Rental rates in several markets are on the rise, particularly in San Francisco. In fact, rents rose to about 10.4 percent in San Francisco and 12.2 percent in San Jose at the close of 2011, according to RealFacts, a firm that analyzes rental data. If you don't want to face a hefty increase come lease renewal time, here are a couple of options you can take. Rent control. Research the rent Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! Sharing an apartment or a house can be a very smart financial move: You’ll probably get more space than you would by yourself, you might be able to afford a nicer part of town, and it may give you room in your budget for extra saving. All the same, living with other people is tough, and the savings aren’t worth it if you end Read more

As a renter, it's important to realize that your landlord will probably raise your rent year-to-year due to inflation, rising market value, or higher demand. However, you can always try to negotiate your lease, especially after you've received notice that your landlord plans to raise prices. No need to panic or immediately make plans to move out. There are a lot of factors in your favor to help Read more

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This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments! My boyfriend and I have been dating for 2 and a half years. Last December, I graduated from college and moved back to my hometown (which is where he lives). I REALLY wanted him to ask me to move in, but he'd just bought his house and was living alone for the first time in his life, and he Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy! Whether you're moving out of the dorms for the first time or you've been living sans-resident-adviser for a while now, you might consider getting one or more roommates to help cut costs. But sharing a living space can be a minefield of monetary problems. Sidestep any big blowups by discussing how you’ll address potential Read more