The Key

Report: September 2024 Rent Trends

Lilly Milman

Oct 03, 2024

On Tuesday, October 1, we published our monthly National Rent Report, highlighting national rent trend data as well as rent price data by state and by city. To create this report, we analyze rent trends in 100 major U.S. cities.

What to Do if You Get Locked Out of Your Apartment

Lilly Milman

Sep 27, 2024

It’s an unfortunate accident that happens to everyone at least once: You ran out of the house for just a moment, only to return and realize that the door was locked behind you. If you’ve found yourself in this situation for the first time, it’s important not to panic. In this guide, we offer a few possible solutions as well as some suggestions that may help you avoid getting locked out again in the future.

What is a Building Superintendent and What Do They Do?

Lilly Milman

Sep 25, 2024

A building superintendent, often shortened to just a building “super,” is like a property manager and handyman wrapped into one role. In this article, we go through what a building superintendent's responsibilities are, why they’re beneficial to have in your building, and more.

Should You Rent this Apartment? 9 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Signing a Lease

Claire Nicholas

Sep 23, 2024

There are questions that you may not think to ask yourself when apartment hunting, especially if you’re a first-time renter or if you’re moving to a completely new city. That’s why we’re here to ask those other important questions for you.

A Room-By-Room Guide to Doing Minor Maintenance in Your Apartment

Claire Nicholas

Sep 19, 2024

We all know the feeling when something in your apartment begins to malfunction — one minute you’re doing the dishes, and the next, you’re debating whether to text your landlord about the clogged sink. Not every issue requires a call to your landlord; in this guide, we asked a professional handyman for tips on how to do minor maintenance at home.

Which Neighborhoods in Boston Have the Most Rats?

Lilly Milman

Sep 17, 2024

We wanted to figure out exactly where the rodents are congregating in one of the “rattiest cities in America” — and how much they’re paying in rent. The findings may surprise you. In this report, we used 311 data to measure rat incidents per capita as well as our own rental data to find the relationship between rent prices and rat populations.

Industrial Interior Design: Everything You Need to Know

Claire Nicholas

Sep 09, 2024

Industrial interior design is a style that embraces the beauty of unrefined decor elements, with the result being living spaces that are edgy, modern, and historical all at once. This timeless design approach draws inspiration from old factories and urban spaces, and can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it.

Report: August 2024 Rent Trends

Lilly Milman

Sep 05, 2024

On Tuesday, September 3, we published our monthly National Rent Report, highlighting national rent trend data as well as rent price data by state and by city. To create this report, we analyze rent trends in 100 major U.S. cities.

Why Have Less Boston Apartments Been Rented This Year?

Lilly Milman

Sep 03, 2024

There's something up with the Boston rental market. As of the end of August, a much greater number of apartments with 9/1 move-in dates were still on the market, and that’s unusual. This new reality has meant some property owners have had to adjust their price strategy or risk having a vacant apartment in September.

A Room by Room Guide to Packing Efficiently for a Move

Claire Nicholas

Aug 26, 2024

While you can’t avoid the task of packing itself, you can make the prospect of fitting everything in your moving vehicle a bit less daunting with these room-by-room packing tips. Bonus: None of these require fancy packing materials.

The Most Affordable Beachfront Cities in the U.S.

Lilly Milman

Aug 22, 2024

Wish you could live on the beach? For many, living by the waterfront feels like a dream — an expensive one at that. However, it doesn’t need to be. We decided to find out where the lowest cost cities were within 15 miles of the beach are, including oceanfront beaches and lakefront beaches.

Apartment Tour: How This Actress Turned Her Tiny Upper East Side Apartment into a Maximalist Oasis

Claire Nicholas

Aug 20, 2024

Actress Jillian Marie Sayegh was sketched out by her current Upper East Side apartment listing, but the price was too good to pass up — and a psychic had told her that her dream apartment was coming to her way. Sayegh toured the place, decided it had good bones and lots of potential — and has completely transformed the space since then. Here's her apartment transformation tour.

What is a Co-Op Apartment? The Definition, Pros, and Cons

Lilly Milman

Aug 16, 2024

Cooperative housing, co-op for short (also styled as coop), is a unique kind of housing option — existing in the in between of renting and owning a home. In this article, we’ll explore what a co-op apartment is, how it works, how it’s different from renting or purchasing property, and what the pros and cons of buying into a co-op building are.

