According to a report from the Harvard University Joint Research Center for Housing Research, homeownership rates have been declining over the past eight years. This means that there are more people renting, which makes it hard to find a rental house.

The real estate agent said that the secret lies in planning ahead. Usually renters will wait until the last minute to find another apartment. However, Lance Macon, co-founder of Metro Home Managers, a full-service rental property management company in Washington, says that when renters are in a hurry, they tend to choose apartments that they don't really want.

Here are eight tips for finding the best rental homes and apartments in your area.

1. Start searching at the beginning of this month

McCann said that in terms of price, location and amenities, the best rent started earlier this month, so don't wait until the middle of the month to find a new place to live. It's best to start looking for a house 60 days before you need to move, especially if you want to find a rental property that doesn't have that many houses.

The second and third weekends of this month are often the busiest. If you start searching on the first weekend of the month, the competition will be reduced and the best hotels will still be available.

2. Start online, but don't rely on it

McCann said that about 90% of tenants will start their apartment search on Craigslist or Zillow. Online search is a great way to start a search. You can feel the price and apartment facilities. However, if you are moving to a new city, surfing the Internet does not tell you enough community and local amenities such as public transportation or grocery.

3. Use professional

In most cases, a real estate agent can help the tenant find the property for free. The key is to find a broker who specializes in leasing properties rather than home sales.

If you are looking for an area that is highly competitive in the apartment, you will want to talk to some real estate agents before committing, because different brokers have different relationships with different buildings. Make sure you are talking to a broker who can enter the community apartment building you want to rent.

4. Don't be fooled by the scam

Pay attention to online scams, especially those on Craigslist, asking you to provide a credit card payment deposit to showcase your apartment. No one should ask for a deposit to show you an apartment.

Also, if you rent an apartment directly from a private apartment, be careful because you will give a stranger your social security number and bank account information and they may check you out. It is safer to work with licensed and secured real estate agents.

5. Meet your roommate

If you are considering sharing an apartment, make sure you know who your roommate is and consider asking the landlord to rent separately. McCann said that if you have a common lease, the rent is $2,000 a month, and if your roommate doesn't pay for their share, you have to pay the full cost. But if you have a separate lease, you are only responsible for the rent in your part.

If you don't know your roommate, don't be afraid to ask someone else's recommendation letter. You can also use social media—LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook—to learn more about them.

6. Lease for 13 months

“If you're in a highly competitive market, one way to get the landlord's attention is to offer a 13 or 14 month lease,” said Todd Lee, co-founder of McCain's McCain family manager. This is especially useful if the traditional 12-month lease expires in November or December, as it is often difficult to rent property during those months.

7. Consider a smaller building

In general, in a 300-unit managed swimming pool, 24-hour front desk, computer lounge and weight room apartments will cost significantly more than six to eight units of the same size apartment. Li said that if you are paying for amenities, be sure to use them.

8. Use social media

Don't be shy about posting your news about finding an apartment on Facebook. Let people know that you are looking for a new place to live.

Once you have found the perfect apartment or house, you should consider buying a rental insurance. The landlord’s insurance does not include your property, so when an accident occurs, you want to take out insurance.