How to Find a Cheap Apartment in the Washington, DC Region

A Guide to Cheap Apartments in DC, MD and VA

By Aaron Moore, published Aug 07, 2006
Published Content: 63  Total Views: 141,134  Favorited By: 3 CPs
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There are 3 things in the DC area that is hard to find: a parking space in the city, parking at FedEx Field that doesn’t cost $25, and a cheap apartment. That last one I can help you with. With the housing cost rising thanks to the housing boom, you may wonder is there anyplace out there where the rent doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. There is hope for those looking for a cheap apartment. Here’s how it is done!









Shop Around: The 1st place to look for a cheap apartment is the yellow pages. You can call the apartments owners about what places are available, size and cost of rent. Don’t go for the 1st choice available. Keep calling until you get a good deal.







Your


Inner Circle



: Ask friends and family about how they were able to find a cheap apartment. They can share their experiences and what you need to know before you get an apartment on the cheap.








Craigslist: The popular online website has a section for those looking for housing. They not only list houses. They also have pictures of those houses. It’s best to contact those making the offer about the apartment. You should also ask about the location, neighborhood and any problems that you won’t get from looking at a picture.







Sublet.com: This website advertises apartments and other temporary houses in your hometown. It not only displayed the apartments for rent. It also shows you the landlord that they verified. The big drawback is that you need to register and pay a fee to reply to the landlords. It’ll last you 90 days to use, but you have to retain







College Newspapers: Another good place to a find cheap apartment is college newspapers. These publications are aimed at college students. One of the many features is that they advertised apartments in the classifieds section. They are distributed throughout college campuses and their surrounding communities. You can pick one up on their campus or do a Google search to find their website. When you click on the housing section, browse the section to find how much the rent for these apartments is.







How to Find a Cheap Apartment in the Washington, DC Region

A picture of an Apartment building in DC.

Credit: Dupont East

Copyright: Dupont East

Takeaways
  • There are websites that can help you find a cheap apartment.
  • You need to do your homework before settling on an apartment.
  • Don't Take The 1st Offer You Get!
Did You Know?
You need to make $20/hour to afford housing in the district.
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