I went hunting for a flat a while ago here in New Zealand, I gave up pretty quickly and just ended up staying with relatives. I've now moved cities and I live in a backpackers because I can't be bothered finding a flat (plus interesting people here!).
It's just so draining to have to contact all these people, and view their places. I guess it's like job hunting, except you're paying money. It doesn't help that I'm not very good with strangers.
Different kind of stranger relation. Renting with its information asymmetry has a huge potential for creating distrust. Did the landlord hide how nasty the neighbors are? Will the tenant vandalize the apartment?
Backpacking/couchsurfing is much more lightweight.
It's just so draining to have to contact all these people, and view their places. I guess it's like job hunting, except you're paying money. It doesn't help that I'm not very good with strangers.