I have had some fun looking at DC apartments, "fun" in the "oh s%%% a freight train just mowed over my Corolla, may as well enjoy the fire" fun.

I loved this review of the Elsinore Courtyard in Southeast not too far from Benning Road. It was not a location or complex I was at all considering before this review, but the review helped me to clarify my reasoning:

The worst management team on the planet! Forget about all your potential roommates you WILL have (mice and roaches) and forget the bloody bodies you step over in the parking lot, your main concern here will be the ghetto fabulous PM. It's true! You can take the girl out of the ghetto but you sure as hell can't take the ghetto out of the girl! She has the personality of dog poop with an insatiable need to control your very existence as she just can't seem to control her own. She has NO tolerance for anyone who won't kiss her flat behind! MENTAL NOTE: Get and keep ALL receipts if you must go sluming as "account malfunctions" occur frequently.

I tend to avoid the flat behinds, as I have one that is both flat and wide at the same time.

This somewhat less severe review of the Tivoli Gardens in upper Columbia Heights nonetheless discouraged me from applying:

It's convenient as far as shopping and metro being nearby but very dirty and my apt has TONS of little roaches even tho I'm probably the cleanest person in the building. I've had the exterminator come do his thing but that didn't help. Majority of renters are Hispanic which is pretty much how that part of Columbia Heights is. Apparently, there is an issue with prostitutes frequenting the building which I haven't noticed but I don't hang around the building enough to notice those things. Bed bugs are apparently a concern and I HOPE I don't have that problem. We just got a new manager so hopefully some of these issues will be dealt with. We'll see. The one plus to Tivoli is the efficiencies are spacious with lots of closet space. If you are ok with filth, bugs and hookers this may be the place for you.

I am down with the hookers like Eliot Spitzer, but the bugs and the filth have to go.

I could indulge more, but you get the flavor of the market.