Started actually looking for a place, not just scrolling

Toured two real places, not just the listings

Walked both units, ran the water, stood in the parking lot at 9pm to hear what the street sounded like.

Who's in it

Group

Narrowed it to one place, with the reasons written down

Not the cheapest and not the nicest — the one where the commute, the rent, and the roommate situation all actually worked at the same time.

Confidence in the pick

★★★★

Signed the first lease

Read all eleven pages out loud, alone, before the pen touched it. Asked about the two clauses that didn't make sense before asking about anything else.

Deposit paid

$1,200

Monthly rent

$675

Move-in date

1 Oct 2026

Called two current tenants before signing anything

Asked what the listing doesn't say — whether the heat actually works in January, how long repairs really take.