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Today, many people use the Internet as a resource for finding new apartments. If you are looking to move, chances are, you will likely put the term, “apartments” into a search engine like Google or Yahoo. There are two very distinct types of results you will get from your search. The first result will be an apartment locator site, and the other result will be an apartment database site. It is important to know the difference between these types of sites so you can choose the one which best fits your needs.
Many people who are moving into new apartments may be moving to an entirely new area of the country. Therefore, they are not familiar with the surroundings and don’t have knowledge about important things such as the location and status schools, banks, hospitals, supermarkets, etc. If this is your situation, then an apartment locator site may be perfect for your needs. When you place a query on a locator site, one of their employees will make telephone contact with you. The apartment locator is usually very knowledgeable about the specific area in which you desire to move. They will need to know your budget, desires, and your needs in order to find possible apartments that will suit you. The service is usually completely free-of-charge, because the apartment locator is usually paid a “finders fee” by the landlord or rental agent. Some people do not like apartment locaters because they require you to submit your telephone number and other personal information as well as have personal contact with you.
The other type of site is an apartment database site. This site is very useful for people who are moving into a familiar area, or who will only be staying in an area for a short period of time. Database sites have large catalogues of many apartments in a wide variety of areas. Users need only fill out a simple registration that asks for a very minor amount of personal information. Users will not be contacted by anyone, and they do not need to give out their telephone number. Once the registration is complete, users can search the online databases. The databases often have many pictures of the certain apartment with detailed descriptions of the living arrangement. This large amount of data can be very useful for people trying to decide what to do with an apartment.
When searching for an apartment online, it really comes down to simple preference. Some people like personal contact and help every step of the way. These same people also have little issue with giving away personal information. On the other hand, some people prefer to be independent and search for things on their own. These same people may have some reservations about giving away personal information online. Whatever type of person you are, apartment locators can be helpful if you are moving into a completely new area, and apartment databases can be useful if you are moving into an area with which you are familiar. A few stellar sites even offer the benefits of both types. Knowing the ins and outs of apartment searches online can make your search go much easier.

Apartments. Usually somebody’s first home after getting married. Can’t really say they’re relatively cheap anymore. Depending on where you live, apartments can run you anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars a month.

So what does one do when looking for an apartment? Believe it or not, there are many different types, styles, and pay plans involved. We’ll try to cover the basic types in this article and what you can expect to find with each.

Starting off small there is your basic studio apartment. A studio apartment is usually 1 room with a kitchen and bath. Let’s first off define what a room is when getting an apartment. A room is any room other than your kitchen and bath. Bathrooms do not count as rooms at all because they are required by law. Kitchens are a little different. Most walk in kitchens are considered a half a room. If the kitchen is simply an area in the apartment that is not cut off from the other rooms then it is not counted as a room. So a studio 1 room would have a kitchen area that’s part of the 1 room, meaning it probably comes with just a refrigerator and a stove and sink. A studio 1 1/2 room would have a kitchen that is actually separated from the rest of the apartment by a wall and has a doorway. Most studio apartments are 1 room.

Studio apartments, contrary to what most people think, are not cheap. A studio in New York City can cost you $1000 a month. In some areas you can get a studio for about $500.

Then there are your basic apartments that are normally 3 or 4 rooms.

A three room apartment has a living room, dining area and 1 bedroom. Again, the difference between a 3 and a 3 1/2 room is the kitchen being either part of one of the rooms or cut off.

A four room apartment usually has a living room, dining area and 2 bedrooms. If a family needs a third bedroom the dining area is usually converted. The problem with dining areas is that they don’t normally have doors to separate them from the other rooms. So to ensure privacy some kind of sliding door is usually installed. Actually most 4 room apartments, because of the extra room are really 4 1/2 rooms because in almost all cases the kitchen is cut off from the other rooms.

In apartments there is seldom a basement. Most apartments are assigned a basement area in a main basement used for the entire complex. In some cases each apartment section or group of apartments has a basement nearby.

