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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Urban Woods includes Sandy debris in sustainable design initiative
In a collective effort to protect the environment and show a little care for our health and wellbeing, many creative minds turn their attention to…
3 Ways to go green in 2013
You don’t have to grow dreadlocks, stop using deodorant or go vegan all of a sudden to reap the benefits of a green lifestyle. There…
Energy and water-saving tips for renters
You may not own your home, but turning it into a more comfortable retreat for you and your family to enjoy is not that…
Why more Philly college students may be renting in private homes
Philadelphia has been named one of the top cities for investors who want to own rental property in a college town, meaning that more private…
Get the best of Chicago apartment living
Chicago is a dynamic, always on-the-move city, most appreciated for its welcoming feel and cultural diversity. People from all over the world choose to call…
New Year, new décor for your Los Angeles apartment
With every New Year there comes a desire to improve something about ourselves, whether it’s our jobs, our habits and disposition, or our homes. If…
The Greenest Street in America is in Chicago
For more than 175 years, ‘City in a Garden’ has been Chicago’s motto, a suggestive phrase denoting the city’s commitment to creating a cleaner, greener,…
Chicago neighborhoods go green
In the aftermath of a disturbing housing crisis and years of population decline, Chicago is slowly regaining its strength and paving its way to a…
Chicago is packed with tenant-friendly features
How many times have you heard your parents say: “You need to buy a house!”? I know I’ve heard it a couple of times and…
Get ready to squeeze into a shoebox: Tiny apartments get the go-ahead in SF
San Francisco, if you felt a collective tightening around your waistband late last month, it wasn’t the result of all the holiday sugar you’ve been…
4 ways to scavenge for dollars at your apartment
Looking for a more effective way to find money at your apartment that doesn’t involve searching under the couch cushions for spare change? Here are…
Decorate smarter for a stylish apartment
When you live as a renter you know that you and all of your stuff will hit the road sooner or later. This ultimately means…
Watch out for Phoenix rental home scams
It’s sometimes hard to imagine the sorts of ways people are willing to take advantage of others. It’s not necessarily a matter of being naïve,…
Class up your apartment with real art
We can’t all be refined art critics, or even have an eye for the subtleties of tasteful art. I only recently discovered that Monet and…
Apartment cleaning checklist for the holidays
The holidays are coming and it’s time to get organized. Who says you have to pour all your energy into home cleaning the week before…
Philadelphia housing market perks up
Looks like the Philadelphia housing market is finally on the rebound. For the first time in two years, home sales in the Philly area are…
Five things to know about renting in San Francisco right now
Hello, renters. Well, we are heading into the holiday season, so the hope is that there might be an easing up of availability, at least,…
Infuse your home with positivity
Positivism is the energy that creates, that makes things happen. Thinking positively attracts positive things into our lives, while stress and pessimism, doubt and fear,…
Los Angeles real estate market driven by shifting lifestyle choices
If homeownership stood for a long time at the very basis of the American Dream, rental living is currently emerging as a whole new way…
Chicago sees surge in multi-housing development
Renters’ lives have grown to be rather difficult in the last couple of years, with climbing rates and limited lease options mainly due to a…
Update your rental bathroom – The basics
Just because you rent absolutely does not mean that you have to settle with an ugly apartment. Take a look around and consider, “if I…
Rental Housing Expo in Chicago offering valuable insight on renting
Renting has become a convenient solution to time-consuming, mortgage-haunted homeownership, especially for young renters who value independence and sustainability more than anything else. But the…
Design for your rented apartment: What not to do
Home is sweet no matter the status, location, or square footage. You have to love where you live as that is the fuel that gets…
Tips to safeguard your Chicago home from bad weather
Sandy hit New York City Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 with a hybrid squall that flooded the city’s historic waterfront, swamped rail yards, subway tracks, tunnels…
Live like a star in L.A.’s Toluca Lake
Just north of downtown Los Angeles, right next to Burbank, in the San Fernando Valley, lies a district that’s emerged as great place to live….
Make more to live better in Philadelphia
There’s no arguing that Philadelphia apartments are easier to afford for some Philadelphians than others. The hourly wage that’s required to afford a decent place…
El Royale, home of Hollywood stars, changes hands for $30 million
Ever wondered what it’s like to live in a fancy residence swarming with famed TV stars? Residents of El Royale in Los Angeles have had…
Avoiding renter scams in San Francisco
One of the pitfalls of our crazed San Francisco rental housing market has been the rise of scams targeting struggling apartment seekers. If you are…
Chicago art rental service caters to apartment dwellers and businesses alike
So you’ve just found the home of your dreams, and now you are in dire need of some new furnishings to dress up those still-white…
New and improved – Philadelphia apartment trends
Seeking to serve the needs and desires of apartment renters who are seeking the ultimate perks of healthy living and convenience in their Philadelphia apartments,…