Articles by

Florentina Sarac

Florentina Sarac is a creative writer, editor, and researcher for RENTCafé. She covers a variety of topics, from real estate trends, demographic shifts, housing industry news and multifamily construction to homeownership, smart-home technology, personal finance and business. With a 9-year background in the real estate industry, Florentina has also penned articles for publications such as Multi-Housing News, Commercial Property Executive and the National Apartment Association Magazine. You can connect with Florentina via email.

Florentina’s work and expertise have been featured in several major U.S. and international publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bisnow, The Mercury News, Curbed, The NY Post, CBS News, Business Insider and Realtor.com. She holds a B.A. in English and Spanish, as well as an M.A. in Multilingual and Multicultural Communication, which serve as a testament to her love of literature and language.

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East Falls, Philadelphia: Historic, Suburban Appeal Minutes from Center City

East Falls is a quiet little gem on the Schuylkill River. It’s the beginning of a much more residential, almost suburban, section of Philadelphia, which…

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Center City: The Original City of Philadelphia is Still its Hub

Center City is the bustling business hub of Philadelphia right in the center of the city. It’s the grid of streets that spans from the…

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Survey: Pandemic Hinders Plans for 43% of Renters Ready to Buy a Home

COVID-19 continues to impact the U.S., affecting not only our health, but also our financial and life decisions. For those who wanted to take the…

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Manayunk: Philly’s Vibrant and Charming Neighborhood

Manayunk is a charming, historical neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia peppered with small boutiques and lively restaurants. Conveniently located just 15 minutes from downtown Philly,  Manayunk…

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Quarantine Parenting: Top Family-Centric Cities in the U.S.

If living in the midst of a pandemic feels overwhelming to you, try parenting. These days, parents’ duties have multiplied overnight to include working, parenting…

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5 Ways to Lower Energy Costs in Your Rental

When you don’t own your home, it can feel like it’s impossible to lower your energy costs. A lot of energy-efficiency comes down to a…

Cities With Most and Least Square Footage per Person

Cities with the Most and the Least Apartment Space: How Much Square Footage per Person Can You Get?

At a time when most of us are required to stay at home, the idea of space takes on a whole new meaning. In fact,…

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10 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving

Moving from one rental to another is a stressful situation for anyone embarking on this journey, especially so if you are planning on taking the…

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Top 10 Best Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Renowned internationally for its cheesesteaks and home to the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia has that small-town charm with all the perks of a big city….

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5 Steps to Keeping Your Kid’s Room Organized and Clutter-Free

Organizing all of your things in a small apartment can be quite a hassle. Add some kids to the equation and it increases that difficulty…

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How to Boost Your Productivity When Working from Home

In light of recent events concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus), most organizations around the world are encouraging employees to work from home in order to protect themselves…

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4 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Boho Bedroom

When you think about the boho decorating style, you’re most likely to imagine a room full of flowery and colorful patterns with lots of pillows…

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The Rise of Minimalism: How to Turn Every Room in Your Rental into a Clutterless Oasis

Minimalism is the definition of simplicity; mainly, it involves the elimination of all things that are unnecessary. It’s a way to lead a less stressful…

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Holiday Cheer & Charity in Washington, DC

It’s the busiest time of the year, with presents to be bought, food to be cooked, and trees to be decorated. While it’s easy to…

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Coworking – What It’s Like to Rent Your Workplace

You might live in a rental apartment or occasionally rent a tux or a car, but what is it like when you rent the place…

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High-Rise Apartment Buildings and Mid-Rise Buildings Are Overshadowing Low-Rises for the First Time in 3 Decades

Tall skylines anchored by impressive skyscrapers have been the staple image of large American cities, dominated by office towers and a few residential condominium skyscrapers….

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Life in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta – Vibrant and Exciting, with Plenty of Entertainment Options

Updated September 2020. Old Fourth Ward is an urban neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, bordering Piedmont Avenue to the West, The Beltline to the East, Ponce…

bohemian design for rentals

How to Design Your Rental Apartment for Peak Bohemian Vibes

The Bohemian aesthetic has definitely seen a major revival in recent times. It’s eclectic, energizing, and oh so easy on the eyes. It’s an Instagram-ready…

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Downtown Miami Rising – Skyline Evolution Video (1925-2019)

The Miami metropolitan statistical area (MSA) ranks among the country’s 10 largest MSAs, with a population currently estimated at more than 6 million. But, 100…

RentCafe Apartment Construction 2019

Apartment Construction in 2019 Marks Second Year of Slowing Trend, with DFW Metro Surpassing New York in New Completions

Article updated September 19, 2019.  Highlights: Apartment construction slows down compared to last year, from 326,000 new deliveries in 2018 to a projection of under…

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Midtown – An Upscale, Bustling Atlanta Neighborhood

Updated September 2020. Midtown is a trendy, upscale neighborhood in Atlanta, situated between Downtown Atlanta to the south with Buckhead to the north. It is…

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Living in Buckhead, Atlanta: The Beverly Hills of the South

Updated September 2020. Known as an affluent, upscale neighborhood within the Atlanta city limits, beautiful Buckhead has both ‘old’ money and ‘new’ money. The area’s…

Baby Boomer Population by Zip Code

The Most Popular Zip Codes for Baby Boomers: New York Challenges Sunny Locations for the Title

Baby boomers certainly don’t fit the mold when it comes to housing preferences. While a big part of them continue to be homeowners, an impressive…

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History in Motion: See How the Austin Skyline Changed over the Past 130 Years (Video)

Two decades shy of 200 years, the Texas state capital transformed from a settlement of fewer than 1,000 residents to the fastest-growing metropolis in the…

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On the Edge of Affordability: Rents Set to Outpace Wages in Top Emerging Tech Hubs

While there are clear advantages to living in or near tech hubs, more people relocating to these cities can put a certain pressure on the…

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The Next Gen of Renters: Mom and Dad – Renters over 60 Grew by 43% in a Decade

Today’s demographics look substantially different than they did only a decade ago due to America’s population of seniors renting growing significantly and at a very…

Suburb Growth Fastest Growing Suburbs

Suburb Growth: Top Trending Suburbs That Have Seen the Biggest Boom in Renters

Suburban life might not seem as thrilling and adventurous as city life, but it definitely has some very exciting advantages. Renting in the suburbs tends…

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Winter Holiday Spending Leaves the Average U.S. Renter $400 in Debt

Some things are priceless, like being surrounded by your loved ones and enjoying their company. Spending time with them during the winter holidays, however, does…

Amazon Move: Long Island City

Amazon’s Move to Millennial Hubs Long Island City and Crystal City Expected to Spark an Apartment Boom

Highlights: Long Island City and Crystal City, the neighborhoods selected for the Amazon move, witnessed an y-o-y rent growth of 5.1% and 5%, respectively. While…

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Ownership Is Losing Its Appeal, Despite Being Preferred by Most Philadelphians

The answer to the never-ending question about renting or owning is quite clear if we look at the big picture. Almost a quarter of the…