Renting In America
Nov 12th 2007, 7:19 pm
#16
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Orlando,Florida,living in Buckinghamshire for next 6 weeks.
Posts: 1,416
Re: Renting In America
Now is actually a great time to rent a house,townhouse or condo.So many people went out invested in second and third homes only to find them selves stuck with a property that is difficult to sell during this housing market.They have no choice but to find a renter in order to keep from losing the home to forclosure.There are tons of private owners looking for renters.Drive through the various communities were you might like to live and look for signs in the windows stating house for rent,townhouse for rent.There is real desperation out there to find a renter.Also look in the classifieds.
This might be the best time in the last 20 years to be a renter! 95 out of 100 owners are not set up to run credit reports which mean they only can do a employment background check.Credit worthy is not a issue when you rent from a private owner,so if you don't have an established credit history renting from a private owner is the way to go.Plus Houses,Townhomes and Condos are usually much nicer than apartments.ONLY aceept offers that require no more than one month rent deposite + one month security.You can be very picky in this market crisis.I have two friends who are currently renting a townhouse and the other a house.No credit checks and the owners are so thrilled to have reliable renters.
This might be the best time in the last 20 years to be a renter! 95 out of 100 owners are not set up to run credit reports which mean they only can do a employment background check.Credit worthy is not a issue when you rent from a private owner,so if you don't have an established credit history renting from a private owner is the way to go.Plus Houses,Townhomes and Condos are usually much nicer than apartments.ONLY aceept offers that require no more than one month rent deposite + one month security.You can be very picky in this market crisis.I have two friends who are currently renting a townhouse and the other a house.No credit checks and the owners are so thrilled to have reliable renters.
Nov 12th 2007, 8:04 pm
#17
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,171
Re: Renting In America
Hello! i am sorry if I am asking a question that has already been addressed but I have not bee able to find it.
I am moving to San Francisco in December from the UK with a job waiting for me (I am an American/British citizen but left the States when I was 8). I will need to rent an apartment at the end of January but as I have no credit history in America does anybody seem to know what options will be available?
I am moving to San Francisco in December from the UK with a job waiting for me (I am an American/British citizen but left the States when I was 8). I will need to rent an apartment at the end of January but as I have no credit history in America does anybody seem to know what options will be available?
or have work linked to a credit union and have them write a letter saying what money your on....sorted.
Nov 12th 2007, 8:27 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Renting In America
Now is actually a great time to rent a house,townhouse or condo.So many people went out invested in second and third homes only to find them selves stuck with a property that is difficult to sell during this housing market.They have no choice but to find a renter in order to keep from losing the home to forclosure.There are tons of private owners looking for renters.Drive through the various communities were you might like to live and look for signs in the windows stating house for rent,townhouse for rent.There is real desperation out there to find a renter.Also look in the classifieds.
This might be the best time in the last 20 years to be a renter! 95 out of 100 owners are not set up to run credit reports which mean they only can do a employment background check.Credit worthy is not a issue when you rent from a private owner,so if you don't have an established credit history renting from a private owner is the way to go.Plus Houses,Townhomes and Condos are usually much nicer than apartments.ONLY aceept offers that require no more than one month rent deposite + one month security.You can be very picky in this market crisis.I have two friends who are currently renting a townhouse and the other a house.No credit checks and the owners are so thrilled to have reliable renters.
This might be the best time in the last 20 years to be a renter! 95 out of 100 owners are not set up to run credit reports which mean they only can do a employment background check.Credit worthy is not a issue when you rent from a private owner,so if you don't have an established credit history renting from a private owner is the way to go.Plus Houses,Townhomes and Condos are usually much nicer than apartments.ONLY aceept offers that require no more than one month rent deposite + one month security.You can be very picky in this market crisis.I have two friends who are currently renting a townhouse and the other a house.No credit checks and the owners are so thrilled to have reliable renters.
Nov 12th 2007, 8:31 pm
#19
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,024
Re: Renting In America
I rented in the Texas without any credit history over there at an apt complex with a proper management company.
They knew they couldn't really check me out, so just insisted I showed my work contract (proving my salary) and wanted a copy of my passport. I didn't even have a social security number at that point since I'd only been in the country 2-days. The apt complex was located near to various huge international companies (Microsoft, Nokia, etc) and they really were not fazed.
Can only speak of my personal experience of course, but I didn't have a problem. Just make sure you have some paperwork to prove you can pay rent.
Funnily enough, at all consequent apts I had to fill out every form under the sun and get completely checked since I of course then did have a SS number, DL, etc that they could look at!
They knew they couldn't really check me out, so just insisted I showed my work contract (proving my salary) and wanted a copy of my passport. I didn't even have a social security number at that point since I'd only been in the country 2-days. The apt complex was located near to various huge international companies (Microsoft, Nokia, etc) and they really were not fazed.
Can only speak of my personal experience of course, but I didn't have a problem. Just make sure you have some paperwork to prove you can pay rent.
Funnily enough, at all consequent apts I had to fill out every form under the sun and get completely checked since I of course then did have a SS number, DL, etc that they could look at!
