Oakland, TN 125 Apartments for Rent

The word is out on Oakland. Voted one of ten best places to live in Tennessee by Movoto Real Estate in 2013, this small town has seen a huge increase in building permits and a whopping population growth rate of over 400 percent.

With that much of a growth rate, you would think that Oakland is a major destination resort town. But that's quite the contrary. Oakland is a typical small town located in West Tennessee, some 28 miles east of Memphis, along Highway 64. So what's the attraction? If you poll the 6,623 residents who live there, the response might be the town provides a quiet community with convenient access to places to eat, shop and play. In other words, residents want to distance themselves from city life, but stay close enough for an occasional trip into the big city for a larger entertainment and nightlife venue.

Moving to Oakland

An upside to the city's growth spurt is the fact that much of the housing is relatively newer. However, the housing market is anchored by single family homes. This means renters may find limited condo or studio apartment availability. Prior to launching your housing search in Oakland, you need to understand the scarcity of apartment complexes to investigate. Detached or attached homes may be the prevailing option.

Housing Options

Fight for what you want, as the saying goes. Well, you will have a fight on your hands in trying to find an available one- or two-bedroom apartment in Oakland. Single family homes make up roughly 98% of residential real estate. That puts the squeeze on remaining apartment rental properties, so diligence is a must.

Rental Awareness

In Oakland, approximately 74 percent of homes were built in 2000 or later. This means modern amenities and construction techniques. That being said, you won't have to worry much about issues and problems related to the condition of the property. Even so, before you sign a lease, it is best to conduct a pre-lease inspection just for peace of mind. And, just in case landlords or property owners tend to defer maintenance, you'll want to point out things that need repair before paperwork is complete.

House Hunting

Timing is generally on your side when searching for your rental home. Most realtors, property owners and landlords will work with you pretty much daily, except for weekends and holidays. With that in mind, you'll need at least two to three weeks to complete your apartment home search. However, since the Oakland market is such a hot commodity, you will be better off starting your search as early as possible.

Renting 101

Before jumping into the rental market, be prepared to deal with basic apartment rental rules. You need to have at the ready, at least one month's rent, a security deposit, proof you can pay the rent and a summary of your rental history. Additionally, when you find your dream apartment or rental home, be prepared for the usual background and credit check. Not every property owner or landlord will make these checks, but it's best to be ahead of the game and be ready, just in case. Mostly, landlords just care about your timely rental payment, but with highly sought after homes, they can afford to be choosy.

Oakland Neighborhoods

The town covers 10.25 square miles and every inch of it is worth exploring in order to make an informed choice on where to live. Near the town center, a rural community or anything is between are your choices, so choose wisely as month to month or short term leases may be hard to come by.

Town Center: Split across Highway 64, this area has newer homes in suburban areas as well as some mobile home in rural areas. This area is quiet and upscale, so expect to find mostly single family homes with a sprinkling of townhomes.

Macon: Southwest of the center, this rural area features mostly single family homes. Finding rentals in this area will be difficult as the supply is very tight.

North Cove: North of the Macon area, this rural neighborhood features medium to large sized homes with four or more bedrooms. Rentals can be had in this area if you are not looking for an apartment home.

Living in Oakland

Residents who flock to Oakland do so because they want a calm way of living. The entertainment factor is not a pivot point. Event so, you can take in a round of golf at the local golf course, visit the library, partake in community events or dine at a local eatery such as Brad's Bar-B-Q. But that's just about it. Also, while the area does provide employment opportunities, many residents commute elsewhere for jobs. So get a set of wheels if you move there.