On Finding a Roommate.

This post could also be "Why I hate looking for an apartment in Northern Virginia."
In less than a month, I will reach the "It's been one year since I graduated from college" point. That's kind of strange for me. I mean...it's been one whole year. But at the same time, it feels like just yesterday I was freaking out about my final finals and walking across the stage on that day that turned out to be absurdly sunny even though everyone thought it would rain. A lot has changed since that day and you can pretty much guarantee that when May 15 rolls around, there will be a sentimental post filled with all sorts of memories and lessons learn in my first post-graduate year.
But today we're talking about something else.
As of right now, I'm still living with my parents. They've been quite generous and in a lot of respects I really don't mind it because my rent is not expensive at all and by "rent" I mean it includes utilities, my room, and food. Plus, I don't have to cook when I get home.
That being said, I'm itching to get out of mom and dad's house. I love them dearly, but I want my own space. I feel like I'm almost grown-up, but not quite. I pay my own insurance, my cell phone bill, for my own clothes, my rent, all of it. But I still don't live by myself. And for one reason or another, that makes me feel like an almost grown-up, but not a real grown-up.
And so, I am on the hunt. For a roommate and for an apartment. Except I'm learning two things.
First...finding a roommate is hard. Second...apartments in Northern Virginia are ridiculously expensive.
I know a good number of people here in Northern Virginia, so you would think that finding a roommate wouldn't be difficult. You would be wrong in thinking that.
The problem is pretty much everyone I know is either male, not possessing a full time job and therefore not possessing the funds to pay rent in Northern Virginia, already in an established living situation, or just not wanting to move out. And that has left with me with like...one possible roommate. And that's only a possibility.
So, looking for a roommate is hard to begin with, but then there's the fact that housing in Northern Virginia is absurdly expensive.
And when I say absurdly expensive, I'm really not kidding. I'm looking at one apartment complex that is actually not a bad price, by Northern Virginia standards, and my half of the rent would be more than what an entire two-bedroom apartment + utilities cost down in Newport News. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it. And my wallet, too.
The apartment I looked at is lovely. It's in an awesome location, it's a good size, there's tons of light, it's in a gated community, I can have my cat, and I can paint the walls! I would really love to move there if I can. And I can. I just need to find a roommate.
The problem is, I'm getting discouraged. I've scoured my facebook friends, put out open calls on facebook, talked to everyone I can think of, and I'm still coming up empty. It's not like I have to move out now, but, like I said, I'm getting antsy.
I want my own space. I want a living room with pretty throw pillows. I want to cook my own meals. I want to be able to invite friends over for a movie night without checking with my parents.
It's to the point that I'm considering looking for a roommate through Roomster or some sort of service like that. But then I have these fears about ending up rooming with axe murderers or alcoholics or something like that.
So I ask you, wonderful readers, do you have any tips for apartment hunting or finding a roommate? Have you ever tried finding a roommate through some online service like Roomster? I'll take all the help I can get!
Also...happy April 25th. :)