wildly exciting year of rental real estate in San Francisco. The good news is that some new apartment inventory will be entering…