Aside from the number of rooms there is also the issue of layout. Most apartments are single level, meaning all the rooms are on one floor. But in some cases there are apartment complexes that are what they call duplexes. These are two apartments side by side in each complex and each apartment is two floors as opposed to the 4 apartment complexes where each apartment is on a single level. In two level apartments the living room and dining area are usually downstairs with the bedrooms upstairs. Most two level apartments are 4 1/2 rooms.

Then there is the issue of what services come with the apartment and what services have to be paid for separately.

In some apartments your gas and electricity and water utilities are included in the cost of the rent. In other apartments only the water is paid for and your gas and electric are paid to your local public service company. Some apartments don’t cover any of your costs. So when you get an apartment make sure you find out just what your rent covers. The reason for this is that an apartment for $900 a month with all utilities paid may actually be a better deal than an apartment for $750 a month if the latter apartment doesn’t include any utilities at all.

Finally, in securing an apartment many require a security deposit equal to the rent of the apartment. Some require one month security and some require two months. This is paid back to you when your lease expires if you decide to leave. Breaking a lease will usually mean forfeiture of your deposit.

Which brings us to apartment rules. This is why there is nothing like owning your own home. Most apartments allow no pets. Playing music after a certain hour will bring complaints from your neighbors. The list goes on and on but I’m sure you get the point. Your freedom to do what you want in an apartment is limited.

Some people love the idea of not having to worry about repairs, as the super usually takes care of that, and live in apartments their whole life. Others can’t wait until they can get into their own home. That’s the wonderful thing about this world. One man’s dream is another man’s nightmare.

The Different types of National Cat.

Should you have been thinking about getting a cat but are still open on which is the perfect for you, then this is right for you. Here, we explore some of the main breeds of cat to advise you make an informed choice. First, in your local bookshop or library you will find whole rage of books and resources that can help you choose a cat that will not conflict with your personality and life-style.

Just bought a kitten:
If you’ve already taken ownership of a kitten remember to not let it out into the garden until such time as it’s grown to be at least 5 months old. You might not consider your back garden a wilderness, but there are predators that pose a threat to your kitten until it reaches a greater level of maturity and size.

Firstly, one of the primary questions you will need to answer is if you are looking for an indoor cat or an outdoor cat.

The Tomcat: The Soldier of the outside
The Tomcat is a mixed breed, similar to the mongrel in dogs, and are exceptional survivors suited utterly to the outdoors. They are a good all-rounder breed with good resistance, health and a tremendous life-span. This is an ideal mixed-breed for first-time cat owners.

The resplendent Siamese Cat:
The Siamese cat tends to be quite high maintenance and requires a lot of attention. They enjoy people’s company and are very attached by character. Having said that, they don’t like to be left alone and can take to the furniture and fabrics is left for longer periods of time. The Siamese cat is a extroverted creature – which explains their very vocal nature – and they are thought of as one of the most intelligent of all the cat species. If a Siamese cat is adopted from a very early age, they bond very strongly with their owner, and become very possessive of that person.

The Amazing Manx Cat:
The Manx cat is clear to spot because it has either a very short tail or no tail at all. This omission of a tail does have a negative side-effect, (the tail helps form a protection for other tailed breeds) that the Manx cat is prone to suffering from worms and other parasites. But simply because it has this minor trouble (which can easily be remediated with treatments), you shouldn’t look across the breed. The Manx cat is a very intelligent and playful cat – if not more intelligent than the Siamese cat – and will quite happily fetch balls and bring them back to you. Its a bit like a dog in the form of a cat! Like the Siamese cat, the Manx cat will avoid to be left alone for long periods, so it’s prefered that they are in the company of other cats. Because of its mischievous nature, the Manx cat makes a easy choice if you’re thinking about getting a cat for your youngsters.

Persian cats:
Historically the Persian breed is one of the oldest of all the cat breeds. They are long-haired with a marvelously rich and shiny coat. They can be black, white as well as a mixture of the two, with brown around the face. The Persian cat is, like the Siamese, a very cordial cat; although by differentiation, the Persian Cat tends to be more susceptible to health problems. They are not as playful as the other breeds of cats but are sociable and like being around people. The Persian cat is happiest sitting on your lap!

