Laplace, LA 39 Apartments for Rent

Like sausage? Then you'll love LaPlace, the "Andouille Capital of the World," with the Andouille Festival being held each October!

Located west of New Orleans and south of Baton Rouge between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, LaPlace (say it the French way please!) began as a farming village in the 18th century during Louisiana's French colonial period. Most of its residents work on the off-shore oil refineries or commute to NOLA or the Red Stick for work. While LaPlace's housing is plentiful and inexpensive, there's not much else in the town, so investing in a car that gets good gas mileage is paramount. If, however, you want to spend every minute of your weekend in a boat fishing on the lake, then by all means pack your bags today!

Looking for an Apartment in LaPlace

The cost of living is about equal to the national average here, but the unemployment rate is slightly higher. Chances are you'll be commuting to New Orleans or Baton Rouge, so look for places close to I-10 or Airline Highway (61) to make it easier to get on the road. Plan on spending about two weeks looking for the perfect pad, and definitely don't secure a spot until you get here and look around. That way, you can spend some time really getting to know the area before you sign a lease. Make sure you try the commute into both Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but especially NOLA since traffic accidents and backups tend to happen regularly on the spillway bridge into the city.

Bring either a few pay stubs or a letter of employment stating your salary as proof of income when you start your apartment search. Most landlords and apartment complexes want you to demonstrate that you make about twice the amount of rent. Your moving-in expenses will also include a security deposit which could be as much as one month's rent and other optional fees such as a pet deposit. Chances are you won't luck into an apartment with all utilities included in the monthly rent, so save a few hundred bucks a month in your budget for utilities. And air conditioning in the Louisiana summers is not optional, or inexpensive.

Neighborhoods in LaPlace

Some of LaPlace's neighborhoods are more popular spots for renters than others.

Montz:This skinny swath cuts from the lake to the river, so waterfront property is a possibility. Most of the rentals are older single-family homes. While you might not have the snazzy new fitness center to call your own, you will have easy access to a boat launch and perhaps even views of the Mighty Mississippi.

Gypsy:Covering much of the downtown area and running along the sharp bend of the river, stately rental homes dating from the 1940s are not uncommon here. It is a little uncommon for non-locals to be welcomed with open arms, but no one will be outwardly cold to you (you are in the South after all), they'll just wait until you've been here a few generations to consider you a local.

Montegut:Go ahead and break your leg, you've got two hospitals in your nabe! A large portion of the tiny downtown area falls in this area, and it's also got the most apartment complexes in the city. Airline Hwy forms the northern border, so you won't have to travel far to reach one of the metro areas.

Lake Maurepas area:The closest neighborhood to Baton Rouge, Interstates 55 and 10 are close by and it's buffered by a lake on each side. It could be considered the ideal spot in LaPlace, which is why the rent is on the higher end and the number of rentals is on the lower end. If your heart is set on this sweet area, hit the pavement hard looking for a vacancy sign and when you find something you like, don't hesitate or you could lose it.

Living in LaPlace

Summers are hot and muggy, winters are slightly less so. Spring and fall? Never heard of 'em. Don't even think of living here without A/C in your home AND in your car. The real seasons revolve around the fresh seafood. The year is divided up into oyster, crawfish and shrimp seasons with some overlapping, of course. And when shopping, shop local: Creole tomatoes, Ponchatoula strawberries and the mirliton, a pear-shape green vegetable popular in the state.

Deal with your bridge phobia before your move because it's not a question of if there's a bridge on any particular road, but where the bridge is. With rivers, lakes, bayous, and many other water forms in Louisiana, chances are you'll be driving over, under, or on bridges for about 80 percent of the time.

Definitely get out and explore Plantation Road, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans once you're a LaPlace local. Louisiana has a culture unlike anywhere in the United States. Enjoy!