Tips for Students Apartment Hunting in Arlington, TX

Know your city. Arlington is a great Texas city that has both suburbs and urban areas. The key to finding an apartment in Arlington is to know what the different parts of the city give you easy access to. North Arlington is home to the tourist attractions like Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor. If you choose a North Arlington location, your apartment community will likely have decent access to Interstate 30 and Hwy 360. Not too bad, considering that I-30 gives you access to both Dallas and Fort Worth, and 360 will link you up to lots of other highways and spurs. North Arlington apartments are generally close to one of these two highways, so you’ll have easy access to shopping and restaurants.

Central Arlington, the area that encircles UTA, is Arlington’s oldest area. Apartments in this part of Arlington will not be as new as North and South Arlington. However, Central Arlington is where you will find the lowest rents. If you’re brave, you don’t require too many amenities, and you don’t mind who your neighbors are, you might find a cheap apartment on the stretch of Pioneer Parkway that runs from Park Springs to Cooper Street. Central Arlington has a fair amount of grocery-type shopping, but limited access to major highways.

South Arlington is more suburban than the other areas of the city. The drive from apartments in South Arlington to UTA is reasonable for the quality of living available there. You have easy access to I-20 and Hwy 287 in South Arlington, as well as The Parks Mall and close proximity to Mansfield and more rural areas.

To get the best feel for Arlington, drive yourself around the city and get familiar with major street names and areas before you begin apartment hunting. This way, you’ll have an idea of where you want to live before you start looking. It might also be helpful to get a zip code map of the city to help in your search.

Use the internet. You will save yourself a ton of time by using some of the apartment search websites available on the internet. Use them to view photos, floorplans, and get contact info for communities you might be interested in. Some sites offer a cash referral fee or free moving services if you use their site (see Resources at the end of this article). If you see a property you like, use a zip code map to find out what area of Arlington the property is in. Narrow your choices down to a few properties, then�

Visit each property. Your home for the next 6 to 12 months should not be an “impulse buy.” Call each property before you visit to find out the best time to come buy, get a contact name, and set up an appointment to see a specific person. You should also ask about availability, student discounts, and current leasing specials on the phone. You don’t want to go look at a property only to find out that the type of apartment or rent price you want is not available. Leasing agents are generally more prepared to show you an apartment if they are expecting you than if you just walk in off the street. Before you head off to check out apartments in Arlington, thoughâÂ?¦

Make a list of your deal-breakers. What is the maximum rent you can pay? Does the property need to have a pool or fitness center? Do you need an apartment with washer/dryer connections? Do you only want to live on the ground floor? Commit yourself to certain must-haves before a smooth-talking leasing agent can rent you an apartment that is not right for you.

Things to look for on your apartment visit. As you visit each property, you’ll not only want to look at the actual unit you will be renting, you’ll also want to look around the apartment complex as a whole. Is the staff friendly? Are the grounds well-kept? Is the pool clean? Are there scummy people hanging around in the parking lot? Are there trashed-out cars on blocks parked everywhere? If something does not seem right, continue your search elsewhere.

Now that you know where to look, and what to look for, you’re ready to start your apartment search. Happy hunting!