Tips for When Your Apartment Doesn’t Get Natural Light

Lilly Milman

Aug 14, 2024

Natural light is hard to replicate. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can try out to make the most of the light you do get in a dark room and to make your home look and feel sunnier.

A Guide to Moving in With Roommates for the First Time

Claire Nicholas

Aug 12, 2024

If it’s your first time living with roommates, you’re correct to assume there might be some adjustments and unfamiliar scenarios coming your way in this new living situation. Although your roommate experience will vary based on who you are and where you live, there are some pieces of advice that will help make the experience as enjoyable and smooth as possible.

The Most Competitive Rental Markets Right Now (Q2 2024)

Lilly Milman

Aug 08, 2024

We calculated the most competitive rental markets in the U.S. right now, using our rental data as well as the Q2 vacancy rates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on July 30, 2024. The San Jose, CA metro area came out on top.

Report: July 2024 Rent Trends

Lilly Milman

Aug 06, 2024

On Monday, August 5, we published our monthly National Rent Report, highlighting national rent trend data as well as rent price data by state and by city. To create this report, we analyze rent trends in 100 major U.S. cities.

Bohemian Interior Design: Everything You Need to Know

Claire Nicholas

Aug 02, 2024

One of the most distinctive and popular interior design styles of the 21st Century is bohemian, or “boho style” accompanied by its siblings bohemian chic and modern bohemian. In this article, we outline what it is and how you can achieve it in your rental.

What is a Galley Kitchen? The Definition, Pros, and Cons

Lilly Milman

Jul 31, 2024

You may love them or hate them, but galley kitchens are here to stay. In this article, we go over why this somewhat cramped kitchen design has become a staple of apartment living and why the pros may actually outweigh the cons.

My Landlord is Selling My Building. What's Next?

Lilly Milman

Jul 29, 2024

Finding the perfect apartment is hard, which is why many renters try to avoid moving often as much as they can. But what if you have no choice? What if your landlord sells your building or apartment — and the new owners do not want you as a tenant?

Apartment Tour: A Nurse and Content Creator’s Dream Apartment Transformation in Long Island City

Claire Nicholas

Jul 25, 2024

Emily Auffrey won the NYC housing lottery with her Long Island City apartment. Literally. Here's how she transformed her affordable housing unit in LIC, with its floor to ceiling windows, tons of natural light, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

What are the Pros and Cons of Renting from a Private Landlord?

Lilly Milman

Jul 23, 2024

As you begin apartment hunting, you’ll encounter two different kinds of landlords: professional property management companies and smaller private landlords. To help you figure out which one is for you, we’ve crafted this guide outlining the pros and cons of renting an apartment from a private landlord over a property management company.

How to Measure Your Apartment for the Ideal Mattress Size

Kaity Lewis

Jul 17, 2024

Humans spend, on average, about 7 to 8 hours sleeping every day. That is one third of every day spent in bed, while many more waking hours are spent around the mattress in the room. So, finding a mattress that not only fits your sleep needs, but your space needs as well is extremely important.

The Most Renter-Friendly Cities in 2024

Lilly Milman

Jul 15, 2024

We wanted to figure out where the most renter-friendly cities in the U.S. are, based on a few factors like ease of renting, affordability, tenant protection laws, and quality of life.

How To Feel Safer If You Live in Your Apartment Alone

Claire Nicholas

Jul 11, 2024

For some, living alone might bring about concerns related to personal safety and security. But with a few tips and tricks, you might find that the benefits of solo renting outweigh any doubts that creep in when you’re home alone.

How to Make Friends When You Move to a New City

Claire Nicholas

Jul 09, 2024

How do you meet people in a new and unfamiliar place? We spoke to a few young adult renters to learn more about how to make friends in a new city.

Report: June 2024 Rent Trends

Lilly Milman

Jul 03, 2024

On Tuesday, July 3, we published our monthly National Rent Report, highlighting national rent trend data as well as rent price data by state and by city. To create this report, we analyze rent trends in 100 major U.S. cities.

How to Find an Apartment in New York

Lilly Milman

Jul 01, 2024

Moving to New York can be daunting, but we’re here to help. In this guide, we dive into everything you need to know for finding an apartment in New York — from your initial search to your signed lease.