This is a quick summary of three of the main breeds in the feline domain, but youll find a large range of cats to choose from. If you do your research, and pick out wisely, youll receive a life-long acquaintance, and have a very rewarding experience.

When you are apartment hunting, prepare a rental search plan. Be sure to know in advance what you want in an apartment and what you can live without. Decide in advance what areas of the city you could consider living in and make a list of apartment buildings within that perimeter.

Be sure to consider how far and how convenient it will be for you to travel to your job or your school or your family and friends. Also, how far is the apartment from stores, banks, hospitals, Church (if you attend) etc. If you have a car, make sure that there is adequate and convenient parking space 24/7. If you don’t drive make sure that there is close by public transportation.

Narrow your apartment locating to the size of rental unit you need. Studio apartment or one bedroom apartment or 2 BR apartment or more. Are you considering a furnished apartment or do you possible need a short term rental. If you are renting an apartment with a cat, dog, or other pet, you need to find out which apartments allow renting with pets and which do not. And, if they do allow pets, is there an additional security deposit required and if so, how much it is. Do you need an apartment complex with an exercise room or tennis courts or a pool or a recreation room, etc. or do you simply need and desire a nice clean and quiet pad.

Be realistic about what you can afford. Most apartment renting guides suggest that your rent should not be more than 25% to 30% of your income. This can vary depending on the income bracket, but be sure to be “real world” when budgeting additional apartment expenses such as heating and air conditioning and other utilities. If you fall short of affording the apartment of your choice, you might consider sharing an apartment with a roommate or roommates. Keep in mind that living with roommates can help you afford an upscale apartment or even, in some cases, luxury apartments, but it also has extreme restrictions to your privacy.

If you are familiar with the area and its neighborhoods, that gives you a distinct advantage for your apartment search. If, however, you are relocating to a new city or are not particularly knowledgeable about the city, you may want to contact an Apartment Locator or an Apartment Finder.

Once you narrow your search for apartments down to apts which suit your needs and desires you must be well organized & well prepared for your visits to the apartment complexes. When inspecting the rental premises be on the alert for unsafe conditions, excessive noise from traffic or playgrounds or neighbors. Visit the apartment building at night as well as the daytime hours. This will give you a more comprehensive understanding of the total space you will be residing in.

When you find the apartment complex that meets your renting needs and desires, you must be ready to put your “best foot forward” when you meet the apartment’s rental agent. This person may be the apartment building manager or a renting agent for the apts. You should prepare for this apartment renting interview in a professional and intelligent manner. Be advised that you are going to be asked to provide proof that you are a reliable prospective tenant. You are most likely going to need references from previous landlords. You may also be required by the apartments to show that you are gainfully employed and can afford the rent. Many landlords may require a credit report. If you are a first time renter and/or you have limited credit history you may be asked for references from family, friends, employer, professionals, etc. Likewise if you are renting with bad credit you will certainly want to come to the interview with a strong selection of references.

You are not necessarily restricted from apartment renting with less than perfect credit, but you may be required to put up an additional security deposit and possibly have a credit worthy person co-sign the apartment lease with you. Don’t unprepared for by requests for any of these things. Be sure to fill out a 100% truthful apartment rental application and come to the interview with references, proof of employment, credit information and any other renting resources at the ready. If you do have a credit history or renting history that might be detrimental, going through an apartment locator or apartment finder may be the best solution. They will present your history to the landlord for you, (make sure they are 100% truthful about it) and they can also be quite helpful and save you a lot of time because they most likely will know which landlords and apartments are more lenient in these circumstances. They can also advise you as to exactly what kinds of references and documents you might need to prove that you can be a responsible tenant.

