Want lower rent? Think like a landlord
By Aviya Kushner • Bankrate.com

In a hot real estate market that might be chilling a bit, smart renters can benefit, if they remember three pieces of advice, real estate experts say.

Those suggestions are: carefully observe current conditions, try to see things from the landlord's perspective and negotiate accordingly.

"It requires you as a tenant to think a little bit like an investor, knowing that there are cycles in real estate values," says attorney Janet Portman, co-author of "Every Tenant's Legal Guide" and six other real estate books.

"Ask: Where am I in the cycle? If you think it's not going to last, you may not want a long-term lease. The alternative is a month-to-month lease," Portman says. "It's all about power and assessment of the market. If landlords can insist on a long lease, they'll get it."

Your job as a tenant is to understand what your landlord can reasonably insist on and what he might be willing to consider.

Give a little, get a little
"It's the attitude that counts," says Ed Sacks, author of "The Savvy Renter's Kit" and a consultant to the Chicago Department of Housing. "Be ready to give your landlord something in return."

What could you give in return?

"A promise for a two-year lease at this year's rent if you're going to stay. That's good for the landlord." Turnover is expensive for landlords, he says.

"When somebody moves in, they get the unit repainted," Sacks says. "You can say: I don't need that kind of improvement for the next year."

Often, both sides benefit if a tenant remains.

"The tenant ought to seriously consider the costs of moving and the rest of the market. Value goes beyond gross rent," he says. "It goes to convenience, closeness of schools for children, staying in a district and cost of transportation."

Don't lose your temper and make ridiculous threats.

"Any time anybody negotiates, don't paint yourself into a corner," he says. "Don't make unrealistic demands, and don't give ultimatums unless you're willing to carry them out.

"Don't threaten to call the city," Sacks says. "It's all about relationships."

He also says that there's usually something that's negotiable, even if it's just when the lease starts and when it ends.

"With most landlords," he says, "there's something."

Still hot means no discounts
That something might not include monthly rent in a hot market that shows no signs of taking a dip.

In places where owners rule, like Manhattan or Los Angeles, tenants who tried to negotiate on rental amount or terms say they're met with laughter or just no lease.

"Because most folks can no longer afford to buy a home, many are forced to rent, which has caused rents to soar," says Jena Ball, a writer in Los Angeles. "My mother moved into her apartment five years ago and was paying $900. She's now paying $1,125. There has been a rent increase every year."

Ball wanted to live closer to her mom and tried to negotiate when she hunted for apartments.

"I asked about paying a bit less -- what my mom pays -- but the suggestion was met with a laugh and 'you've got to be kidding' by the landlord."

Advocates for low-income tenants say the situation is dire, with housing taking up a higher and higher chunk of monthly pay.

Still, being alert to current conditions and the sudden twists of a market with a lot of speculative activity can help you get a better deal if rents begin to trend downward.

Watch for signs of softening
You can get your first clues to the temperature of your local market by flipping through the classifieds.