Does California Have Free Apartment Locator Services

Let'south face it, searching for an apartment in whatever urban center can be a hurting in the ass. Have a new job? Graduating from school? Trekking cross country on a whim? No thing the motivation, moving is a major bitch. And in Los Angeles, with it'south urban sprawl, disparate neighborhoods, and ridiculous traffic, advisedly selecting your next habitation is a tricker proposition than in most other cities.

That said, beingness the helpful chap that I am, I figured I'd offer a listing of basic tools that whatever Fifty.A. apartment hunter ought to be referencing on the daily when researching their futurity dream home. Having moved to six different neighborhoods spread out over L.A. during the past x years, I feel like I am ~~an L.A. Jedi~~ at to the lowest degree vaguely qualified to provide some counsel.

I won't say that this covers everything, but if yous use the post-obit 10 tools affectively, you'll be 95% of the style there. But let's not get defenseless up (any further) in some flowery introduction.

Here's the list.

ane-three Apartment Listings

There'due south an obvious reason this comes showtime: If yous can't observe a suitable apartment, you won't be moving out of your parent's basement to pursue your interim career anytime soon.

For sake of simplicity I've lumped this into a group of three tools, which I remember are pretty much the gilded standard.

1. Craigslist – The default. The most comprehensive listing. Pretty much what everyone and their female parent uses.

2. Padmapper – Information technology has, in my opinion, a far superior map interface than craigslist. Employ it every bit a cross-referencing and supplemental apartment hunting tool.

3. Westside Rentals – If you lot want to step your game up and await for paid listings, this is the get-to service for Los Angeles. Recommended: Cheque with friends and acquaintances within your social circle to see if someone already has a subscription you can "borrow" as you lot probably won't need the tool for very long and you can save yourself a bit of coin.

Median Rent Price Map for Los Angeles

[image credit: la.curbed.com]

4. Google Maps

Google Maps is one of the most powerful cyberspace tools that we take utterly for granted. When because a prospective rental property as a tenant, apply this tool to exam out commute times, measure proximity to local businesses (grocery stores, hardware, big-box stores, etc…), find public transit options (like how shut is the Metro) and even go to street view to come across what the street parking situation might expect like.

Incredibly simple, still powerful.

five. Crime Mapping

No one wants to alive in a hell hole. Period.

Fortunately, the 50.A. Times has a crime mapping tool that breaks down offense occurrences neighborhood by neighborhood so yous tin see exactly what you might be moving into.

From the Times:

"…readers can go along electric current on local crime and compeel crime levels across more than 200 neighborhoods and localities. When violent or property crimes rising sharply in LAPD patrolled neighborhoods, the system delivers a offense alert. Long-term statistics, like the rankings to the left, are bachelor for areas covered by LAPD and the sheriff."

6. Pollution Mapping

Ditto what I just said on crime, simply in this case for pollution.

Fifty.A. Times has a nifty responsive map that volition testify you where pollution is most rampant within Los Angeles canton. If you have allergies or are especially sensitive to air quality, this may exist of great import to you.

vii. Reddit

I tend be a relentless advocate for Reddit, and as a frequent reader (and occasional contributor) to r/LosAngelesI don't mind plugging it here every bit a useful tool for folks on the move in Fifty.A.

That said, if yous're looking for some more qualitative data almost moving to or effectually Los Angeles, here are some useful threads you might consider reading.

Advice for an Irish couple moving to L.A.

Advice for a family of iii moving to L.A.

Communication for a New York transplant moving to L.A.

Advice for a 19 twelvemonth old moving to Fifty.A.

8. Yelp

Ok, allow's talk well-nigh Yelp, and how it helps determining the quality of a prospective address.

Proximity of businesses is one thing, just Loftier quality food, service, and entertainment options are another. Before moving to a new area, I think it'south always wise to do your due diligence and notice out what potential "become-to" options are inside a stone'south throw of your new pad.

My methodology? Eye in on the geo location of the property address on Yelp and exercise a search for your favorite type of cuisine(s), or any special business that yous know y'all'll be relying on. Perhaps you want to alive in an surface area with great Indian food, or tacos, or a nail salon, barber, machine mechanic, or dry cleaner yous can rely on. Or maybe bars or lounges or moving picture theaters are your affair. And then do your searches for those types of businesses, and then sort by 'highest rated.'

Yelp Map of Glendale Restaurants

[image credit: world wide web.yelp.com]

If a business has more than iv stars, it at least has my attention, then I tin glance through the reviews to determine how legitimate they are or if the reviews appear to be written by a god forsaken (basically, besides generic).

Information technology's not an exact scientific discipline, but my basic thinking is the more than high quality businesses inside a 2-3 mile radius of my address, the greater my quality of life will be overall, and the more likely I am to rent in that location.

9. Walkscore

Again, this is a derivative of quality of life play. The less yous drive and are stuck in traffic, the happier yous're going to exist.

Using Walkscore was one of the first factors in my decision to move to downtown Long Beach, where I resided for iv years and, because I was self employed, could literally get days at a time without using my motorcar. Imagine that!

Every bit corollary, cheque out Curbed LA'south 10 Virtually Walkable Neighborhood's in Los Angeles (based on Walkscore data)

10. The Department of Consumer Affairs

End of the day, yous need to know your rights and what questions you should be asking to any potential landlord.

From understanding rent control to the subtleties betwixt different types of leases and your rights as a tenant, the list of manufactures here is mandatory reading earlier you hire in Los Angeles, especially if yous're a kickoff timer or are merely moving to the urban center. You can read the full guide at the DCA website for the county of Los Angeles. Pay attending to the sections on "Before You Rent" and "Living in Your Rental Unit."

Final Word

When it comes downwardly to it, the more research and idea you put into where you alive, the happier y'all're going to exist as a human existence. Think nearly it, you're going to spend more time in your apartment (or inside a shut proximity) and then anywhere else in the world, then why not put the most try into securing the location that will bring you lot the maximum amount of joy, and the least amount of stress?

Finally, I would leave you with this piece of advice: utilise your eyes. The all-time fashion to observe an flat, know a neighborhood, and make an informed decision virtually where to movement is to pound the pavement and see for yourself. Yous'll oftentimes uncover gems that you won't observe in the digital space, and when yous've signed that lease, gotten all the furniture moved in, and triumphantly plop down on your burrow and relax in the comfort of your new home, yous'll feel all the meliorate for it.

Happy hunting!

**UPDATE**

The folks at Reddit suggested to add these three tools in, so I figured I'd driblet them in here as an addendum. Thanks guys!

Radpad: An app for helping you find your next apartment.

City-Information.com: Helps you lot find out crucial demo details on a prospective area. Y'all can search past zipcode. Very handy.

Zillow.com: More flat listings!

This is by no means an exhaustive listing. If you lot have whatsoever tools or recommendations, please add them in the comments beneath!