THREE “POSSESSION OBSESSED” RENTERS COMPETE FOR $20,000 FROM APARTMENTS.COM

Apartments.com today announced the three finalists in the first-ever ”Possession Obsession" contest. America can now vote to help select the nation’s most “possession obsessed” renter. From Sept. 17 – Oct. 19, 2007, visitors to www.apartments.com/possessionobsession will be able to view the finalists’ video entries and select their favorite to win the $20,000 Grand Prize. The finalists include: a young man in Tulsa, Okla., who celebrates Halloween 365 days a year with an extensively spooky collection; a woman from Chicago who plasters her apartment in pin-up art; and an artist in Boston who finds treasure in other people’s trash to create an inspired living space.

“This contest shows just how passionate America is about collecting,” said Lisa DeVries of Apartments.com. “We saw entries from collectors that ran the gamut from frog-lovers to dinosaur-diggers and superhero groupies to movie buffs. These collectors really rose to the ‘Possession Obsession’ challenge. It was difficult to choose only three entries, but we feel our selected finalists truly show what it means to be a collector.”

Between September 17 and October 19, the finalists’ videos will be posted at www.apartments.com/possessionobsession, where visitors to the Web site will be able view the top submissions and vote for who they think should win the Grand Prize. Visitors to the site can vote once a day every day until the end of the contest. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize, and the two runner-up finalists each will receive a cash prize of $500.

Meet the Finalists
The Trash-to-Treasure Master
Ali, an artist from Boston, has been collecting “free stuff” ever since her mother, who works at a college, alerted her to the overwhelming amount of useful items students throw out at the end of each school year. Ali’s collection has grown to include a variety of found objects, which she ingeniously repurposes to create decorative items and usable art. For example, discarded tiles evolved into an intricate mosaic bedroom floor, and wallpaper samples were transformed into unique greeting cards. Her apartment may seem as if it is cluttered with junk, but to Ali, it presents endless opportunities.

The Halloween Hoarder
When Kalvin moved into his Tulsa apartment, located next door to a funeral home, he had no hesitation when deciding on a decorating scheme—although his girlfriend might have. Ghosts and pumpkins adorning the front door, vampires lurking in the living room, and portraits of family members interspersed with monsters of all varieties leave little question as to which holiday is Kalvin’s favorite. This Halloween fan, who celebrates the holiday 365 days a year, admits to some stunned reactions from apartment visitors, but with October right around the corner, his collection is sure to be a “spooktacular” attraction.

The Princess of Pin-Ups
Brenda’s apartment is every guy’s fantasy living space with a twist: the treasure trove of vintage pin-up art presents a collection that is more très chic than triple-X. Scantily clad women line the walls and appear in unusual places throughout the apartment—sultry ashtrays, curvaceous lighting fixtures, and even a babe-filled bathroom—but Brenda knows the true value of her collection goes beyond basic sex appeal. These rare pin-ups are valued as an art form, and in today’s world of svelte celebrities, it is refreshing to see a collection that celebrates women who flaunt their curves.

To view the videos and cast a vote for one of the finalists, or for more information and statistics about America’s possession obsessions, visit www.apartments.com/possessionobsession.

About Apartments.com
Apartments.com is the most visited national apartment Internet listing subscription service with more than 50,000 unique addresses representing more than three million rental units from managed properties, newspaper classifieds and for-rent-by-owner properties. With personalized searches, highly visual ads featuring 360-degree virtual tours, professional photography, and comprehensive community listings, Apartments.com makes it possible for renters to access apartment rental inventory from across town or across the country. Leads from highly qualified, ready-to-rent prospects are delivered to Apartments.com customers, increasing closure rates and decreasing the average cost of leasing an apartment. The site's foundation of solid partnerships with the local newspaper and television station Web sites of more than 10,000 newspaper affiliate and strategic partners across the country include Yahoo! Real Estate, the Chicago Tribune (www.chicagotribune.com), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) and the Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com). Apartments.com is a division of Chicago-based Classified Ventures, LLC.

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***B-roll of the three finalists and their collections is available upon request. If interested in receiving b-roll footage, please contact Nicole Serr or Megan Richards at 312.335.9955.