Sky-high rents and a severe housing shortage are a challenge for would-be renters across the U.S. But for many, the first barrier to finding affordable housing has become the rental application fee.

The ongoing shortage of affordable housing has some people who planned on buying a home considering renting instead—at least temporarily. And while there are some real estate markets where buying is ...

Finding and getting an apartment can be a major hassle, especially in competitive rental markets. (Hello, San Fransisco! Hello, New York!) Listing sites like Zillow are indispensable for starting the ...