Education
Apartment Living
January 10, 2022
Paying the Rent Late: Everything You Need to Know
Paying the rent late can have consequences ranging from late rent fees to terminated leases or even eviction....
Latest articles
Apartment Living
June 5, 2023
What Constitutes a Noise Violation?
Noise violations occur when a local noise ordinance isn’t followed. Generally, it involves excessive noise ...
Apartment Living
May 8, 2023
How Much Is a Security Deposit?
When renting a new apartment, you’ll typically have to pay a security deposit equal to one months’ rent. ...
Apartment Living
March 8, 2023
Proof of Income: What It Is & How to Show It
When you rent an apartment, you will likely be required to show proof of income to demonstrate that you have ...
Apartment Living
February 21, 2023
Lease vs. Rent: Understand the Difference
The terms lease and rental agreement may seem interchangeable, but there is an important difference between t...
Housing Trends
January 9, 2023
35 Insightful Landlord Statistics – 2023
Landlords play a key role in the housing economy, owning and managing rental properties for their tenants. In...
Housing Trends
January 9, 2023
24 Insightful Apartment Statistics – 2023
Apartments comprise a major share of the U.S. housing market, especially in American cities. But just like th...
Apartment Living
December 7, 2022
How to File a Noise Complaint About a Barking Dog
Having a barking dog living next door is distracting, annoying, and frustrating, making it harder to work fro...
Own Your Budget
November 14, 2022
How to Make a Monthly Budget: 8 Easy Steps
A monthly budget is a framework for your financial life. With a budget, you can allocate your income to vario...
Own Your Budget
November 4, 2022
Why Budget? 5 Key Benefits
The purpose of a budget is to create a financial roadmap. It guides your spending and saving habits, providin...
Housing Trends
October 17, 2022
The 10 Most Affordable Places to Live in Arizona
Famed for its deserts and mountains, Arizona is one of the most scenic places to live in the United States. I...
Apartment Living
October 10, 2022
How Long Does It Take to Process a Rental Application?
It usually takes one to three business days to process a rental application. Sometimes, it goes much quicker ...
Own Your Budget
October 3, 2022
How to Budget for Holiday Shopping
The holiday season often makes for the most expensive time of the year. Between travel costs, buying gifts, a...
Housing Trends
September 29, 2022
The 7 Most Affordable Places to Live in Colorado
With its stunning mountains and incredible ski hills, Colorado is popular among outdoor enthusiasts. The stat...
Housing Trends
September 26, 2022
Living in Las Vegas: Pros, Cons, & Facts of Life
Many people are drawn in by the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas. The city can be a one-of-a-kind place to live ...
Housing Trends
September 19, 2022
9 Reasons Why California Is So Expensive
With its incredible scenery, idyllic climate, and wealth of opportunities, it’s no surprise that California...
Apartment Living
September 12, 2022
Can You Apply for the Same Apartment Twice?
If your application for an apartment gets rejected, there’s no rule prohibiting you from applying for the s...
Housing Trends
September 7, 2022
The 8 Most Affordable Places to Live in California
Life in California is synonymous with sun, sand, and the highest rent prices in the United States. While the ...
Apartment Living
September 2, 2022
Month-to-Month Leases: Pros & Cons
Month-to-month leases offer both upsides and downsides to prospective renters. The biggest benefit is flexibi...
Flex
August 18, 2022
Flexible Rent Payments: Pay Rent On Your Schedule
Most landlords don’t allow for flexible rent payments. Rent is due in full on the first of the month, unles...
Own Your Budget
August 8, 2022
How to Show Proof of Income When Self-Employed
It isn’t always easy to demonstrate proof of income, especially when you don’t have regular paychecks fro...
Apartment Living
August 1, 2022
How to Check Your Rental History Report
When you apply for an apartment, most landlords will examine a rental history report before approving or deny...
Own Your Budget
July 25, 2022
12 Creative Ways to Pay Off Student Loans
Calling student debt a burden feels like a massive understatement. On average, federal student loan borrowers...
