Yes! We’re your new friend in your new town. So even better, we have special deals just for Apartment Insiders clients worked out with our friends around town who would like to earn your business. Many of them will give you an upfront deal (like a free haircut, free workout session or two, etc.) to try out their place hoping that you’ll keep coming back since they know you are new to town. Ask your Insider for access to this list of deals. Write helpful private rentals article with links Links to schools Schools Davidson County School District Map (Interactive) – https://mnps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cedc432ee9d1418db4300bc2ab30fc33 Davidson County School District Map http://maps.nashville.gov/webimages/MapGallery/PDFMaps/School%20Locations.pdf Davidson County Public, Private, Charter Schools – https://www.nashvillechamber.com/explore/live/schools School Ratings – https://www.niche.com/ School Ratings – https://www.greatschools.org/tennessee/nashville/ Pets Nashville is a remarkably pet friendly city. Most apartments will have amenities for pets (pet parks, dog runs, pet spas) and most apartments are pet friendly. Property management and individual landlords are more of a case by case basis with the highest degree of flexibility. Pet policies at apartments will vary from the following: “Aggressive” breed restrictions (Pitbulls, German Shepherds, etc.) {Most apartments} No breed/size restrictions {Few apartments} Pet interviews (fur real) {Fewer apartments} Weight restrictions (35lbs., 50lbs., 75 lbs.) {Few apartments} 2 pet maximum {most apartments} 3 pets or more {few apartments} Different Areas Feeling safe is important for everyone when looking for a home. That being said, what one considers “safe” will be subjective. https://www.crimemapping.com/map/tn/nashville https://spotcrime.com/ https://www.familywatchdog.us/Default.asp Aside from online tools, you’ll find it’s highly recommended to drive around, stop, and get a feel for any areas you’re considering making home, particularly during the times you’re most likely going to be out. If you don’t feel comfortable driving, let alone walking, around then you probably won’t feel comfortable calling that area home. It’s unfortunate that I have to add this, but some people will incorrectly judge the safety of an area based on specific demographics. It’s such uneducated, and divisive, judgments that previously led to unfair & unethical Real Estate practices (redlining [lenders wouldn’t lend to minorities in certain areas essentially creating a redline around areas], blockbusting [agents/developers would tell white landowners minorities were moving into the neighborhood to scare them into selling], steering [using a protected class {color, race, sex, age, etc.} to steer a buyer/resident to/from an area]) that had to be addressed with legislation (Fair Housing Laws) to prohibit discriminatory practices. As such when dealing with any Real Estate professional we will not discuss any matters on demographics for an area, especially when related to any protected classes. Such information is easily found through Google. Utilities Utilities List (Multiple Counties) – https://liveitnash.com/utilities NES (Nashville Electric Service) – https://www.nespower.com/ Piedmont Natural Gas – https://www.piedmontng.com/home MWS (Metro Water Services) – https://www.nashville.gov/Water-Services.aspx Internet There are others aside from the major 3 below. Use the addresses of your options to find service providers. Google (Select areas/apartments/condos only) AT&T Comcast Public Transportation (Don’t Expect Much) Nashville is car DEPENDENT; Some neighborhoods are bicycle-friendly, many are not – https://www.walkscore.com/TN/Nashville-Davidson WeGo (Bus) – https://www.nashvillemta.org/ Music City Star (Train) – https://www.rtarelaxandride.com/ B-Cycle (Bicycles… Currently Suspended) – https://nashville.bcycle.com/ Cost of living – https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Nashville Climate https://weatherspark.com/y/14687/Average-Weather-in-Nashville-Tennessee-United-States-Year-Round Driver Services – https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services.html New Residents- https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/dlnew.html You said something about a “special”? Correct! Apartments periodically run “specials” & “look and leases” that can save you quite a bit of money, if applied correctly. Phrasing matters as deals all vary. Specials are generally unit/time-based. Look and leases will have short expirations, generally the life of the quote (24-72 hours), to incentivize you to make a quick decision. In each instance, you will receive a credit worth the amount of whatever special you receive in your online account (where you will pay your rent) upon move-in. What will vary is how the apartments will allow you to prorate your special. For example: “Move-in by the end of the month and get your 1st month free!”* *(1 bedroom w/ 13 month lease) Must physically move in by the end of the month to receive 1 month free on a 1 bedroom unit with a 13-month lease. “Lease by the end of the month and get your 1st month free!”* *(1 bedroom) Must sign lease agreement by end of the month to receive 1 month free on 1 bedroom units. “1 month free” Must sign lease agreement by time point (end of special) to receive special. ***Specials are usually only applied for specific lease terms (12 months)*** In each instance, you will receive 1 month free. However, the apartment will determine how that credit is applied. Either way, you will receive the same amount in savings from the credit. Credit is used for your 1st full month (you don’t pay rent your 1st full month) Credit is prorated at your volition (you choose how you spread out the credit over your lease) Credit is prorated over a specific amount of time (i.e. First 4 months) For example: $1,000 for a 1 bedroom apartment offering 1 month free on a 13 month lease (1st full month) $1,000 X 13 months = $13,000 Spent on rent over life of lease without special $1,000 X (13mo -1mo) = $12,000 Spent on rent over life of lease with special 0 + 1,000 + 1,000… = $12,000 $1,000 for a 1 bedroom apartment offering 1 month free on a 13 month lease (Self-prorate) (a lot of ways you can prorate this) $1,000 X 13 months = $13,000 Spent on rent over life of lease without special $1,000 X (13mo -1mo) = $12,000 Spent on rent over life of lease with special 0 + 1,000 + 1,000… = $12,000 – or – $12,000/13mo = $923 per month if spread out evenly over the life of the lease $923 x 13mo 923 + 923 + 923… =$12,000 $1,000 for a 1 bedroom apartment offering 1 month free on a 13-month lease spread over the first 4 months (Specific increment) $1,000/4 = $250 off for first 4 months $750 + $750 + $750 + $750 + 1,000 + 1,000… = $12,000 Look and leases will generally be smaller offers such as waiving your application fees, or a smaller credit, that is only good for a short period of time (24-48 hours) to incentivize you to apply. The time will start upon contacting/touring the apartments depending on the apartment. For example: “Move-in by the end of the month and get your 1st month free!”