Nov 13th 2007, 3:04 am
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 826
Re: Renting In America
Now is actually a great time to rent a house,townhouse or condo.So many people went out invested in second and third homes only to find them selves stuck with a property that is difficult to sell during this housing market.They have no choice but to find a renter in order to keep from losing the home to forclosure.There are tons of private owners looking for renters.Drive through the various communities were you might like to live and look for signs in the windows stating house for rent,townhouse for rent.There is real desperation out there to find a renter.Also look in the classifieds.
This might be the best time in the last 20 years to be a renter! 95 out of 100 owners are not set up to run credit reports which mean they only can do a employment background check.Credit worthy is not a issue when you rent from a private owner,so if you don't have an established credit history renting from a private owner is the way to go.Plus Houses,Townhomes and Condos are usually much nicer than apartments.ONLY aceept offers that require no more than one month rent deposite + one month security.You can be very picky in this market crisis.I have two friends who are currently renting a townhouse and the other a house.No credit checks and the owners are so thrilled to have reliable renters.
This might be the best time in the last 20 years to be a renter! 95 out of 100 owners are not set up to run credit reports which mean they only can do a employment background check.Credit worthy is not a issue when you rent from a private owner,so if you don't have an established credit history renting from a private owner is the way to go.Plus Houses,Townhomes and Condos are usually much nicer than apartments.ONLY aceept offers that require no more than one month rent deposite + one month security.You can be very picky in this market crisis.I have two friends who are currently renting a townhouse and the other a house.No credit checks and the owners are so thrilled to have reliable renters.
Nov 13th 2007, 10:08 am
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 525
Re: Renting In America
Keira - just out of interest, which Burb? And does the landlord have other properties?
Nov 13th 2007, 1:10 pm
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Renting In America
I think they are trying to close this particular loophole to getting credit, I believe as of the start of 2008 being an authorised user on a card will not benefit your score.
An alternative to getting a credit check is to put down a month or two deposit - most of the apartments around here offered this to me as an alternative, not ideal, but if you really want a certain place and don't mind tying up the money for a while it might be worth it
An alternative to getting a credit check is to put down a month or two deposit - most of the apartments around here offered this to me as an alternative, not ideal, but if you really want a certain place and don't mind tying up the money for a while it might be worth it
At least a month's deposit would be standard. A credit check is in addition.
Nov 13th 2007, 1:21 pm
#24
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Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 667
Re: Renting In America
All the apartments that were run by management companies that I went to wanted to check my credit and then would take a small deposit if they accepted me - this was far less then a months rent, but when I told them I had no credit they said they could just take 2 months rent instead.
Nov 13th 2007, 1:27 pm
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Renting In America
All the apartments that were run by management companies that I went to wanted to check my credit and then would take a small deposit if they accepted me - this was far less then a months rent, but when I told them I had no credit they said they could just take 2 months rent instead.
Nov 13th 2007, 8:32 pm
#27
L2, GC, Surrey, OH, TX!
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Surrey to Dallas (via Ohio)!
Posts: 6,363
Re: Renting In America
we are also renting of a guy who has a second home he cant sell in the current market. Its very plush and reasonable rent. Our realtor found it though the for sale listing as it had ###lease### in the description.
we also only had to show the husbands employment letter. one months deposit and one month in advance and we are in. got keys on the spot too.
we also only had to show the husbands employment letter. one months deposit and one month in advance and we are in. got keys on the spot too.
Nov 14th 2007, 4:43 am
#28
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: Renting In America
You obviously haven't tried to rent in San Francisco recently! Believe me, most potential renters have learnt to turn up to view rentals with a credit report tucked under their arm - the rental market really is that competitive. Plus, the foreclosure rate here is still very low, so the factors you mention haven't appeared (yet, perhaps). Now, the further you radiate out from SF (and SJ) - particularly to the east, the more likely the factors you mention will come into play, particularly once you get into the bedroom communities on the eastern edge of the Central Valley (Manteca, Mountain House, Stockton etc all of which have extremely high foreclosure rates).
If you are going to rent in SF (and again, Giantaxe is correct on the easier situation in the boonies) I would certainly get a letter from your employer detailing you salary, benefits, etc.
I've always found craigslist works OK.
Nov 14th 2007, 3:07 pm
#29
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 826
Re: Renting In America
The couple had never rented out to anyone before, they were either going to sell the house or rent it - whichever happened first. Guess we were just lucky! We even get the option to buy at the end of our lease term, which if we haven't found anything else in the area, we might think about doing.
Nov 14th 2007, 3:25 pm
#30
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Renting In America
LOL I'm in Long Grove. The landlord and landlady are a couple that bought this house for their father in law who sadly passed away. It had never been lived in. All freshly painted, granite worktops, amazing heated electric toilet that flushes and washes your arse for you! Very nice.
The couple had never rented out to anyone before, they were either going to sell the house or rent it - whichever happened first. Guess we were just lucky! We even get the option to buy at the end of our lease term, which if we haven't found anything else in the area, we might think about doing.
The couple had never rented out to anyone before, they were either going to sell the house or rent it - whichever happened first. Guess we were just lucky! We even get the option to buy at the end of our lease term, which if we haven't found anything else in the area, we might think about doing.
Purely because I want to try out that toilet!