Housing Trends
July 18, 2022
Living in Alaska: Pros, Cons, & Facts of Life
For many people, living in Alaska is the dream. In some cases, it’s the expansive forests and amazing wildl...
Flex
July 13, 2022
Rent Collection Made Easy
Ensure timely rent payments with added flexibility by utilizing tools from Zego and Flex
It’s no secret ...
Apartment Living
July 11, 2022
Paying Your Rent: The Ultimate Guide
For millions of households across the country, monthly rent payments make up the single biggest expense in th...
Housing Trends
June 30, 2022
Living in Hawaii: Pros, Cons, & Facts of Life
Surrounded by beautiful oceans, Hawaii naturally makes for an attractive place to live. But living in Hawaii ...
Apartment Living
June 23, 2022
What to Do When Your Neighbors Play Loud Music, Day or Night
Having neighbors that insist on blasting their stereo or constantly practicing the guitar can be a big annoya...
Apartment Living
June 20, 2022
The Ultimate Checklist for Moving Out
When you’re vacating a rental, there’s a lot of work to tackle. Along with ensuring you leave the unit in...
Apartment Living
June 16, 2022
How to Tell Your Landlord About Mice, Roaches, and Other Pests
Generally speaking, landlord-tenant laws require landlords to ensure that rentals are habitable and safe for ...
Apartment Living
June 14, 2022
Renewing a Lease: What You Need to Know
If your lease term is coming to an end, you may be wondering if it makes sense to renew your lease. Lease ren...
Apartment Living
June 8, 2022
The Ultimate Apartment Moving Checklist
Moving apartments can feel like a full-time job. There’s no getting around it: it takes a lot of time and e...
Housing Trends
May 30, 2022
19 Intriguing Roommate Statistics – 2022
Of the 79 million Americans living in shared households, 14.4 million are living with roommates. In this arti...
Own Your Budget
May 16, 2022
Too Many Bills, Not Enough Income: What to Do
It can be a struggle to make ends meet when you have more bills than you can afford to pay. When your income ...
Own Your Budget
May 9, 2022
20 Ways to Save Money on a Tight Budget
When your income and expenses closely match, it can be tough to cover your bills – much less save money for...
Housing Trends
May 2, 2022
26 Insightful Real Estate Agent Statistics – 2022
Real estate agents are renowned for their market knowledge, giving them a critical edge in the buying, sellin...
Apartment Living
April 25, 2022
How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record?
Evictions appear on your credit report for at least seven years. If an eviction results from a judgment again...
Apartment Living
April 12, 2022
How to Rent an Apartment for the First Time
Moving into an apartment is a rite of passage, but it isn't easy. If you break it down, though, it starts to ...
Housing Trends
April 7, 2022
United States Housing Market Trends & Statistics, 2022
Housing prices continue to rise across the United States, with the median selling price of American homes cre...
Own Your Budget
April 4, 2022
The 30-30-30-10 Budget: How to Make It Work for You
The 30-30-30-10 budget offers a straight-forward, percentage-based framework for managing your expenses:
3...
Housing Trends
March 28, 2022
Los Angeles Housing Market Trends & Statistics, 2022
The Los Angeles housing market remains hot going into 2022, with home prices and rent prices both trending up...
Housing Trends
March 21, 2022
New York City Housing Market Trends & Statistics, 2022
As of March 2022, New York City’s housing market is on a post-pandemic rebound. Rental prices and home pric...
Own Your Budget
March 10, 2022
The 3 Types of Expenses: Fixed, Periodic, and Variable
There are three types of household expenses: fixed, periodic, and variable. Fixed expenses, like rent, stay t...
Apartment Living
March 2, 2022
How Much Does It Cost to Break a Lease?
Breaking a lease can cost anywhere from one or two months' rent to paying off the remainder of your lease. An...
Own Your Budget
February 28, 2022
Periodic Expenses – And How to Budget for Them
Periodic expenses include any expenses that come up occasionally, and often vary in cost. Periodic expenses a...
