Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with housing and apartments

How to Buy a Flat in Australia

LongDrive — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:41:10 -0800

I'm currently looking to buy my first small flat in Melbourne, Australia and having no luck. Apart from the big two online sources, are there any other sources to see what's on the market, or to find places before they get listed? I have a buyers advocate on board, but due to dodgy pre-auction policies on offers, I seem to be constantly missing out on good places, and right now it seems like nothing is out there. Maybe its my small budget or the fact that the market is really quiet until after the holidays, but it seems like there is nothing on the market right now. Am I just missing something, or are there other places or methods that I should be looking into?

Help me choose an apartment

sondrialiac — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:20:14 -0800

I am headed to law school in Brooklyn with a full ride and a great housing offer-- subsidized housing for 3 years. My partner and I can pick between two apartments, but we can't decide which we should take. One Bedroom
$1500/month
300 square feet
All but electricity included
Gorgeous historic brownstone building on beautiful residential street (Brooklyn Heights, trees, the works)
2nd floor of a 5 story walk-up
Laundry in basement
No A/C

Two Bedroom
$2040 a month
500 square feet
No utilities included
Great location, steps from subway and school, not particularly attractive street (bland, commercial, Downtown Brooklyn)
11th floor of an elevator building, GREAT view, Statue of Liberty, etc.
Laundry in basement
Central A/C

What would you do? Why? What factors should I be considering here? I can't view the actual apartments.

Thank you for any insight, opinions, anything that will help me brainstorm.

Luxury apartments nyc?

tessalations999 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:02:02 -0800

I have a specific question about apartments in NYC. I will be moving June 1, and am looking for an apartment building in the Upper West Side with similar cost/amenities/location as Sheffield 57 or Trump Tower. Does any one know of any similar rentals or apartment buildings in the same area? I have been searching around, but am finding it hard to locate places that arent for sale, or that have the same standards as these two wonderful places. Thank you so much i really appreciate any and all help!!!!!

Apartment hunting in the SF-Bay Area

zonem — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 08:58:48 -0800

Why is craigslist failing me in my apartment search (ideal: looking in mountain view, 2BR, under $1400)? And where can I find such a place? also interested in Portero Hill in SF... note: i'm posting this for my poor stranded sister

A question for locals (and ex-locals) in SF Bay: why are there so few places on craigslist for reasonably priced 2BR apartments (i mean under 1400) - at least, very few right now. i want to know if there are other rental sites that are better for this area. any other tips for looking? i'm in the area already, looking at places for sept 1 or later, and need to live within biking distance of caltrain. i prefer downtown mountain view, but could do san antonio and other stops, palo alto (i know, more expensive), or menlo park. not willing to do sunnyvale or anywhere south of MV, so don't tell me it's cheaper there :)

Also why there are so few places for the neighborhoods in SF where i want to live - ONLY within walking distance of the caltrain stops there. i can only find expensive lofts on craigslist. looking in: SOMA, portero hill... any other tips?
is this a bad time of the market, or is there another resource where it's better to look (classified paper ads, some better website, your mother-in-law, etc).
thanks!

Apartments in Houston?

roundrock — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 09:47:57 -0800

Can anyone recommend a safe, pleasant apartment community in southeast Houston (possibly between Pearland and League City or somewhat north of there -- we wouldn't want to go much further south). My husband and I are looking to sign a 6 month lease (we'll be househunting in the meantime) for a 3bd, 2ba apartment for $1100/mo or less. I'm thinking that this budget should be reasonable to find a nice place, and I've found some possibilities on the various apt listing sites, but personal recommendations are always best, since those listings are effectively mere advertisements that aren't going to give us the full story on these places. We're both young professionals (mid 20s) and will be moving in with a new baby.

How do I find an apartment in NYC without going thru a real estate agency?

huskerdont — Fri, 05 May 2006 08:25:54 -0800

Non-realtor sources for an apartment in NYC/Bklyn? Currently looking for an apartment in Brooklyn but would prefer to avoid dealing with a real estate agency due to the hefty, hefty fees involved. Ideally, I would prefer somewhere with a commute within a half hour of my job and coffeeshops/bookstores/bars in walking distance - I'm finding myself searching mainly in the areas of "Brownstone" Brooklyn and Williamsburg/Greenpoint as a result. Unfortunately, I have had no luck finding for-rent by owner apartments in those areas via Craigslist or word of mouth. What are other sources for finding NYC apartments for rent without parting with $1000+ dollars?

Landlord selling my building: Am I screwed?

logovisual — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:26:53 -0800

NYC: Our landlord is selling our building. We have a lease. What's going to happen to us? I just learned on Saturday that our landlord is selling the brownstone we rent the top floor of in Brooklyn. Somebody is already coming by to see the place tomorrow. We have a standard, legal lease; what are a new owner's responsibilities re: this lease, our rent, etc.? Does he/she have to honor them, or are we up shit creek? This is a surprisingly difficult topic to Google... My understanding was that they do have to honor the lease, but informally speaking, if that displeases them, they can make my life very difficult. Am I wrong in this, and they don't have to honor it at all?

Apartments or rooms in Barcelona?

deafweatherman — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:44:09 -0800

Inexpensive apartments or rooms in Barcelona? My friend is studying Barcelona and is on the verge of becoming homeless, she's looking for a place to live for around 300 euros or so, preferably around Arc de Triumf, Borne, El Barri Gòtic, or Raval. Anyone have any leads or know any good resources to help find housing? (craigslist isn't panning out and her study abroad program isn't being very helpful either) Even some tips from some people who have been in similar situations might help.

Apartmenting finding services - worth the money?

bobot — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:28:53 -0800

I'm looking for an apartment in the Cambridge/Somerville, MA area for (*shudder*) Sept. 1. My question is: given that finding a truly "no-fee" apartment here is nigh-impossible here*, is it worthwhile to go somewhere like Grand Central Apartments? They look like a good service- $300 is certainly cheaper than a month's rent to a broker- but how do I know they're not just going to show me the same "no-fee" apartments I can find online myself? Is it worth the $300 in time savings? Am I going to get screwed? Anyone used them before?

* Most no-fee apartment listings just mean that the landlord paid the fee upfront and rolled the cost into the rent.

Where to live in Lawrence

The Bishop of Turkey — Wed, 08 Jun 2005 05:02:19 -0800

What apartments do I want to live in Lawrence, Kansas? I will be moving up to start graduate school in the fall and I am wondering if anyone has any opinions / knowledge of apartments I should be looking at or avoiding.

Specifically, I am interested more in the south side of town since my department is on the south side of campus (and there's no point in climbing that mountain twice a day).

Livin' in Palo Alto

kenko — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 08:39:23 -0800

Where should I live in Palo Alto or environs? I'll be going to grad school at stanford starting in the fall and want to live off-campus but am not that familiar with the options, especially in areas not actually in Palo Alto. I'll have a car.