There are several apartment locator type search engines that will help you find the least expensive apartments out there. Generally if you use one of these search engines you will want to type in the residential areas you want to live within. For this you would need the zip code. You will also want to type in your requirements. For example, you can probably find a really cheap studio apartment, but if you need a two bedroom with two bathrooms, you need to specify that, otherwise you would have to sift through a whole host of other results before you actually find what you need.

How to negotiate for better rental terms: Tip one: Ask. If you want to get better terms on your rent, then make sure you ask for them. If your potential landlord does not know that you want better terms they are not going to be able to give them to you. So, make sure that if there is something you want improved, that you ask for it. This holds true whether it is an extension on your deposit, or whether it is a change in when rent is due, etc. Tip two: Hold out. If you ask for better terms, and they turn you down, it is smart to say that you are interested in their place, but can't meet their terms, and ask them to let you know if anything can change. Then wait. Even if you really want the place, you can likely wait a few days. If they really want to rent the place, and are having trouble getting it rented out, they will come back to you, and be willing to negotiate some. If they don't, move on. Tip three: Be honest. If you want to get better terms, then be as upfront and honest as you can be about what you want and why. For example, if you need the date that rent is due pushed back because you only get paid on the sixth and twentieth, so you won't have the rent by the fifth to pay, then explain that to them. Most landlord are going to be willing to work with you as long as you keep their place nice, and get them paid on time. Tip four: Start low. If you want better terms, then always ask for better than you can get. This gives room for negotiating. While this is a common tactic, it really is useful. For example, you can count on getting a response at least, and you can move up from there. The worst they can say is no, and the best they can say is yes. So, what do you have to lose?

Once you have entered in your criteria, the apartment site will pull up a list of available apartments for rent. You just have to look and see which is the least expensive, and there you go, cheap apartment.

Some of the most common search engines for cheap apartments are:

www.rent.com
www.apartmentsource.com
www.mynewplace.com

Obviously there are going to be some flaws to this approach. For one, it is only going to help you find apartments that are listed with management companies that have paid to use these website services, meaning a lot of available apartments, many of which may be even cheaper, or better than what comes up, is available. In addition to that, usually such service are only available in wider markets. So, if you are looking for a cheap apartment in a rural, or smaller area, you may not be able to use this option.

Using local papers and classifieds.

If you want to widen your search, use the web, but in addition to that, look through the local paper and classifieds for your area. This would include checking Craigslist for your area. Often you will find a lot more of what you are looking for, and will find more available contact information, etc. for the places wanting renters.

Also, if you find a place to rent through the local classifieds, you are often not going to have to pay as much for the place because you may not be paying for high management company fees, advertising fees, etc. In many cases you can find similar accommodations for less because you are not paying any overhead for them.

Most towns have a paper that the majority of the people read, in addition there might be a college paper, a regional paper, etc. It would be smart to start with the paper specifically for the city or town you are looking to rent in. Then look in the regional paper, as many people will advertise there to attract a wider range of people. If there is a college paper for the area, look there as you can often find many apartment listings in a college paper classifieds, as owners are looking to find people who need apartments, and most college students do not own their homes.

Look for privately owned rentals.

Once you have found a list of apartments in your approximate price range, and in the area you want, look for ones that are privately owned and rented. Often people who privately own rentals are needing to keep them occupied to be able to make their mortgage payment on the place. So, if you can find private renters, you are looking at getting a better deal, or at least a more negotiable deal, especially if they are having trouble getting the place rented.

Even if the price is the same as a similar unit owned and operated by a bigger company, you can often get better contract terms. For example, they may be willing to take a smaller deposit if you can't come up with enough. They may be willing to split the deposit into multiple payments so you do not need a lump sum. You may be able to get more flexible contract length, for example, a place run by a management company may require a full year contract, whereas a private renter may allow you to rent for 9 months, etc. So, this is especially beneficial if you are looking for something temporary or short term. It would allow you to only rent the place as long as you need to, and thus save you money in not having to pay for somewhere longer than is necessary. You may be able to have rent due on an odd day based on your pay cycle, rather than just having it due strictly on the first. There is a lot of room for negotiating.

In addition to the flexibility in terms, often you can find good deals on privately owned rentals. For example, you might find a three bedroom two bath basement apartment that will cost far less than a three bedroom, two bathroom normal apartment, and often, if you rent a basement apartment, your utilities are included in the price. So, as you can see, do not discount privately owned rentals, or assume they will cost more. They usually have a larger deposit as the owners assume more risk because they likely own fewer rentals. However, in general you will find the terms to be better, the price to be equivalent or better, and the flexibility much better.

Look for vacant places that have been vacant for a while.

If you can find rentals that are privately owned and managed, you can get even cheaper prices by looking for ones that have been vacant for a while. There are two ways to do this, look at the ad and see how long it has been running, or call and ask. If you can find a privately owned place that has been vacant for a while, you can usually negotiate a cheaper rent. The owner may be willing to rent it out for a third less than what they advertise it for, if you ask. This is usually due to the fact that getting some sort of rental income out of it is better than none. Of course some people will need to hold out because they can't afford to carry the cost themselves, and need a full price renter. However, you never know unless you try. This is a great way to get nice apartments for cheap!

A few more tips:

One thing you have to remember is that price is not the only thing that matters, and rent price is not either. For example, let's say you rent a place for $600 as opposed to paying $650 for a nice unit. Then let's say that winter hits, and the place you rented is poorly insulated, and so your heating bill is $85 dollars for the month, whereas at the other place it would have been closer to $35, and you would have been far more comfortable all month long. So, even if the price ends up being the same, your comfort makes a difference. Obviously there is no way to know exactly what your utility usage will be, but it does not hurt to ask if you can see past bills so you can get a feel for whether or not the apartment is energy efficient, and if it would be a better deal to pay more in rent and less in utilities.

Second, location matters. If you rent a cheap place in a scary neighborhood, and your car or apartment get broken into, your stuff gets vandalized, or stolen, etc. then your cost of living just went up. Now you might think that the chances of it happening are low, but is the risk worth it? In addition to that, don't you want to feel safe and secure in your home? In addition to the security issues, location also effects your time and commute for work, school, etc. You might find a great apartment with cheap rent 45 minutes away from your work and school. Would paying more for a place closer actually benefit you? You could work more. You would have more time for studies. You would save on gas, car repair, etc. The point is, consider the costs besides the hard dollar cost of a place. While you obviously need to rent a place you can make the payment for, you also need to consider what other costs are you paying as well? Is the cost your time? Is the cost your safety? Is the cost your sanity? What if you have neighbors that have big parties, play their music loud, get home at all hours of the night and turn on their car alarms, etc.?

When looking for cheap apartments, use the resources available to you, but also use your gut. Factor in opportunity costs, and inconvenience costs. The saying that "you get what you pay for" is going to likely hold true in this case. There are, of course, some exceptions where you find a great place and can get it for low rent, but generally you are not going to be the exception, instead you are going to be miserable.