Apartment Living
February 21, 2022
15 Questions to Ask the Landlord Before You Rent
Choosing a place to rent is one of the most important decisions you can make. Not only is it a major financia...
Apartment Living
February 7, 2022
How to Write A Letter or Email to Your Landlord – With 8 Samples
Whether you need to request repairs, complain about your neighbors, or make a simple request, writing a lette...
Apartment Living
February 3, 2022
Minimum Credit Score to Rent an Apartment: What You Need
When you apply to rent an apartment, you can expect nearly all landlords to run a credit check. As a general ...
Apartment Living
January 24, 2022
Requirements to Rent an Apartment: Everything You Need
When you apply to rent an apartment, landlords will ask for a number of documents, ranging from W-2s and pays...
Apartment Living
January 12, 2022
How Prorated Rent Works: 4 Ways to Calculate
‘Prorated rent’ means paying only a portion of a months’ rent when you will only be renting a unit for ...
Apartment Living
January 5, 2022
Illegal Landlord Actions: How Landlords Can Get in Trouble
Illegal landlord actions include anything a landlord does that violates the law. This can include direct inte...
Apartment Living
January 4, 2022
Where to Get Help with Security Deposit and First Month’s Rent
Between first month’s rent, security deposits, and other fees, starting a lease demands a lot of money up f...
Apartment Living
December 13, 2021
Apartment Noise Complaint Letter: Free Template
Lease agreements for rentals typically address a tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment with a clause stating th...
Apartment Living
December 6, 2021
Rent-to-Income Ratio: What You Need to Know
The rent-to-income ratio is a metric that compares how much a household earns to the cost of renting a partic...
Apartment Living
November 24, 2021
How to File a Noise Complaint
Noisy neighbors can be a real nuisance – and in some cases, a violation of leases and local noise ordinance...
Apartment Living
November 16, 2021
How to Pass a Rental Credit Check – Even with Bad Credit
When a landlord conducts a rental credit check, they assess your creditworthiness to determine if you’re li...
Own Your Budget
November 8, 2021
The Average Cost of Utilities in the United States
Households in the United States typically spend hundreds of dollars a month on utilities. On average, the tot...
Apartment Living
October 25, 2021
How Month-to-Month Leases Work: Everything You Need to Know
A month-to-month lease is a short-term lease agreement between and landlord and tenant. Typically, the lease ...
Apartment Living
October 18, 2021
How to Deal with Unreasonable Noise Complaints
Close-quarters living comes with its fair share of challenges, including the occasional noise-sensitive neigh...
Own Your Budget
October 13, 2021
The Average Gas Bill: By State, Household, and More
The average gas bill in the United States is $72.10 per month. However, that doesn’t mean every household p...
Own Your Budget
October 11, 2021
The Average Electric Bill: By State, Household, and More
The average electric bill in the U.S. is $115 per month. However, a lot of factors play a role in how much a ...
Own Your Budget
September 27, 2021
10 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill
Finding ways to lower your electric bill is a smart move. It’s a recurring expense that can take up a lot o...
Own Your Budget
September 20, 2021
10 Reasons Why Your Electric Bill is So High
Some things you can’t change – like the rate your electric company charges for power. But some things you...
Apartment Living
September 13, 2021
How to Get Out of Paying Pet Rent (and other charges)
Pets can cause some serious damage to rental units that can cost landlords a lot of money to repair. To help ...
Apartment Living
September 1, 2021
What to Include in a Roommate Agreement
A roommate agreement is similar to a lease agreement, but it has nothing to do with your landlord. It’s a c...
Apartment Living
September 1, 2021
Roommate Agreement Checklist
Developing a roommate agreement is a fantastic way to ensure you and your roomie are clear on another’s bou...
Own Your Budget
August 30, 2021
The Average Electric Bill for 3 & 4 Bedroom Houses
The average electric bill for a three-bedroom house in the United States runs $87 to $93 per month, depending...
