Boxterboy2

Hi
We are a family of four who are moving to Boca Raton at the end of the uk school year.
I am v worried about moving to a country where we will have no credit rating.
1) how do you rent a house without a credit rating? (We are renting out our London home so will not be flush with cash!)
2) how do you lease x2 cars without a credit history?
Thanks for your help

AmerLisa

What visa are you moving over on?

Boxterboy2

A L1 visa

AmerLisa

If you use the search engine, you can probably get answers to your questions more quickly. Here's a start:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...t+credit+in+US

Pulaski

A private landlord is likely to be much more tolerant of your lack of credit history, but be prepared to pay an extra month or two's rent up front. Don't do anything silly like offer a whole year's rent in advance as that might just spook the landlord completely.

Boxterboy2

Thanks
I was planning on either renting direct or offering 6 mths (Gonna kill me) up front.
Can't seem to find any websites that are landlord direct
Does anyone know of any? Truilla etc seem to only have realtors.

GeoffM

Found mine on Craigslist but I got lucky. There are a lot of scammers on CL so beware. Red flags include the landlord being away/travelling.

Pulaski

Many websites are a mix of private and direct. Try Craigslist, zillow.com, rent.com, forrentbyowner.com, or Google for others.

Personally, I wouldn't start by offering more than three months rent, and upping the amount if necessary. You want to appear trustworthy, not desperate.

You know that houses here are invariably rented unfurnished, with a cooker and fridge, and perhaps a dishwasher, and microwave, don't you?

Guindalf

...or asking for up-front fees!

notonuksoil

International Autosource for the cars is an option but has to be set up in the UK before you move to the US.

We originally came over on an L1 and OH employer acted as guarantor for us when we we looking for rentals. Realtors just contacted the company directly and got written confirmation about job, salary, visa etc.

Hotscot

Most of us ,(All of us?), came over with no US credit rating. Just stay calm and navigate through it.

Company gave no reloc. assistance?

Chrisdc

Pulaski is right, 3 months + deposit should be fine - that's what big corporate landlords were quoting me in NYC. I would be wary of anyone asking for 6 months. It is a small market, so you might find it easier to get temp accommodation and start searching once you get there. Employer notice boards, local free papers, supermarket notice boards etc... The Craigslist scam warning is very real. I get scam email every single time I do anything on Craigslist now.

Boxterboy2

Thanks for your advice. My husband owns his business so there is no employees help etc so it all seems a bit of a huge mountain to climb at the moment but I really appreciate advice.

robin1234

Yes, and I suspect buying older cars for cash is the solution to the car problem for many or most new arrivals.

GeoffM

Two years later we've still got our $6k 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Does the job - we don't need anything fancy and with 2 young kids it's not worth getting anything better. Also got a Ford Taurus, a bit older, similar price. See plenty of other threads about used cars!