Not sure, what type of income you have available for the down payment factor of renting. If you have an extra half months rent, finding a 'rental finder' is another option. They'll sit down, look over you income sources, run the credit report, for an application fee. Usually involves money orders, cash is king mentality. If you can find one, say, taking a ride through the neighborhood of interest, often they use those red and white 'for rent' signs, they get a fee from the landlord and a fee from you, they want the cash, the landlord needs a tenant and the renter needs a rental...that's another possibility. I like the idea of getting either a course(non credit, small fee course...works well..) or volunteerism into that application, no matter how recent. Just something to consider...