How to Hunt for Multi-Family Apartments

Multifamily apartments are perfect for families who get along with one another, young adults who want to live near their parents but maintain some independence, and anyone looking for a good deal on an apartment. Follow a simple process of searching for multifamily units so you can concentrate on touring only the apartments that suit your needs.

Step 1: Hire an Apartment Rental Agent (Optional)

The easiest way to find multifamily apartments is to have a professional do the work for you. You can hire the services of an apartment rental agent, or apartment broker, and specify you only want to see multifamily apartments. If you’re hoping to have another family move into the attached unit, have that family meet with the agent as well. Just be aware that rental agents tend to charge between 10 and 15 percent of the total amount you pay for rent in a year for their services. This could amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You may be able to avoid this fee if you ask to only look at no-agent-free units (the fees are paid for by the landlord), but this limits your options.

Step 2: Search Apartment Finder Websites

If you have the time to spare to devote to your multifamily apartments hunt and you don’t want to spend all of that money on a rental agent fee, you can use apartment finder websites to your advantage. Most of these websites include an expanded search option that drops down to include “multifamily” as an option. Just be careful to look for apartments with two or more available units if you’re moving with another family.