Essential Affordable Housing Search Tips

Navigating the search for affordable housing can be challenging. Our guide offers practical and affordable housing search tips to simplify your journey. From identifying budget-friendly neighborhoods to understanding the nuances of rental agreements, these strategies are designed to help you find suitable and affordable rentals without compromising on your needs.

Implementing effective tips for housing search, such as using dedicated housing locator tools and refining search criteria, can greatly enhance your chances of finding the perfect home. Our affordable rental search guide provides step-by-step advice on optimizing rental searches, ensuring you access the best available properties. Stay informed and proactive to make your housing search as successful as possible.

Search Tips

Use these tips to search for rental housing on one of the free Housing Locators

View Results

The next page will show results for the area you searched. Click a listing to see full details.

Do you see too many results?

A sign with the text '575 properties' written in bold, dark blue letters on a light gray background.

Click “Hide Wait Listed Properties” to only see rentals that do not have wait lists.
Click “Refine or Restart Your Search” to go to a screen that will let you add more criteria to your search.

Do you need more results?

A rectangular sign with a gray border and a light gray background displaying the text '0 properties' in dark blue capital letters.

Click “Refine or Restart Your
Search” or “Click here to try another search.”
On the next screen, click “Choose a different area” at the top-right of the search box.” or “Click here to try another search.”

Use the Map

A toggle switch with two options: 'List' on the left and 'Map' on the right. The switch is currently in the middle position, not fully toggled to either option. The 'List' and 'Map' texts are in blue and grey, respectively.

Click “Map” at the top-left of the search results to display results on a map.
Click map pins to see property information highlighted in blue next to the map.
Click anywhere on the map to begin a new search.

Sort Results

Use the menu at the top-right to sort listings by rent, building type, location, date available, and more.

A user interface element showing two dropdown menus and a sort button. The first dropdown menu is labeled 'Rent,' and the second dropdown menu is set to 'Low to High.' There is a 'sort' button on the right side of the dropdown menus.

Click the word “Detailed” to immediately see full contact information, deposits, and more.

A toggle switch is displayed with the options 'Standard' and 'Detailed.' 'Standard' is selected. Below, there is text that reads 'see icon legend and more information,' accompanied by an information icon with a lowercase 'i'.

Click “see icon legend and more information” to see a key to the icons on each listing and to use the Temporary Favorites feature.

A screenshot of a website section shows 'Temporary Favorites' with zero count. There are options to 'Add Selected Units,' 'Add All on This Page,' and 'Add All in This Search' to favorites. Below is a legend with symbols for accessibility features, income restriction, and Spanish support.

Click the star in the bottom-left of each listing (in the photo) to “favorite” a property. Follow on-screen instructions to add favorites to a page you can view, print, and share. Select listings to compare side by side.

A grayscale star icon is located on the left side and a blue square icon with a white checkmark inside it is on the right side, both on a white background.

Still searching? Get emails about listings that match your search.

Click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results.
On the next screen, click Need a Search Notification Account?
Follow on-screen instructions to register for a FREE account to receive emails about new and updated listings that fit your needs.

Do you have any questions? We’d love to hear from you.

Join The MyHousingSearch Network!

Unlock a world of housing opportunity for your communities by joining the MyHousingSearch network powered by Emphasys Software’s Housing Locator suite. This comprehensive suite of services is tailored specifically for housing finance agencies, housing authorities, state and local agencies, and supportive-service organizations. These game-changing solutions are designed to revolutionize the way you approach housing, ensuring that every individual in your community can find safe, affordable, and suitable accommodation. The MyHousingSearch/Housing Locator Solution empowers you to connect people with the homes that meet their needs effortlessly.

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