witch on a broomstick 300x270 - Bad Moon RisingI see a bad moon a-rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin’
I see bad times today
– – Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969

OK, so now you know that I’m an old guy. But most people rate this one a classic, so you’ve probably heard it too. The thing about a classic, it always seems timely.

So the bad moon that’s rising today is your rent. Our friends at Apartment Therapy recently had this headline to share: Rent on the Rise: Prediction Says It’s Going Way Up in 40 of the 50 Biggest Cities. You can click on the headline to read the full article.

But here’s the gist of it: The good news is that job growth has come to just about every city, large and small. The bad news is that same expansion of employment brings with it increased population and increased competition for housing and in most areas, new construction has not kept up with demand.

Fortunately, Milwaukee is one of the cities that has been better supplied, but the data is skewed by heavy job losses in the recession that doesn’t fully reflect the job gains post- recession. And while Milwaukee has seen a flurry of new construction, rents continue to rise. Changes in employment also don’t reflect the wave of retiring baby boomers who are renters by choice. Finally, increasing construction costs seem to be giving developers pause, which means no relief to increasing rents.

Here are some remedies:

There are some excellent older Metro Milwaukee opportunities to consider. There’s nothing like old world charm with all the conveniences of modern kitchens, granite counter tops and stainless-steel appliance. You’ll find all of this at a far more affordable price at 1801 E. Jarvis Street in Shorewood, 5590 N. Diversey Blvd in Whitefish Bay or 5100 N. Lovers Lane Road in NW Milwaukee.

Another remedy: head for the burbs where if you can stomach a little commute time, you’ll find great housing at a considerable savings at Willow Grove in Pewaukee or 1450 S. Coachlight Drive in New Berlin.

For even steeper discounts get out of Dodge. Or rather, go to Dodge County where you’ll find our new construction Waupun apartments where you can live like a king with your walk-in showers and pay rent like a pauper. Ditto our Hartford location, the Wilson Heights Apartments, which while it features every amenity and more than any downtown Milwaukee property, the rent is about half.

The further you go from the big cities, the better it gets. Riverdale Apartments and Skyview Apartments in Little Chute are two examples. And you don’t have to give up your lifestyle. Exhibit A: The Fairways Apartments in Fond du Lac that are on the Whispering Springs Golf Course. Another Fond du Lac alternative is the City Center Lofts, situated in the heart of downtown and its nightlife.

For more information for these and other excellent housing choices, click here to see all of the properties that we offer.