In this video, Arlington, VA real estate agent and Realtor Matt Leighton talks about why you should never rent an apartment in Arlington, VA.

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As you begin your search to find an apartment for rent in Arlington, VA, you will come across many massive communities in the area. These complexes will have 200 - 400 units but can even have upwards to 600 and even 800 residences.

You should never rent an apartment from these companies. Here's why:

-- You won't be able to see the apartment before you rent. Many Arlington VA apartments hover between 99% - 93% occupancy rates. This means that your apartment is probably currently occupied and most complexes don't allow potential renters to view occupied units.

You're going to spend 12 months (at least) of your life at an apartment and the management company will not even let you step foot inside your future home.

-- These companies are just trying to make a profit. They are corporations that want your money. They don't have an allegiance toward you or any sort of loyalty whatsoever. Their bottom line is literally their bottom line. So things like working with the front desk and maintenance requests may not be as smooth as if you were working with an individual landlord or working with a much smaller company.

-- They will raise the rent 4% - 9% after one year. They get you into the apartment by offering you one month free on a 13 month lease or 2 months free on a 14 month lease. And let's face it, everybody hates to move. So if you like your apartment, which you may, you're probably not going to want to move. Well once you get the terms of your new lease, that could change.

And good luck negotiating. Because if you can't pay, the apartment companies will find someone who will.

So what should you rent if you shouldn't rent from a large apartment complex in Arlington?

You should rent a house, townhouse, duplex, triplex, small apartment buildings (think 10 - 50 units), or condo.

A condo might be your best bet. Condos are just like apartments except they are individually owned. You work one-on-one with the indiviual landlord. A lot of times condos are more renovated than the apartment counterparts. And since there is ownership invovled, your neighbors will be (hopefully) a little bit more conscientious as they have a vested interest in making the community better. Compared to apartments where it may feel like a long-stay hotel since residents are always moving in and out.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:20 - Introduction at Lyon Park
0:35 - Searching for an apartment in Arlington, VA
1:04 - First reason not to rent an apartment: you're not going to be able to see the apartment before you live there
2:05 - Second reason is because you are renting from a corporation who only cares about the profit.
3:05 - The third reason is because the rent will be raised significantly after your first year living in your Arlington, VA apartment.
4:20 - Rental alternatives: houses, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, small apartment complexs, condos

Video location: Lyon Park, Arlington, VA
https://goo.gl/maps/Qh232XMPdNs (map)

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Matt Leighton - Arlington VA Real Estate Agent
Licensed in VA and D.C.
Century 21 Redwood Realty
1934 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
   • NEVER Rent an Apartment in Arlington ...