looking for recent stories from the rental trenches

[B]

I'm currently shopping for a different place in the city.

I'm wary of renting from an underwater speculator, but not completely opposed.

If anyone has signed a lease recently, can I ask for some informal poll data?

- which neighborhood
- size of place
- corporate owner or individual owner
- your monthly rent incl water/etc surcharge
- how far were you able to negotiate with the landlord, which concessions/discounts were you able to get?


By the way, has anyone else been impressed with Rentometer?
http://www.rentometer.com/

[fatsteak]

I am still looking around Capitol Hill. I will list the averages. Nice 1 bedroom $900+. 600+ sqft. Parking could be another $75+. Utilities another $50+. We are not talking about new apartments here. New will start at $1100+.

Almost zero move-in special in the area. There is one move-in special but the place is expensive to begin with.

[biliruben]

My outlaws are renting out their 2 bed, ~2000 sq ft house (3rd, non-legal bed in the basement) right on the Burke across from Magnusson Park, with nice yard and lake view, for $1550/mo.

Probably a bit of a deal, but they have nice, stable renters they want to keep.

Zillows at over 500K, so mortage would be about twice rent now, but they bought for less than half that in the late 90s when things still cash-flowed.

They've gotten several unsolicited offers for the place, including the current tenants, but they don't listen to me when I scream SELL!.