As renting continues to rise, scams have also come to the forefront. In fact, 43% of renters have interacted with fraudulent listings resulting in more than six million people being scammed. The most common form of rental scam, according to this article from CNBC, is the “Bait and Switch.” This involves a scammer advertising an … More Protecting yourself from rental scams, a how-to with Rental Beast
Always try to meet your landlord face to face. Recently in Denver, CO, a tenant fell victim to a ‘lockbox’ scam. The landlord gave the tenant the combo to the lockbox and asked that she “show herself around.” Once done, he then requested first month’s rent and a security deposit- never to be heard from … More Avoiding Scams as a Tenant
So you’ve got the apartment, what are you going to put in it? Are you going to venture into your grandmother’s basement to find that dusty, 1920’s armoire? Maybe your old beer-stained college couch? Probably not. How can you fill your new place without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered. If you plan … More How to save money furnishing your apartment
A recent study has suggested that renting an apartment can make you more money than owning a home. As shocking as this may sound, a thorough review of the data, reveals you should take your time before doing anything drastic. “A Revision of the American Dream of Homeownership,”published in 2017, does not outright tell us … More Home Ownership & Wealth Generation: Should you be renting?
As urban centers continue to see rents skyrocket, it is important for many to learn how to live in a city on a budget. Here are some tips to get you started: 1. Build a real budget and stick to it. Learvest is a financial planning tool created by a Harvard Business alum. Their team … More City Living on a Budget
Rental scams are at a fever pitch right now, and protecting yourself and your money while apartment hunting should be your number 1 priority. In most cases, using common sense will help you stay out of trouble (we’ve all heard of the Nigerian Prince who will wire you a Million dollars as long as you … More Tips & Tricks to avoid Rental Scams
The “Walk Score” is a procedurally generated number assigned to addresses to determine their specific walkability. The true value in this number is that the higher it is, the less likely you will need a car to comfortably live. The “Walk Score” calculates the distances to certain amenities that most renters and buyers look for; … More Renting & Buying with the “Walk Score” in Mind
When leasing a place to live you’re going to find varying types of amenities based on the type of property you’re leasing and the location. In the suburbs, you most likely won’t have an issue with parking, but in the more urban areas, this can be one of the most important items you look for. Are hardwood … More Amenities: Things to consider…
We have all been on a rental hunt before; plowing through dozens of listings with little to no luck, when suddenly we find one that seems to too good to be true. Well in the fast paced, competitive, and murky waters of rental housing…it usually is. Rental scams are found all too often on rental … More Rental Scams: What you need to know
The old adage about grass being greener can be used in almost any situation, but because shelter is a basic human need, pretty much all of us can find something about our living situation, be it renting or owning, that we’d rather not have to deal with and could imagine being better if only we … More Renter’s Regret and Buyer’s Remorse