As a Landlord, what's the longest you will hold a property?

[Chanté Owens]

Hello All!

I received some invaluable information when I was moving to WA state earlier this year, and it was GREATLY appreciated! Now, I am looking to move when my lease is up, because, while I really like my little area where I live, I want to shave some costs and live in a less expensive property in order to save money for an investment property in 2016.

With that being said, I am a planner; which means that I am not one of those people that flies around willy nilly, I need to know where I am living at least a month or two before I move. Unfortunately, with the rental landscape here in Seattle, WA area (it's scary aggressive and expensive), it's difficult to locate a place that will be available a month from now, much less 2-3 months (even if you pay a healthy deposit).

Does anyone have any tactics they are willing to share to help alleviate my concerns of possibly having to live out of my car? (I jest, as I can go month to month at my current property for a LARGE amount of $$...which I would NOT want to pay).

I moved in at the end of March, so I paid a prorated amount for those 6 days I lived in the apartment in March; therefore, I believe my lease will officially be up in April. With that being said, I'd like to have a place secured at the LATEST  by the end of February, to move in like March 29th, so I'd have time to clean my current apartment.

Any assistance and advice would be greatly appreciated.