Own Your Budget
August 25, 2021
The Average Electric Bill for 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
The average electric bill for a one-bedroom apartment in the United States costs $60 per month with one resid...
Apartment Living
August 23, 2021
Pet Deposit on an Apartment – And Other Pet Fees
A pet deposit is an amount the landlord charges a renter up front to have a pet live in the unit. Deposits ar...
Apartment Living
August 2, 2021
Landlord vs. Property Manager: What’s the Difference?
The difference between a landlord and a property manager is a matter of ownership. A landlord owns a rental p...
Housing Trends
July 26, 2021
26 Insightful Homeowner Statistics
Curious to learn more about homeowners in the United States? Read on for 26 eye-opening statistics painting a...
Apartment Living
July 19, 2021
Can Landlords Charge Tenants for Carpet Replacement?
If tenants cause damage to carpets in their rental unit, generally the landlord can charge them for repairs o...
Housing Trends
July 15, 2021
Homeowners vs Renters: A Statistical Comparison
There are key differences between homeowners and renters. Below you’ll find a set of interesting statistics...
Housing Trends
July 12, 2021
Average Apartment Size in the United States: the Complete Guide
The average size of a newly built apartment in the United States, as of 2018, is 882 square feet. A look at a...
Apartment Living
July 5, 2021
How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix Something?
How long your landlord has to fix something depends on how critical the repair is. For critical repairs that ...
Apartment Living
June 30, 2021
What to Do When Your Landlord Violates Your Lease
Lease violations by a landlord can include failing to keep up with property maintenance, refusing to return a...
Apartment Living
June 28, 2021
How to Write a Check for Rent – With Example
Anyone can write a check for rent. But you don’t want to make any mistakes, or else you could end up behind...
Apartment Living
June 7, 2021
How Long Do You Have to Move Out After Being Evicted?
In most cases, an eviction isn’t legally underway until you receive written notice from the landlord. From ...
Housing Trends
June 1, 2021
20 Insightful Renter Statistics
For 43 million Americans, renting is the norm. If you’re curious about the world of renting in the United S...
Apartment Living
May 24, 2021
Can a Landlord Deny an Emotional Support Animal?
Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords are required to make “reasonable accommodations” to a tenant’s su...
Housing Trends
May 17, 2021
25 Insightful Recycling Statistics
Today, most people have heard that recycling is good for the planet and that they should participate in their...
Apartment Living
May 10, 2021
Who’s Responsible for Pest Control: Landlords or Tenants?
Is the landlord responsible for pest control? That’s a question many tenants ask themselves when insects, r...
Apartment Living
May 5, 2021
Emotional Support Animal Letter to Landlord: Free Template
According to the Fair Housing Act, if you have an emotional support animal, your landlord is legally obligate...
Apartment Living
May 3, 2021
Emotional Support Animals Under the Fair Housing Act
Emotional support animals are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which states that landlords must re...
Apartment Living
April 26, 2021
When Is Rent Due? Grace Periods by State
Rent due dates are typically very straightforward. On most leases, rent is due the first of the month. Some l...
Apartment Living
April 21, 2021
Lease Guarantors: What You Need to Know
A guarantor is someone who signs a lease with you and agrees to uphold the financial obligations that come wi...
Apartment Living
April 19, 2021
Late Rent Fees: a State-by-State Guide
Most landlords charge late fees if a tenant doesn’t provide their rent payment in a timely fashion. Usually...
Apartment Living
April 12, 2021
How to Handle a Lease Takeover for an Apartment
In a lease takeover, a renter hands off the responsibilities that come with their lease to a new tenant. Whil...
Apartment Living
April 5, 2021
Ohio Rent Assistance: Where to Get Help with Rent
If you’re struggling to pay rent or have fallen behind on your monthly rent payments, getting help with the...
Apartment Living
March 22, 2021
Dallas Rent Assistance: Where to Get Help with Rent
Struggling to pay rent can be incredibly scary. When you’re housing is at risk, the resulting insecurity ta...
