Money

Part of a lobby interior designed in an elegant style, paid for by common area maintenance fees.

A Practical Guide to Understanding Common Area Maintenance Fees

Renting an apartment in a well-kept residential building has its perks: a clean lobby, secure entryways, neatly trimmed landscaping, and…

Dallas skyline glowing at twilight with prominent skyscrapers and lower-rise apartment buildings, showcasing the cityscape relevant to renters assessing the cost of living in Dallas.

Cost of Living in Dallas: What to Expect When Renting Here

Let’s be honest, packing everything up and starting fresh somewhere unfamiliar can be a handful, especially when you’re renting. Nailing…

A 1099 form, which is used to declare yearly earnings when working as a freelancer. This is just one method of proving income when self-employed.

Renting in the Gig Economy: How to Prove Income When You’re Self-Employed

The gig economy has reshaped the way people work by offering flexibility and independence. Now, more Americans than ever are…

Student planning for college tuition, university fees, and scholarships involves investing in education and preparing for studying abroad. The scene highlights financial preparation for student loans.

Renting with Student Loans: How to Manage Debt and Find an Affordable Apartment

Student loans are the financial equivalent of a weighted backpack that follows you long after graduation. Whether you majored in…

Young couple struggling with rising living costs, past-due bills, and home loan debt, looking worried and stressed. The scene reflects financial challenges and the need for a soft credit check.

Soft Credit Checks: A Peek Behind the Financial Curtain

If you’ve ever applied for an apartment, a new credit card, or even a job, you may have come across…

Discover the concept of saving money with a woman’s hand placing coins into a piggy bank, symbolizing wealth and financial growth.

A Guide to Securing Your Security Deposit Refund

Ah, security deposits — the pot of gold at the end of your renting rainbow! Or at least, that’s the…

A person writes something in a notebook, while inserting coins into a pink porcelain piggy bank.

Can I Use My Security Deposit for Rent?

Security deposits are common when living in a rental apartment, but many renters wonder if they can use their security…

Couple looking over papers as they focus on budgeting for monthly bills.

5 Strategies for Budgeting Monthly Bills for First-Time Renters

Making the big leap into renting your own place is not always easy, but it can be rewarding. No more…

Glass jar filled with coins next to a piggy bank, symbolizing saving money for emergencies.

Setting Up an Emergency Fund Plan for First-Time Renters

You’ve finally taken the plunge and rented your own place. No more unsolicited advice about cleaning your room or explaining…

How to Build Your Credit Score While Renting

Ah, the joys of renting your first place — the excitement of independence, the thrill of choosing the perfect throw…

A smiling man and a woman sitting together on the stairs of their new home after a day of moving. The scene highlights the importance of planning, including setting a budget for moving.

How to Budget for Moving in 2025: A Guide to Lifting the Financial Weight

Moving in 2025 is more than just packing boxes and tossing out that avocado-green sofa you swore you’d reupholster (but…

A charming businesswoman sitting at a desk in her home office, using a laptop. She holds a credit card in her hand, reflecting a seamless and convenient shopping experience in a professional yet comfortable setting.

Rental Application Credit Check 101: What You Need to Know Before You Sign the Lease

When you’re on the hunt for your dream rental, the last thing you want is for your application to hit…

A close-up of a person, holding a pen in their right hand, about to sign a contract, while another person uses their right hand to point to the place where the paperwork should be signed.

What’s Actually Flexible When Negotiating Rent and Fees?

When it comes to renting an apartment, negotiations can extend far beyond just the monthly payment. From pet fees to…

A person holding their mobile phone, which is displaying a credit score inside an application that checks credit history.

Credit Score Secrets: What Landlords Actually Look For

Finding your dream rental apartment is exciting — but waiting to hear back after submitting an application can feel like…

Torn paper revealing a close-up of dollar bills, symbolizing the hidden costs of renting an apartment.

The Hidden Costs of Renting an Apartment: What You Need to Know Before Signing a Lease

Renting an apartment is the preferred housing choice for millions of Americans, with Gen Z leading the way as the…

Aerial view of the Vancouver, Washington skyline during a sunny summer day.

Cost of Living in Vancouver, WA: What to Expect as a Renter

Moving to a new city is an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its share of stress, especially when…

average utilities costs by state

What Are Apartment Utilities & How Much Will They Cost Me?

This article was updated in June 2024. What Is the Average Electric Bill? Tips for Saving Money on Your Electricity…

pros and cons of paying rent with credit card

The Pros and Cons of Paying Your Rent With a Credit Card

Over the past decade, the number of consumers using credit cards to pay rent has increased. Usage spiked during the…

save for a down payment

Welcome to the Midwest: 2022’s Best Metros Where Renters Can Save Fastest for Their First Home

Saving for a down payment on a starter home and becoming a homeowner in less than three years is possible…

christmas spending

Expert Advice: How to Keep Some Jingle in Your Pocket & Handle Your Christmas Spending

‘Tis the season to shop, and whether you’re buying your gifts online or in physical stores, the urge to overspend…

extra room cost to upgrade

1 in 3 Renters Are Looking to Upsize to an Extra Bedroom: What It Costs & Where to Upgrade for Less

Survey reveals that a third of apartment-hunters look for rentals with an extra bedroom to call „home office,” as 75%…

Hottest Jobs for Recent Graduates

Class of 2021, These Are the Hottest Jobs for You and the Best Metros to Find Them

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,200 in These 109 Texas Cities

For $1,200, you’ll get about 25% more apartment space in Texas than the 711 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,300 in These 56 Georgia Cities

For $1,300, you’ll get about 30% more apartment space in Georgia than the 770 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,100 in These 63 Michigan Cities

For $1,100, you’ll get about 43% more apartment space in Michigan than the 651 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,400 in These 57 Pennsylvania Cities

For $1,400, you’ll get about 7% more apartment space in Pennsylvania than the 829 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,000 in These 32 Indiana Cities

For $1,000, you’ll get about 57% more apartment space in Indiana than the 592 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,600 in These 40 Illinois Cities

For $1,600, you’ll get about 10% less apartment space in Illinois than the 948 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,400 in These 101 Florida Cities

For $1,400, you’ll get about 13% more apartment space in Florida than the 829 square foot average in the 100…

How Much Space You Can Rent for $1,200 in These 36 North Carolina Cities

For $1,200, you’ll get about 34% more apartment space in North Carolina than the 711 square foot average in the…