Over the past two years, a seismic shift in the way that people live is occurring. With gas prices at levels never before seen, the suburbs are being abandoned as people rush back into city centers to cut down on commuting times. This has caused a huge spike in rent prices in most downtown metropolitan areas, so the search for cheaper rent is now more important than ever. Let’s look at some of the various places where you might be able to find cheaper rent in the Dallas metro area.

Although fewer and fewer people every year are using the newspaper to find a place to live, it is still the primary source for apartment listings. The chances of finding a discounted place there are all but impossible, so you may have to look in less conventional spots. Try the local community center in the neighborhood in which you want to live. There will likely be a bulletin board for people looking for roommates or for apartment listings. You have an excellent chance of finding a more affordable place than you would find in the paper, but you are going to have to check on a daily basis because these bargains won’t stick around.

You can also check out alternate newspapers in the Dallas area, other than the popular Morning News. These want ads are usually free, unlike traditional want ads, and can be taken out and canceled with no notice.  You may have to wade through a bunch of ads that don’t really apply to you, but you may find a nugget that suits your needs perfectly.

Finally, free online want ads, like the ones on Craigslist, are a great resource, as well. These ads can be placed in mere minutes and some apartment bargains are filled in seconds. You may have to “stalk” the listings, but you may end up with the deal of the century.