Apartment Living
March 15, 2021
Texas Rent Assistance: Where to Get Help with Rent
Not being able to make rent is scary. Whether you’ve already fallen behind or missing a payment is imminent...
Apartment Living
March 8, 2021
Landlord Responsibilities & Obligations
Landlords have certain responsibilities and obligations to renters. These include federal laws, such as the F...
Apartment Living
February 15, 2021
What Happens If You Break a Lease?
Breaking a lease early can be costly. You might have to pay a lease break fee, or even pay the remaining mont...
Apartment Living
February 12, 2021
How to Get Your Security Deposit Back
While security deposits are refundable, your landlord will only give yours back if you leave your rental unit...
Apartment Living
February 11, 2021
How to Write a Security Deposit Demand Letter – with Template
When you move out of a rental unit your landlord must return your security deposit within a certain amount of...
Apartment Living
February 1, 2021
Landlord Harassment: How to Recognize and Respond to It
Landlord harassment includes any behavior by your landlord that is intended to disrupt your quality of life, ...
Apartment Living
January 28, 2021
How Much Can a Landlord Charge for Damages or Cleaning?
When a tenant moves out of a unit, the landlord will inspect the property to look for damages and to assess t...
Apartment Living
January 25, 2021
Can a Landlord Make a Tenant Pay for Repairs?
In specific cases, a landlord can make a tenant pay for repairs. If a tenant is responsible for damages to an...
Apartment Living
January 4, 2021
When a Landlord Can & Can’t Enter Your Apartment
Most of the time, a landlord cannot legally enter a tenant’s apartment without their explicit permission. H...
Apartment Living
December 31, 2020
Rent Control: The Pros & Cons
Rent control offers significant benefits to tenants: namely, a stable rent price with strict limits on rent i...
Housing Trends
December 30, 2020
24 Insightful Construction Statistics
2020 was a challenging year for the construction industry. COVID-19 led to project delays as shelter-in-place...
Apartment Living
December 28, 2020
How to Break an Apartment Lease – the Definitive Guide
Breaking an apartment lease is never ideal. Not only do you have to find a new place to live, but by breaking...
Housing Trends
December 21, 2020
25 Insightful Housing Cost Statistics – 2021
Housing costs traditionally eat up the largest portion of a household’s budget. Along with standard expense...
Apartment Living
December 18, 2020
How to Find the Right Roommate
Living with a roommate is a smart way to lower the cost of renting an apartment. In some cases, taking on a r...
Apartment Living
December 14, 2020
Average Late Fees on Rent: How Much It Costs
On average, late fees on rent tend to fall between 5% and 10% of the monthly rent. For a $1,000 rental, that ...
Housing Trends
December 7, 2020
20 Key Eviction Statistics
With the federal moratorium on coronavirus-related evictions potentially coming to an end on December 31, 202...
Apartment Living
December 2, 2020
How to Write a 30-Day Notice to Vacate – with Templates
Planning to move out of your rental? You won’t be able to simply pack up and take off. Before you go anywhe...
Apartment Living
November 30, 2020
The Eviction Process in 5 Steps
Eviction is the process that landlords go through to remove a tenant from their property when the tenant has ...
Apartment Living
November 23, 2020
Subletting an Apartment: Everything You Need to Know
Subletting entails an existing tenant renting out out all or part of their rental to another tenant. If you n...
Apartment Living
November 16, 2020
10 Things a Landlord Cannot Do, According to the Law
When you sign a lease or are a month-to-month tenant, you’ve entered into a contract with a landlord, and t...
Apartment Living
November 9, 2020
Can a Landlord Break a Lease Early?
A landlord can break a lease early, but only for specific reasons. If a tenant stops paying the rent or other...
Apartment Living
October 19, 2020
Can Your Landlord Raise Rent? How to Respond
Landlords typically have the right to raise your rent, but only under specific conditions. As a general rule,...
Apartment Living
October 12, 2020
What Is a Lease? The Definitive Guide
A lease is a legal contract used when renting property or equipment. It outlines the length of the rental arr...
