DC Metro folks,

I suggested VT start this thread based on my own experience of finding good, affordable rental housing options through word-of-mouth. In my mid-20's, was looking for a place that was affordable for my sister and a couple of other friends. We couldn't find anything we could afford in the "for rent" want ads. I let it be known at my workplace that we were looking. A co-worker who was a mere acquaintance told me her sister was moving out of a duplex that was a real deal.

Over the course of 15 years, both units of that duplex stayed rented through word of mouth, and were never advertised. When the people in the downstairs apartment moved out, I told friends, who moved in. When I moved out of the upstairs, another friend moved in. When the downstairs friends moved out, I moved back, only into the downstairs apartment. When I moved out of the downstairs, another friend moved in. When the friends upstairs moved, another set of friends moved in. So it went, until the landlord died. (Although I had moved away from the area, I knew he died because friends were still in the apartments.) It was worth it to him to keep the rents 25% below market value to never experience a vacancy and to know something about the track record of new tenants from current tenants. Had very similar experiences with finding rental housing I could afford through 3 relocations to different cities and/or states.

While you may not know of a good rental deal off the top of your head, if you let it be known among friends, acquaintances and co-workers that some one is looking, you just might learn up some good leads to pass along to VT or her daughter.