Young Professional Relocating to Madison (sublets, apartment complexes, leasing)

[spartyon87]

I am a 22 Year old recent college graduate who is moving to Madison next week for a new full time job. I plan on renting and can afford up to $750-800 per month for rent. I would be fine with a 1 bedroom apartment and my office is on the near west/west side of madison.
What are some apartment complexes that have a combination of quality, safe neighborhood, and decent proximity to downtown?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Nala8]

Hi, and welcome to Madison. If I were you I would contact Madison Property Management and talk to a representative about the kind of apartment you are looking for--and where. I found them to be extremely helpful, competent, and great at finding me an apartment that almost exactly matched my wish list/preferences. Good luck.

[+Daimon]

It can be hard to find apartments leasing before, during, and after winter. Most apartments downtown run on a one year lease from August 15th - August 15th, and even as you get further from downtown where leases run from whenever to whenever, people don't do a lot of moving in the fall/winter.

I would look on Craigslist and just check out places you find available....it may be slim pickings this time of year. Be sure to look in the sublets section too...with all the students moving around and going abroad and such in the middle of the school year, I've had a lot of luck finding places outside of the usual August/July move-in dates. Sometimes you will even find a deal on an apt this way too.