You Have Located Your “Dream Apartment”

Once you have located your “dream apartment”, or as close to your perfect apartment as possible, now it is necessary to pay extremely close attention to the particulars of the rental agreement. An Apartment Lease is a contract between you and the landlord. Once agreed upon and signed by the tenant and the landlord, the rental lease creates obligations and restrictions for both parties. The most obvious covenants of the apartment lease are the length of the rental, (Six month lease, one year lease, two year lease, etc.) The amount of the security deposit, when the rent is due, who is responsible for what utilities. Also in that apartment lease, however, are stipulations, (sometimes in small print) that can cover a great variety of landlord and tenant obligations and restrictions. They can include, but are not limited to, the following: * Maintenance of the apartment * Care of the premises * Cleanliness * Insurance * Governmental regulations * Eminent Domain * Nuisance and noise clauses * Stipulations as to the circumstances whereby the landlord can enter the premises * Use of Common Areas * Keys and locks * Loss or damage * Parking * Pets * Plumbing * What the landlord may do if the rent is in arrears * What the tenant can do to bring the rent current before any kind of action might be started * Non performance or breach of the contract by the renter * Renter’s penalties in the event of early termination * Circumstances which might cause the tenant or the landlord to break the lease prior to the end of the term * Heat and other utilities * Removal of goods * Surrender or Non-Surrender of the premises * Waivers of various obligations * Prohibited reprisals * Garbage disposal * Recyclables * And the list goes on and on and on.

Prospective tenants should read an Apartment lease thoroughly. Prospective apartment renters should understand everything that is contained in that lease and make an informed decision to be 100% accepting of all the provisions for both the tenant and the landlord, that you are positive that you can live up to your end of the bargain and that you are comfortable with the provisions on the landlord’s end.

If you do not understand every single clause of that apartment lease then do not sign it until you do understand it. If necessary and if possible, request assistance in interpreting the lease from a trusted source such as a knowledgeable friend or family member or employer or professional, or anyone else who can understand it and explain it to you. If necessary get legal advice. It can cost additional funds if you do not qualify for free legal assistance, but that additional cost might save you a ton of money and save you a ton of heartache and aggravation down the road.

If you do not agree with any of the provisions of that apartment lease and/or you feel that you can’t live up to the tenant’s obligations, or if you are not in agreement with any of the landlord’s rights under the agreement, then do not sign the lease until/or unless it can be changed to your satisfaction. If the apartment rental agreement cannot be amended to meet your needs and desires and comfort level then do not sign the lease and do not rent that apartment. The Apartment Rental agreement that you sign as a prospective tenant will not change once you become the actual tenant of that apartment.

Good luck in your apartment search and good luck in your new apartment.

In the event that you’re considering renting an apartment in Makati, you are on the right track. Several gains show themselves to the beginning expert. However, it isn’t just single professionals that a Makati apartment will appeal to. Actually, Philippine real estate here has distinct features available for just about everyone ready to take the plunge and live in the metropolis. Those advantages are surely true of the business district. Although they may be more expensive than some other areas in Metro Manila, apartments or residences located here offer numerous essential rewards for everybody.

It’s actually not a secret that many of the most important local and multinational businesses are in Makati, especially around Ayala Avenue. Actually, the adjacent area is generally known as the CBD, the equal of Wall Street in the Philippines. Quite a few young specialists are currently employed in a firm located here, which explains why an apartment in Makati is so essential for them. It offers a close distance to the workplace. Actually, there are a lot of Makati condominium and apartment structures scattered close to the area, and they help professionals arrive at work and home rapidly, reducing traveling hours, as their home is merely a handful of minutes away.

Young employees, though, are not the only individuals who may find this solution valuable. Committed partners and families appreciate this nearness to the workplace too. Moms and dads who must work can get home in a few minutes. This makes it possible for them to commit time with one another and with their children. This edge is also essential in case of an urgent situation.

Any time the kids achieve school age, parents have a lot of possibilities if they rent an apartment in Makati. You can find a lot of academic institutions in the area and surrounding areas that offer strong excellent instruction from elementary and high school to college. In fact, even workers can also use the training chances in the business district by acquiring an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management in Legaspi Village. Taking advantage of these academic programs only enhances the attractiveness of moving into Makati.

