Lauren Wellbank Contributor Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience in the mortgage industry. Her writing has also appeared on HuffPost, Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and more. When she’s not writing she can be found spending time with her growing family in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. … Read more
I moved to New York City like most do — with six seasons of “Sex and the City” under my belt and a summer internship in Midtown that convinced me I knew what it was like to be a New Yorker. What was not advertised about Carrie Bradshaw’s understated pre-war walk-up was the plethora of … Read more
Thirty percent: It’s the number you hear the moment you fill out your first rental application. Don’t spend more than 30 percent of your income on rent. No, you can’t rent this apartment if your income isn’t three times the monthly rate. However, if you live in a high cost of living area, or anywhere … Read more
You and your other housemates have finally reached a breaking point: It’s time for your loud/dirty/disrespectful/destructive/insert-other-frustrating-adjective-here roommate to go. Whether it’s because they refuse to chip in for utilities or they haven’t cleaned their bathroom in months, you all agree that they need to move out — now. But can you actually “evict” a roommate? … Read more
Months and months spent at home might mean you’ve gotten to know the habits of your neighbors pretty well. Maybe you’ve seen them heading out for an errand or taking their dog on a walk and wondered: What kind of place do they come home to? If you live in an apartment building, it’s very … Read more
Though owning a home was once the epitome of adulthood, people from all walks of life are turning to renting in record numbers. In fact, there are more dedicated rental households in the U.S. today than there have been since 1965, and a third of today’s renters are renting by choice and not circumstance. It’s … Read more
Life in the city can be expensive. So stumbling upon an affordable option on your hunt for an apartment (one that even seems IG-worthy!) can feel like the ultimate find. Luckily, a convertible apartment is the perfect opportunity to capitalize on the perks of city life without the big city price tag — or at … Read more
TikTok is a good place to learn some new dance choreography, or how to make your countertops look like marble. But is it the social media platform you should turn to when looking for a new apartment? The answer, it turns out, is yes. You can find videos about anything from home decor trends to … Read more
As you paint over yet another landlord off–white wall and wonder whether that one stubborn nail hole will cost you the security deposit, you might think, “Is it finally time I look into buying my own place?” You peruse the first-time buyer resources, save more than a few homes on Zillow, and discover the exhilarating … Read more
It might be in the basement. It could be in the attic. Maybe it’s underneath your bed or tucked into the depths of your closet. The “it” in question? All of your stuff. If you’re moving out of your parents’ house, you’ll have to face the monster that it is and organize it out of … Read more