Apartment shopping

Nick and I did one of those "big step" things I guess and started looking for apartments yesterday in Seattle. We already did some online research and set up a couple of showing appointments. L and P Apartments fell through for whatever reason (they flaked) and we had to reschedule the Saint Moritz appointment, but we made the trip over the water to see the studio apartment yesterday and it was great. It was along the Ave which, to me, is iffy since it tends to be louder and sketchier, but it was a great open plan of about 650 square feet for $795. Not a bad price since we could basically roll out of bed and into class every morning. We would be situated across from Urban Outfitters (a tad dangerous if you know what I mean...) and in between Deep Roots Tattoo & Piercing and Yunnie Bubbletea. So, no bars and that's a blessing in itself, haha. The parking's a bummer though... It's $100+ to park behind the apartments in some sketch, unmonitored parking lot next to garbage alley. Gross. I sort of wish I didn't have to worry about the parking at all, but I'm getting a brand new car and I want it at least covered, the weather in Seattle is nasty most of the time and I can't have my new Subaru deteriorating in an abandoned lot, haha... So it's an option. We still have to look at Carolina Courts (a ways towards downtown), but decently priced. Nick and I  also stopped by St. James Towers in Fremont even though they were closed. It's one of our more pricier picks, and it turns out the studio rent was $50 more than we originally planned and they charge for parking as well, $90, but at least it's a garage, however space is limited. This apartment shopping stuff is difficult... Most places don't know about availability until the 10th or 11th of August anyway, and by that time Nick will far in skies, flying to the Philippines... Leaving me and apparently his mother to do this apartment stuff, talk about not ideal.