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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.

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Sounds like you're enjoying living where you are precisely because of strangers, some of which I'm assuming you meet ;)

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.

Well that's half the reason for staying at a backpackers. Forced interaction with lots of strangers, most of whom you will never meet again.

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