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Is Your Apartment Locating Service Really Free?

Our apartment locating service is free to renters. That covers our help with the search, not the apartment’s rent or application fees. Before you apply, ask the property to put its own costs in writing so you can budget for them.

Illustration of a renter shaking hands with an apartment locator

The short answer

Yes, you pay us nothing for the search. The community where you sign the lease pays our referral fee out of its advertising budget. You still pay that property’s own application fee, deposit and rent.

We’re the No Credit Check Apartment Team, a licensed real estate team brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC (TREC #562021). Between us we have more than 20 years in real estate, working with property managers across Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. We point renters with credit, eviction and record problems to communities whose criteria may fit them, and each property makes its own rental decision.

Infographic: the community pays the referral fee, not the renter

What that means for you

The property pays us. You don’t.

We won't push you past your budget.

We're licensed through the Texas Real Estate Commission, so you can file a complaint with the state if we treat you wrong.

How Texas communities handle it

Texas property managers screen through a handful of companies, including TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk, and AppFolio. Some check rent payment data from Experian RentBureau, and old apartment balances often show up through collection agencies like NCAC. Each one pulls up different information, and each management company reads it differently.

A denied application usually costs $50 to $75, and those fees stack up fast when you apply without knowing how a property screens.

For more on whether apartment locators are free, see our homepage or the related guides below.

What to do next

Don't know where to apply, or tired of paying fees just to get turned down? Don’t guess. Send us your situation and we’ll point you to Texas communities worth a look. It’s free to you; communities pay our referral fee out of their advertising budgets.

Related reading: bad credit

FAQ

Will you steer me to expensive apartments to earn more? +

No. If we push you toward a unit you can't afford, you fail the income check or walk away. Either way, we don't get paid.

Is there any fee at signing? +

None from us. You'll still pay the community's own application fee (usually $50 to $75) and any admin fee it charges.

How do I start? +

Fill out the search form or call us. You'll usually hear back the same day with questions about your form, and the list takes 24 to 48 weekday hours. Weekend requests most likely get a Monday reply.

Related guides

What Screening Companies Do Texas Apartments Use?

TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk and AppFolio, plus RentBureau rent data and NCAC collections. Each shows something different, and the vendor affects what the property sees.

What If I Have More Than One Screening Problem at Once?

Eviction plus bad credit? Stacked problems narrow your options, but they rarely close them. Income, risk fees, and where you apply all play a part.

The Danger of CPNs and Fake Paystubs When Renting

Using a CPN is federal fraud, and Texas managers often catch fake paystubs. Here's the legal way to look for a second chance apartment instead.

How Do Apartments That Don't Check Credit Actually Work?

Most apartments still run a credit check. Second chance communities may take bad credit, often with a risk fee, a bigger deposit or a guarantor.

Want us to look at your situation?

Send us your screening issue and target city. We typically get back to you the same day to go over your form, and your community list usually takes 24 to 48 weekday hours. Weekend requests most likely hear from us Monday. Free.

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