The phrase denotes a particular kind of rental property search. It describes the act of searching for residential dwellings, supplied for lease straight by particular person landlords, within the quick neighborhood of the individual conducting the search. For instance, a person relocating to a brand new metropolis may make the most of this phrase to discover a home managed and owned independently, somewhat than by a big property administration firm, positioned inside a fascinating neighborhood.
Finding lodging via unbiased lessors can supply a number of benefits. It could lead to extra versatile lease phrases, probably decrease rental prices as a result of absence of company overhead, and a extra direct and customized landlord-tenant relationship. Traditionally, this strategy to discovering housing was dominant earlier than the rise of huge property administration corporations and on-line itemizing aggregators.