How to find apartments abroad

Having to find apartments abroad is a thing that every expat that decides to move abroad will come across. Once you decide to go for the adventure and that you want to start living and working abroad, you will create a to do list. Finding housing will be high on this list, because it’s something that you have to fix before you make the move abroad. We provide you with tips on how to find apartments abroad. 

What kind of apartment are you looking for?

If you want to know how to find apartments abroad, you have to research the local housing market. What kind of apartments are available in your new destination and what are regular prices? Don’t just focus on the city itself, but also research neighborhoods, 

When you know where you want to live, it is important to know what kind of apartment you want. You want to feel comfortable in your new housing situation, because at the end of the day this is the place you literally come home to. The biggest choice you have to make is picking between living on your own or going for shared housing. Both have their pros and cons. 

Shared housing means that you always have social contacts. Your flatmates could become your new friends abroad. Next to this, you also share the costs of living, which makes it easier for you to save some money. Living on your own on the other hand, gives you the privacy you might need after a long day of working and socializing with friends. 

Know your budget

The choice of going for shared housing or deciding to live on your own can be influenced by your budget for living abroad. Housing can cover a big part of your budget, so choose wisely. Make a list of all the costs you will have while living abroad, and see how much rent you can pay monthly. Knowing your budget will help you to see which apartments fit in, so you get a clear view of what apartments you can go for, and what apartments you can’t go for. 

A shared apartment in Bulgaria or Greece is much cheaper than one in Denmark or Germany. You can read more about rent prices and all other costs of living abroad in multiple destinations in this article we wrote about it. 

International rental websites and apps

One way to find apartments abroad is to use international rental websites and apps. These websites and apps are specialized in housing for expats. Nestpick and Flatio are two apps that are really good to use if you need to find a new apartment abroad. You can find a lot of different housing options, from furnished apartments and rooms to studio flats.

On the other hand, you should also look at websites or apps that just offer housing options locally. These websites have all the knowledge you need. Set up alerts so you immediately know when a new apartment is available, making sure you always give yourself a shot of landing a new housing option. 

Use the expat community

You are not the first expat to ever start living and working in Valencia, Athens or Lisbon. In these popular destinations for working abroad, there are vibrant expat communities. This is great for your life there, but you can also use these communities to find apartments abroad. All of these expats have already found housing there, so you better use their knowledge and experiences. 

Try to find Facebook groups for example. Expats are always ready to help newcomers, and Facebook is a great way of finding available housing for expats. Look at this Facebook group for expats in Lisbon for example. These kinds of groups are available in most European expat destinations, so make sure you take a look at it. 

Find apartments abroad through your new job

When you land a job abroad, companies sometimes help you to find housing in your new hometown. They do this to help you acclimatise, which helps them because you will do better work when you feel good in your new life abroad. For you personally, getting this help will speed up onboarding and increase your productivity, as you don’t have to worry about finding housing yourself. Go through our job listings to see if this also goes for the job we offer.

Final tips; how to find apartments abroad

We end this blog by giving you some extra tips you could use while trying to find apartments abroad. The first one is to always verify what’s included in the apartment. Make sure you know exactly what you are signing up for. Think about the length of the contract, utilities and if the apartment is furnished or not. 

Also, beware of scams. If something is too cheap or just too good to be true, it probably is fake. Be cautious and use your common sense when looking for a new place to live. Our final tip: also take a look at short-term options. Sometimes it’s not possible to find a place where you can live for a year, but there could be possibilities for renting a space for 1-3 months. This could be a great place to start your life abroad. You do have a place to stay, and you can keep looking for a long-term option while having the base of an apartment for this moment.