The environment in the city isn’t simply favorable to young professionals and their households. Both employed and retired foreigners will enjoy the security available in a condo or an apartment in Makati. The high-rise residential complexes in the city are built with 24-hour security systems and security personnel, which certainly add a level of safety. Although crime arises in almost any city, the central business district itself is on the list of safest areas in the Philippines, with a strong security presence everywhere you go. Given that a number of the country’s biggest businesses are found here, stringent security is needed almost everywhere in the location. Expats who cherish safety will see that the many security opportunities here are worth the expenditure of money in an apartment in Makati.

You can find numerous housing options in Philippine real estate. Renting an apartment in the central business district is the very best way to go. Professionals, families, and expatriates will absolutely see that the location has a lot of benefits. Nearness to the workplace enables parents to reach their households speedily. Professionals no longer need to commit time moving around to and from work. Expats will enjoy the safe and sound environment in the vicinity. Those conveniences add up to a pleasurable living experience, expressing that an apartment in Makati is the most beneficial preference in virtually any scenario.

As apartment dwellers, we “Live for Fun.” Looking for some ideas to inject a little more fun into your lifestyle? Now you’re talking. Here’s a list of what makes apartment living fun, from A to Z…

Apartment living = freedom.

Balconies. Sublime.

Community events to socialize and spot the neighborhood hotties.

Dinner parties with neighbors and friends. No place like an apartment to find your inner Rachel Ray … or Emeril … or just nuke a Hot Pocket and kick back on the couch.

Extreme apartment makeover? Chose your own style, dcor and feng shui that puppy.

Fact — you can (and should!) protect your stuff with renter’s insurance.

Gotta get some exercise? Hit they gym. It’s right downstairs.

Have a drink. Invite some friends. Hang out.

If it’s broke … not your problem! Maintenance will fix it.

Just a hop, skip and jump away from shopping centers, restaurants and of course “Targt”.

Kitchen with a fully-stocked snack cabinet? Heaven.

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Laundry services? Convenient in your place or, if you share a laundry room, hide those skidmarks!

Many apartment communities are pet friendly. Bring a pooper scooper and you’re golden.

Nightly summer BBQ with fun-loving gang from upstairs and down the hall. Dogs are on!

One night stands in the privacy of your apartment? Aweeeesome.

Pool, fitness center, complimentary breakfast and tennis courts. Plenty of apartments offer these great

services. Find one!

Quality movie nights, TV show fan club groups and board games (no shame in “Taboo”). Be a kid.

Rock star parking directly in front of your building.

Sex. Fact: Apartment dwellers get it on more. Did we mention sex?

Trash pick up at your door or just down the hall ….take the smell outside!

Use your space as a fitness factory. Grab those free weights and sweat to the oldies in privacy.

Visitors welcome 24/7-or not. It’s your place, your rules.

Wireless internet signals picked up from your neighbors. They’re clueless.

Xebec is an actual word that starts with X. We could have gone with x-ray or xylophone but everyone does that.

You can walk around naked and no one will ever know. Remember, blinds closed please.

Zzzzz…in your own bedroom, complete with an attached bathroom and walk-in closet. YES!

Want to become part of this elite group of fun-loving apartment dwellers? What makes you happy is very much about you. That’s why Apartment Home Living offers an online matching service to fit your specific needs.

Live for fun. Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com and click on our “live for fun” tab to see other ways people are living for fun in their new apartments. Then join ‘em!

Even those with the best intentions can often find themselves overwhelmed by the condition of their apartment. With busy schedules and little down time, staying on top of apartment cleaning chores can be difficult. However, with the pointers that follow, you will be able to tackle messes of any size and keep your living space clean and organized.

For those who can afford it, apartment cleaning services can alleviate a lot of stress. Many companies allow clients to dictate the frequency with which these visits are scheduled, so there is no need to commit to regular appointments. Instead, renters or homeowners can schedule appointments as needed, or when they can afford them.

