PAHousingSearch.com offers free rental listings

A new statewide site is available to list rental apartments or single-family homes for free.

PAHousingSearch.com is sponsored by the PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), PA Emergency Management Agency, PA Department of Public Welfare and PA Department of Community and Economic Development and replaces the former Pennsylvania Apartment Locator website. The site will be officially launched statewide this month.

Realtors® and property managers can register to list properties for free on PAHousingSearch.com through the website or call 877-428-8844 for assistance. Property managers, landlords and homeownership-program administrators can find helpful listing and inventory tools, search analytics and property photo galleries on the new site. A Craigslist posting tool allows properties to be added to Craigslist once entered on PAHousingSearch.com.

All residential rentals can be listed on the site; however, properties for sale are restricted to only properties associated with affordable homeownership programs, according to Nina Fedele, chief of operations. “One example is properties for sale through the Neighborhood Stabilization program that targets low, moderate and medium income families and typically offers various forms of home purchase assistance to qualified homebuyers,” she explained. 

Realtor® and former PAR President Ellen Renish said, “PAHousingSearch.com is a unique site for both people looking for rental housing and Realtors® trying to market their rental properties. For individuals searching for a rental, there aren’t many avenues to use to find timely information.  I believe the PAHousingSearch website provides timely information. This free website provides cost-effective marketing for Realtors® to use for their rental properties.”

A member of the PA Housing Search Board of Directors, Renish added, “I believe that this site will be invaluable to this marketplace as it grows in use and popularity.  It will be the best location to offer and seek affordable rental housing in Pennsylvania.”

Each listing features mapping tools and up to 10 photos, along with information about property amenities, eligibility requirements and neighborhood features such as shopping and public transit.

People seeking housing options can see properties that meet their needs through this site.

The site was introduced in February and data from the previous site was imported. The search function on the site was launched in mid-March and has a database of 63,000 properties, with 1,135 available to rent.