Apartment seeking question. There are apartments here and there, smaller complexes, that don't have

[raccoon]

as many units, nor as many amenities, and usually are less expensive. But they don't appear in those glitzy apartment booklets or
brochures of whatever they are, that you find at grocery stores.

So where can you find out about them?

[NutmegYankee]

1. Internet searches

[tymorial]

2. Some people still use newspaper classifieds

Check online classifieds for local newspapers. Craig's list too maybe

[JenniferJuniper]

3. rent.com is a place to start

May have some of them. Or you can google the name of particular complex as more and more have web pages these days.

[Kahuna7]

4. Try Apartments.com nt

[left-of-center2012]

5. Craigslist? Look or place ads

Back in the day, we'd drive around a neighborhood looking for signs saying:

'Apartment for Rent"

[Lee-Lee]

6. Craigslist, local paper, local "penny saved" or "trading post" type publications

Those properties typically don't have management or owners who can afford the flashy apartment finder websites, and most will just use free or low cost outlets.

Craigslist and the local classified ads are your best bet.

[LanternWaste]

7. An internet search localized to your area code should list all available apartments.

An internet search localized to your area code should list all available apartments (I simply typed in apartments and 75XXX). My complex has no website to speak of, and I originally discovered it simply by doing the above. Google maps gave me the same info but in a different format.

[KG]

8. first, Craigslist.com

some just put a sign out front.

[Weekend Warrior]

9. Most places these days are using craigslist.

Even the corporate side has started advertising rentals on craigslist. Please keep an eye on the average dollar per square foot. Say its $1/per sq ft in your area. If you see a place at $.50/per sq ft it's a scam or something you don't want to touch. Do not even contact the person.

Trulia.com

Also google "apartments in my area" and use that as a reference point. Even those without their own sites often show up.

[fierywoman]

10. Here's how I found exactly what I needed, where, at a price I could afford:

Tell every human being you know you're looking, that you need a place. Don't be shy about naming numbers of what you can afford and the parameters of what you want. You'll see, something will turn up. ( I also visualized what I wanted, but I know that route is not for everyone on this website.) My place was found by a friend who is legally blind, whose dog stopped to pee in front of the "for rent" sign. She thought it might be a "for rent" sign, so she got out her Iphone, took a picture and asked the friend to read it...
You see how this works (sometimes) ? Oh yeah, and I'm on the Eastside of Seattle, which is a ridiculously impossible market.
"Perseverance furthers" -- coraggio!