If you are unable to hire outside help, breaking your chores up into smaller, more manageable segments can help. Many people put cleaning off until it absolutely has to happen. This may be because you are expecting guests or you have finally been driven to action by the mess. Even if you live alone, creating a chore chart, detailing all the regular maintenance that must be done on your living space, can be a good way to avoid spending too long on cleaning up in any one stretch. By spending just a few minutes each day tidying up, you will no longer have to devote entire days or weekends to getting your home in order.

For some, finding the motivation to clean is the difficult part of tackling chores. If you are someone who is unlikely to clean on your own, having regular small get togethers at your home can be one way of keeping a mess under control. Others find that meting out small rewards, such as watching a favorite movie or even just having a calm glass of wine after their chores have been finished makes them more likely to complete them daily.

Devoting some time to creating an organizational system and ensuring that everything has a place will also help to make apartment cleaning easier. By combing through your belongings and getting rid of items that you no longer want or need, you will have far fewer things that need to be maintained. Also, having a system of where things go will make your eventual clean up easier and will take some of the stress out of constantly reorganizing your belongings.

When broken down into smaller, more manageable steps, cleaning will be less of a hassle. Learning to reward yourself after your house has been cleaned will provide external motivation, beyond the calm of a clean home, that will help to reinforce cleanliness. It can take time to retrain yourself to clean regularly, but those who have done so often feel that it is well worth the effort.

Survival Gardening For Apartment Dwellers – Review Of Food4wealth System

There is no doubt that we live in a time of economic uncertainty. Every day, financial experts say the second wave of bank failures, home foreclosures, job losses and global economic misfortune continue to grow. People are looking at all kinds of ways to lower their bills, live more frugally and save money. The good news is that personal food production in a home garden is an excellent way to lower costs and improve the quality of your life. It does not cost a lot of money to start a garden, and the results can be spectacular! If you can grow 30 pounds of tomatoes, thats 30 pounds of tomatoes that you didnt buy at the grocery store.

Do not fall into the belief that you need a big plot of land to produce big results with your crops. The truth is that you do not need a big garden to grow your own food. Even if you rent an apartment, you can grow enough food in containers to dramatically lower your food bill each month, and perhaps feed your friends and neighbors, too.

Unfortunately, gardening is one of those skills most folks think is easy to do, but it does take some training to do well. In a grid-down situation and the grocery store shelves are empty, that first garden you undertake better produce!

That is why I recommend: FOOD4WEALTH

One of the easiest ways for food production can be found Food4Wealth system, which explains how to grow the food that you can harvest every day of the year, regardless of where you live. This method is easily adaptable to container gardening in small spaces for people who want to use every inch of space to grow their own fresh vegetables. Apartment-dwellers especially can benefit from this training, and grow amazing amounts of food in containers. The best part of growing your own food is you can trust the quality of your own home-grown organic vegetables. Good-bye tainted food recalls!

Jonathan White, Environmental Researcher and Horticulturalist and creator of
Food4Wealth shows you how to grow amazing amounts of veggies with very little work and continue to benefit all year long.

The FOOD4WEALTH system is detailed in a book and a short video tutorial – more than 60 minutes of practical step by step instructions – so you can see exactly what you should do to get incredible results yourself.

Author Bio
PJ Devitt is the author of many articles on unique ways to pay for college, drive for a living, break into broadcasting, live more frugally and survive in a down economy. You can follow PJ here:

http://survivalskillgardening.blogspot.com/

If you’re moving and your lease hasn’t run out, there can be some pretty stiff penalties. To avoid these fees, the best option is to sublet your apartment to someone else for the duration of the lease.

First, draw up a list of selling points and facts about the apartment. There are several things that will go into this list, but the most common are:

* Amount of rent
* Deposit necessary
* Utility costs
* Apartment specs (# of bedrooms and bathrooms)
* Size of bedrooms
* Duration of sublet
* Roommates
* Sublet location
* Nearby attractions
* Nearby cities/employment areas
* Any other selling point about the apartment

Now that you’ve got your list, you need an ad to place in the local paper, on community bulletin boards and other places. Make sure you include all the items of the list and make the ad as attractive as possible without being untrue. Once the ad is written, you can post it online through Sublet.com or similar apartment rental listing to make sure that your add is quite visible in online apartment searches . You can also use traditional routes like newspapers.

