Memphis Apartments and Rentals

Memphis may be mostly about the music, but that's giving its other highlights short shrift. It's an understandable eventuality. After all, Memphis is the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, home to Graceland, and it's equally famous for its contribution to soul music, the blues, and other varieties of aural entertainment. One just can't describe all the excitement here fast enough! So if you want to experience the full range of this city's appeal, you better rent a Memphis apartment and join the band.

While Memphis wasn't founded until 1819, people have been living on this bluff overlooking the Mississippi River for 10,000 years. It's an obviously great spot, perfect for river trade and safe from floods. Memphis was named for the ancient capital of Egypt-another riverside city. In the 20th century, this metropolis grew on profits from cotton and lumber. It was a center of the civil rights struggle in the 1960s. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. More positively, this city is world famous for fostering some of music's titans, from Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash to Howlin' Wolf.

If you want to become a Memphian, you'll need to learn your way around this sprawling town. In Downtown Memphis you can find Beale Street and much of the music culture. In Midtown, the Cooper-Young neighborhood has become nightlife central for the city. Over in East Memphis you'll run into the university crowd. That part of town has a laid back atmosphere and affordable eats. You'll probably want to visit Graceland, too, but there are better places to base yourself.

Employment in Memphis is always on the move. Because this city is located centrally on the Mississippi and along many major rail and road routes, it's a center of commerce. That means shipping and transportation are both big here. FedEx Corporation, AutoZone Incorporated, and International Paper are all headquartered in Memphis.

If you're heading to this city for a higher education, you'll find the University of Memphis waiting. Other colleges and universities here include Rhodes College, Memphis College of Art, and LeMoyne-Owen College.

Those moving to Memphis will be pleasantly surprised by its affordability. Rents are quite reasonable, with the average two-bedroom going for $873 a month. The vacancy rate in Memphis is lower than it's been in years, but it's still pretty high. In 2011, 15.4 percent of rental properties remained vacant at any given time.

When most people think of Memphis, they think of Elvis Presley's Graceland home. The King's former palace is the most visited residence in the United States except for the White House. Also in Memphis you'll find Sun Studio, where more music greats than can be easily named got their start. The Stax Museum honors local Stax Records and its definitive contribution to classic 60s soul.

If you're looking to learn and explore with families, there's the Memphis Zoo and the National Civil Rights Museum. The Pink Palace Museum presents exhibits on science and history plus it features a planetarium and an IMAX theater. The Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA play basketball in town. You can also catch minor league and college games if you prefer other sports.

Something special is always happening in Memphis. Memphis in May promotes local heritage with four main happenings: the Beale Street Music Festival, International Week, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Sunset Symphony. Check out the Memphis Italian Festival and Carnival Memphis in June, the Cooper-Young Festival in the fall, and the Indie Memphis Film Festival in November.

To get started on your hunt for a Memphis apartment, take a look through the listings here on Rent.com®. The perfect rental is out there waiting for you.