* *(1 bedroom w/ 13 month lease) Application and administration fees waived if leased within 48 hours” Must physically move in by the end of the month to receive 1 month free on a 1 bedroom unit with a 13-month lease. However, if you lease within 48 hours you will also get your application and administration fees waived. Or you can just have me do all the hard work for you! Please read this before asking any questions. If you can’t find the answer here, or through Google, try giving the sub a quick search to see if it’s already been asked/answered. If no luck then feel free to post. The more information you can provide (barring any personal contact info) the higher the odds of someone stepping in with an answer, well a helpful one. Housing Buying Get a Realtor! The buyer’s agent’s cost is generally covered by the seller in a traditional real estate transaction. You’ll find no shortage of agents. Talk to multiple people before deciding. You’ll be interacting with this person a good bit, on quite possibly the largest purchase of your life, so clear communication on both parts is huge. A few Redditors that may be able to assist: u/JakeDaniels585 u/MB9015 Renting (Leasing) Apartments Get an Apartment Locator! We’re also Real Estate Agents, but instead of buying/selling houses, we find people apartments throughout the Greater Nashville Area (every surrounding county except Cheatham currently). We get paid by apartments for referring new residents at **absolutely no cost to you**. Nashville has been my home since before high school and I’ve been to practically all the apartments in town. I’m a part of a team of Apartment Locators. We’re constantly getting emails/calls/texts updating us on pricing/availability/specials/tour policies directly from apartments and we have our own group-chat to update each other on the fly. You tell me what you’re looking for in an apartment and I can do a personalized search based on your needs/wants. Fill out my Apartment Search Web Form or email me at
[email protected] for free help! If you’d like to spend your free time doing the research on your own (I truly don’t know why you would though, I’ve done the apartment search the old school way it *ssssuuuccckkkssss*, but hey your choice lol): Apartments.com Rent.com Hotpads.com Apartmentguide.com Zillow.com Zumper.com The pictures/videos are, usually, great on said websites, but the pricing and availability are also, usually, outdated. (Most Nashville apartments have switched over to software-based pricing that updates frequently) Reviews can be helpful, but also distracting. Repeat mentions of specific issues merit attention, but reviews are also often used as a means of retaliation. Ask your Locator their thoughts and if they’ve had any clients move into said apartments and their experiences. Private Rentals (Houses – Condos) Drive around neighborhoods of interest (turn down every road) calling every “For Rent/Lease” sign you see. I’ve found great deals on housing this way. There are plenty of landlords out there that don’t bother listing online and only use word of mouth/bandit signs (signs in the yard) to find tenants. Sign up for Realtor emails. They will promote their upcoming listings and a lot of Realtors will offer to list rentals for their clients. Realtor.com Zillow.com Trulia.com Zumper.com Rent.com Hotpads Craigslist Facebook Marketplace Facebook Groups Roommates, rooms, short-terms, & subleasing Apartments generally only offer month-month to their current residents. The shortest lease term that I’ve seen is a 2-month lease term. However, the price usually goes up with a shorter lease term. That being said, there are a lot of people that are looking to move before their lease ends so they look for people to sublet their leases. Subletting is most likely going to be your best bet in finding an affordable short term lease. Conversely, check with the leasing office if they allow sublets for your lease. If they do then consider getting a longer lease term to sublet the months you won’t need. (This comes with the risk of not finding someone to take over your lease so take serious consideration if you’re comfortable subletting your lease) Facebook Groups Facebook Marketplace Craigslist Padlist.com Roomies.com Roomster.com Hotpads.com Furnished units? There aren’t a lot of apartments throughout Nashville that will offer furnished units. When you do find one you’ll notice that it comes with a price increase. You’re paying to rent out the furniture. Here’s the secret. Just because an apartment doesn’t offer the furnishings directly doesn’t mean you can’t get a furnished apartment. You can furnish any apartment in Nashville regardless of whether the apartments offer it or not. The ones that do offer furnishings go through a company called CORT. You can go to their website and look their rates up. However, I deal with their local representatives so if you want some direct contact info feel free to give me a shout. With CORT you’ll be paying for two things. The furniture and the service. They will move the furnishings for you at the beginning/end of your lease. If you transfer units they will move it as well. You can furnish as much/little as you would like through them and as such their prices will vary greatly. I like to tell people to expect to add a few hundred to the budget for furnishings. Another option that I’ve had people do is to simply find used furniture and then attempt to sell it before your lease ends. You won’t recoup all of your money, but you have the potential of recouping some of it as opposed to simply renting it and not getting anything back. What if I can’t make a trip to Nashville to tour apartments in person? Even more reason to give me a shout!