Now that the ad is posted, youll have to show the apartment. There may be quite a few interested parties; make sure the apartment is neat and clean and set up showing times as best you can. Take into account your schedule and the potential renters needs as well. Many people prefer to show the apartment on a single day, with each viewer coming at a specified time.

Make sure you give an accurate depiction of the apartment while showing it. If there are detractions to the apartment, make sure you make everyone aware of them, dont leave them to be found later, this will increase your risk of having a bad experience. Paint a realistic picture of the place, with all the good and bad qualities.

Prepare all the necessary paperwork ahead of time. You should have a copy of your rental agreement, a sublet agreement and any other pertinent paperwork handy during the process in case anyone needs to see it. The sublet agreement comes in handy if you have an interested party that wants to get the ball rolling immediately.

Chances are that youll have more than one interested party. That means you have to choose between them. Choose a subletter that has commendable references showing that they pay bills on time, dont damage property, annoy the neighbors and anything else you can think of the make the process less painful. Always remember, the lease is in your name, no matter who is living in the apartment, choose a subletter wisely.

54%, 46%, 22% – What do these numbers have in common?

There have been numerous reports that the crime rate in the United States is on the decline. Preliminary numbers on 2009″s Uniform Crime Report (UCR), from the FBI, which aggregates data from police departments all over the country, do indeed show that overall crime was down. Using a 10 year average is a popular way many police departments claim the claim is lower.

After a little digging on this topic, it was surprising. Especially for anyone who has read this headline the news, “despite recession crime is down in the US.” The national averages and 10 year data range comparisons distort the reality of crime numbers.

The research conducted focused on three specific cities, to find out what is really happening in our neighborhoods. It is for individuals that aren”t interested in crime rates when compared to 1999, but rather knowing the pulse of crime in 2010 vs. 2009. More specifically, the investigation focused on home security and apartment security in Boston, Houston and Oakland.

What did we find?

While overall crime is indeed down, burglary is skyrocketing in many cities large and small.

For many years cities have focused on reducing the violent crime rate and have neglected property crime. The result is that burglary is on the rise and your safety in your own home is increasingly in question.

54% rise in burglaries in Boston, Massachusetts.
47% rise in residential robberies in Oakland, California.
(This means burglars are entering homes more frequently with weapons)
17% rise in non-violent burglaries in Oakland
22% rise in burglaries Houston, Texas, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Apartments are especially vulnerable.

Houston, in particular, reported that apartment buildings have been repeatedly targeted this year. Burglars are seeking ways to hit multiple apartments in one building and increase their yield of easy-money electronics. This statistic might surprise you – 60 apartment buildings were hit by burglars more than 20 times each last year!

This highlights why apartment security is such a concern. Apartments are 85% more likely to get robbed than any other domicile (as reported by The National Crime Prevention Council).

While these are just three cities, they represent three very different parts of our country and share a common problem: burglary.

What You Can Do

~ Pay Attention. Oakland’s burglary Detective, Oliver Cunningham, says this: “Most important of all is for communities to remain alert and involved. Residents should always pay attention to any suspicious vehicles in the neighborhood. Slow down and look. Just glare at them. I”m telling you, that will scare the living-you-know what out of them. Burglars spread information through word of mouth, and if a neighborhood has a reputation for having nosey neighbors, criminals may choose to avoid it.”

~ Get to Know Your Neighbors. Getting to know your neighbors will help build a strong apartment community. You’ll be more likely to notice if someone looks out of place if you are familiar with those living around you.

~ Protect Your Property. Seems like common sense, right? How many renters or apartment owners do you know that have a security system in place? Not many? Not surprising. There is a stigma that security systems are both cumbersome and expensive. This is not the case anymore. There are wireless units, like SimpliSafe, that take less than a minute to install and have monitoring programs available for less than $15 per month.

These three simple steps can help keep your family and belongings safe and secure.