An apartment in the United States is not just a place of residence, but also one of the means of identifying a person. Even though in America there is no residence registration as such, but in fact the address is a must. Renting a house in the U.S. – we tell you how it all works.
As in any country, there are two basic ways to find a home: contact a realtor or look for it yourself.
If you go to a realtor, we strongly recommend that you always check if the realtor has a license. If they do not have a realtor license or it expired, you should not work with such a professional!
Tell the realtor what kind of apartment you are looking for, in what price range, in what area, and what else you want (a pool, panoramic windows, proximity to the school, etc.).
After you are shown different options for apartments, and you choose the appropriate option, begins the most difficult thing – a test of your ability to pay.
Renting a home in the U.S. involves the most important thing – proving your financial solvency. Potential tenants usually have to provide all financial documents at the owner’s request: a credit history statement with a credit rating, an account statement where they keep their savings, and a letter from their employer confirming their income.
The cost of rent
The price of housing in the U.S. varies enormously. It depends not only on the state, city, and renovation, but also on the availability of a washing machine, television, internet, location, and more.
For comparison, let’s take a 1BR apartment, i.e. a one-bedroom apartment. In New York City, such an apartment in an apartment building would cost about $1700 a month, and in a private home – $1500. In Philadelphia – $ 1,300 a month. In Los Angeles, in the Glendale area, it’s $1700 and $1900 in Beverly Hills. In San Francisco, it’s $1850.
If you want to live in a luxury building with a pool, gym, barbecue and other services, such housing will cost about 30% more. In private homes you can rent an apartment cheaper.
The most budget option is to rent a room in an apartment. In New York, for example, you can rent a room from $ 500 a month.
If you have a large family and need a whole house, the prices are about this:
- In San Francisco, a private home with 3 bedrooms and at least two bathrooms will cost $4,000 in a less upscale neighborhood, from $5,000 in the Golden Gate Bridge area;
- in Los Angeles – from $3000 (the closer to the ocean, the more expensive);
- From $ 2800 per month would cost the same house in New York or New Jersey.
You can find a cheaper and more expensive, depending on the location of the house and its condition.
The examples given refer to large cities, where there is a concentration of different areas of activity, and where there are more job options. If you have a remote job and do not necessarily live in a large city, housing in smaller cities can be half the price.
Renting a home in the U.S.: how to protect yourself?
In the U.S. rarely rent apartments directly from the owner. As a rule, apply to a Real Estate Agency. Owner is more convenient to turn all questions to an agent. So one way or another you will end up with a realtor. If he is not on your side, the owner’s realtor will not satisfy your interests in any way. In addition, while you do not yet know the specifics of the real estate market in the U.S., it is better to trust a professional. Agents will use their professional language to meet the requirements of both the owner and the tenant. There will be no difference in money: you either pay to one agent (for example, from the owner’s side), or to both – just the amount is divided in half. Therefore, you should not skimp on the services of a realtor.
Once the owner agrees to rent the place to you, a lease is signed. The agent(s), the owner and you discuss rental terms, payment terms, and the amount. After signing, you are given one copy of the contract and the keys to the apartment.
The contract also stipulates the terms of cancellation of the lease, as well as the amount of the deposit.
The deposit, usually equal to one month’s rent, is money in case the apartment is damaged after you move in. If all is well, this money is refunded when you vacate the apartment.
Realtor services are not free either. It is usually the size of one month’s rent, sometimes less. Some immigrants, wanting to save money on an agent, look for a place by themselves, often even without a rental agreement. But this is fraught with the fact that at any time can evict and you can not prove anything. When you have a contract, the law is always on your side.
What should you be afraid of?
If a person enters into a rental agreement, it is usually for a year or more. This means that moving out of the apartment earlier would be problematic: the deposit may not be returned, and your name may be put on a blacklist of tenants, which will later complicate the search for a new home. For this reason, the rental market is full of ads in the style of “living on someone else’s contract. This means that you don’t sign any contract for the housing, but pay money to the tenant in whose name the contract with the landlord is. In this situation you get no address and no guarantees.
Renting a home in the U.S. gives you every right except ownership. A written contract always protects the tenant – those are the laws. Be sure to sign the contract, study the terms and conditions carefully and read what is written to protect yourself in the future.