Apartment Living
September 30, 2020
The Federal Eviction Moratorium: What Renters Need to Know
The Federal Eviction Moratorium provides eviction protection for renters who have fallen on hard times and ar...
Apartment Living
September 28, 2020
Where to Get Help With Rent: The Ultimate Guide
If you need help with your rent, you aren’t alone. Millions of Americans struggle to pay their rent. Fortun...
Apartment Living
September 21, 2020
Security Deposits: Everything You Need to Know
A security deposit is a payment made by a new tenant to a landlord upon signing a lease. It is typically refu...
Apartment Living
September 16, 2020
Normal Wear and Tear vs Property Damage: What’s the Difference?
What’s the key difference between normal wear and tear and property damage? When it comes down to it, rente...
Apartment Living
September 7, 2020
Paying Rent in Cash: What to Watch Out For
Paying rent in cash can be risky for both landlords and tenants. Many landlords accept cash payments nonethel...
Housing Trends
September 2, 2020
20 Insightful Rent Statistics 2020
While owning a home may be a dream for many, not everyone wants to take on the burden of buying a house. For ...
Apartment Living
August 31, 2020
How Much Should You Spend on Rent?
There is no iron law dictating how much you should spend on rent. Many advocate the 30% rule, which advises y...
Apartment Living
August 26, 2020
Security Deposit Laws: State by State
Most states have definitive laws regarding landlord-tenant relationships. Often, this includes various rules ...
Apartment Living
August 24, 2020
The Rental Application Process: How to Succeed at Every Step
A typical rental application process involves many steps. You’ll typically be asked to provide some basic i...
Apartment Living
August 17, 2020
Pay the Rent Online: Where and How to Do It
When it comes to convenient tech, online bill payment often takes the cake. The ability to handle your financ...
Housing Trends
August 10, 2020
16 Insightful Cost of Living Statistics – 2020
Cost of living is a surprisingly complex topic. It’s true that the cost of living is usually reflected as a...
Apartment Living
August 7, 2020
Programs That Help Pay Rent: How to Find Assistance
Many households struggle with making rent at some point. Maybe an unexpected expense derailed your budget or ...
Apartment Living
August 5, 2020
Paying the Rent Late Every Month: How Risky Is It?
Paying your rent late each month could lead to disastrous results. You might have to pay late fees on top of ...
Apartment Living
July 29, 2020
Where to Get Emergency Help to Cover Your Rent
Whether you just sank your last few hundred dollars into car repairs to ensure you make it work each day, sud...
Apartment Living
July 27, 2020
How to Rent an Apartment with Bad Credit: 10 Essential Tips
Almost all landlords check the credit score of prospective tenants. If you have bad credit, you need not desp...
Apartment Living
July 20, 2020
Paying Rent via PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle: What You Need to Know
Paying the rent with PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle might sound tempting. It’s quick and easy to set up, and all y...
Apartment Living
July 13, 2020
Late Rent Laws: All 50 States
Most states have clear laws regarding landlord-tenant arrangements. This includes rules regarding what can an...
Apartment Living
July 8, 2020
Grace Periods for Rent: How Late Can You Pay?
A grace period is a set amount of time that tenants have after their rent is due to pay their rent before bei...
Apartment Living
July 2, 2020
How to Split the Rent Fairly Between Roommates
Most of the time, splitting the rent between roommates is straightforward: 50/50, straight down the middle. B...
Apartment Living
June 24, 2020
Late Fees for Rent: What You Need to Know
The first thing that may happen if you pay your rent late is that you can get hit with a late fee. The rules ...
Apartment Living
June 22, 2020
How to Tell the Landlord Rent Will Be Late
Paying your rent late is never ideal. But if you handle the situation responsibly, you can stay on good terms...
Housing Trends
June 15, 2020
24 Insightful Real Estate Statistics – 2020
The world of real estate is always changing. What consumers want and can afford shifts on a constant basis. T...