This is topic Good websites to find homes/apartments/townhouses for rent in non-metro area? in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
I will likely be moving to a new area soon.

Where I'll be moving to is WAY too far away for me to drive there or see a local real estate agent, so I need to start looking online.

The problem is, that it is a rural area, at least 45 min away from the closest city. So it's not like there are large apartment complexes that would have their own websites.

So looking online has been hard.

Does anyone have a good website they know of where people list their homes, townhouses, etc for rent?

I have been "googling" for over an hour, and have come up with very little.

All the sites like apartments.com and rentals.com I have checked out have only like 4 options for this area I'm moving too, and none of them fit my criteria. And trust me, I've checked every town within a 30 mile radius of the town I'm moving to on these sites.

So I'm wondering if there is some site I don't know about that people list rentals on?

I have checked the Classifieds online on the local paper's website, but the problem is there are no pictures...I'm thinking my only option would be to call each person in the Classifieds, and see who is willing to email me pictures.

I am kind of doubting anyone here knows of anything....since I've tried so many option already. I will eventually tour places in person, but I need a way to narrow it down first, over the internet. Sigh.
 
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
I've also looked at local realtor's websites, and most of them don't show the listings of rentals on their sites. Or if they do, there are very few options.
 
Posted by JoesMom (Member # 15699) on :
 
I am moving as well later this year and have found that local realtor offices many times do handle rentals but it's just not widely known...

(of course they want to buy/sell as it is more profitable)

Usually it is the new agents, the ones who need experience etc who handle the rental listings. They usually work very hard at this task and get a finders fee from the homeowner etc, so they do get something for all their hard work!

I would type in a search specifically for the town/area you are interested in and search each realtor website. Sometimes you can find rentals, but if not then I would definitely call and find out whether they do handle rentals and if so, who should you speak with.

May I also suggest this website which I have found very helpful. I even found my rental realtor here as she answered my rental questions and that is the info I am passing on to you today! http://www.city-data.com
You have to register (free) and then can go to the state/locality that you want info on. Many realtors are the site and usually respond.

Best to you!!
 
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
Thanks! [Smile] These are the kind of tips I was looking for!
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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A former police officer once gave me this tip.

Assuming you want a quiet setting, when you narrow down your search, you can call the city offices and ask how to obtain police call records.

That way, you can see the areas that receive the most calls about wild parties, etc. This also works regarding calls about vandalism or car theft, too.

Another tip from a power employee, call the power company to search the previous 12-month bill and average for the place in question. Of course, much depends on the previous family's habits, but it gives you an idea.
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Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :
 
http://www.craigslist.org
 
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
Thanks Keebler. Good ideas.

Oh, I thought I mentioned craigslist in my first post...guess I didn't. Craigslist has been pretty good, the best so far.

I think the main problem is that there is just not many options for renters where I'm moving to, because it is low population and mostly established residents, not a lot of young people or turn-over.

We might have found something. I wish the price was a little better....so we will keep looking until we need to move. But at least we have a "back up."
 
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
 
I really like the police contact idea. Wish I had thought of that myself as I learned the hard way.

The apartment complex I first moved to when I moved to my current area could have had a resident police officer on site there came so often.

I moved 5 min away to another complex and don't think I have seen the police here or the swat time once.

It may have been mentioned...but sometimes the chamber of commerce in the town can help and other times not depending on who you make contact with.

I have tried several times to contact the chamber where my lyme doc is and have gotten no response.

I heard through word of mouth about the places I have put in applications...
 


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