[email protected] Most apartments offer some form of virtual tour, but it will vary with each place. We’ll virtually discuss the different neighborhoods, apartment communities, and specific units to narrow down your options to your favorites and I’ll stop by in your place to get photos/videos/video chat. After your virtual tour you should get a quote for a specified amount of time (24-72 hours) locking in the price***. (***A quote doesn’t reserve the unit under your name, it simply reserves the price for that unit for a specific amount of time {Yes, I’ve had to break the news to multiple people that the quote doesn’t prevent someone else from leasing the unit before you and it’s not a fun conversation for anyone}***) You found your next home, now what? Apply!* You’ll apply online with most apartments/property managers. It’ll vary with individual landlords. The only way to ensure a place for yourself is to apply to start the screening process before anyone else. Apartments/property managers won’t “hold” units while you wait. A private landlord is more likely to honor that request since they have more flexibility, but they also can use that flexibility to change their minds and lease their place to someone else with no notice. Application fee $25 – $75 per applicant (anyone over the age of 18 will be considered an applicant) Administration fee $150 – $350 per application (one application per apartment/house) Pet fee $100 – $300 Pet rent $15 – $35 a month (per pet) {some places will do a flat $50 for 2} Security deposit (Varies from place to place) (**Contingent on credit**) $100 – 1-month’s rent *Exercise caution when renting from strangers online. The risk of renting an apartment site-unseen is that you end up with an apartment you hate. The risk of renting a private rental site-unseen is that you get scammed out of money. Don’t send/transfer funds without physically seeing the property if possible. If not possible get them to Facetime/Google Duo you to show you the property, if they can’t/won’t do that it’s a red flag. If they can’t send you videos/pictures they probably don’t own the rental. I’ve talked to an average of 2 people per month this year that have been scammed when trying to find a home. What information will be checked when you apply? There are 3 things that will be checked when applying for an apartment, that will probably be checked by a property management company, and might be checked by a private landlord. Income Credit Background Each matter. However, the degree to each will vary depending on the apartment community/property manager/landlord. When you apply at whatever place you decide to call home your information will be sent over to a 3rd party screening company for them to review and decide. Income Gross income (pre-tax) ≥ 3x base rent (some will ask 2.5x){base=not including amenity/utility/fees/specials*) [i.e. $1,000 base rent ($3.00-$6.00 pest/$5-$25 trash + 1 month free = $1,008-$1,031 net rent + 1 month free*) < $3,000 gross monthly = $1,000 base rent < $3,000 gross monthly] Generally accepted documents to verify income: Offer letters Pay stubs Income statements Bank statements (showing sufficient funds to cover entire lease term will at times suffice) W2’s, 1099’s Tax returns Credit ≥ 600 is the general benchmark for approval < 600 some places will deny but you’ll still have options; higher deposits may be required Bankruptcies limit options Background Criminal background (Felonies limit options – misdemeanors vary {theft & violent offenses generally automatic denial} Rental background (Generally looking for 2 years rental history {flexible so don’t sweat this) Evictions limit options (set up a payment plan to increase your odds of approval at certain places) Just because you’ve been denied at an apartment doesn’t necessarily mean that all other apartments will also deny you. Get your denial letter (ask the leasing office for your denial letter and they will either give it to you or give you the number or website to contact the screening company to give it to you. Using that you can find out why you’ve been denied. Contact me and I’ll see about getting you approved elsewhere.***
