by Marlin Bressi

Created on: January 30, 2009

Less than an hour's commute from Manhattan, the Connecticut city of Greenwich is understandably one of the most expensive places to live in New England. In Greenwich, the median income for a household is in excess of $90,000.00, making this city the most affluent in all of Connecticut.

For young families or professionals just starting out, finding affordable housing in Greenwich can be quite a challenge. For this reason, many individuals choose to share an apartment or a house with others. One of the best and most popular methods for finding a roommate is through the free classifieds website Craigslist.org. Housing in Greenwich can be found by browsing the ads for Fairfield County, which also caters to cities such as Stamford and Norwalk.

The housing listings at Craigslist.org will be divided into categories for apartment rentals, sublets, housing swaps, vacation rentals, and more. In order to find a roommate, click on the 'rooms/shared' category. Since this is a free site where anyone can post an advertisement, it is extremely important to use caution and ask the appropriate questions to determine if your potential roommate is someone you would choose to live with. When sharing a house or apartment, it is always a good idea to contact the property's owner and have your name on the formal lease. When you and a roommate agree to terms and conditions, it is in your best interest to have everything in writing.

If your goal is to purchase a home, a good place to start is by contacting the Greenwich Housing Authority. Since 1946, the goal of the Greenwich Housing Authority has been to committed to own and manage affordable housing options for seniors, families and individuals from various ethnic and economic backgrounds. Greenwich Housing controls nearly 1,000 housing units in 15 properties, including home-ownership condominiums, apartment complexes, and housing developments.

When looking for an apartment or a home, don't be afraid to keep your eye on newspaper listings. Since the advent of the Internet and online classifieds, many people have overlooked this traditional method of obtaining information. The city's newspaper, Greenwich Time, is a reliable method for finding housing solutions. The newspaper's website also has a very comprehensive real estate section, where users can search for housing by price, location, and amenities.

One of the best, yet most under-utilized, methods for finding a great deal is through word of mouth. Quite often, someone who has a room or an apartment for rent won't even bother to advertise. If you have friends or family in the Greenwich area, ask them to keep their eyes and ears open for a great deal which might not even be advertised.

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