Welcome 2 America Series 2

by - 2008-1-13 11:08:00

Housing in USA

Renting an apartment or house
Selecting a right rental option is very important. Getting an accommodation in America is not a easy task. But recently a number of companies have come up with websites and provide information about the houses available on rent.

What is "renting?"

Renting refers to a monthly fee that you pay a landlord to live in a home he owns. An apartment is a small unit consisting of several rooms that is normally attached to other such units. Sometimes it's a subsection of a house. Houses, cottages and town houses can also be rented out. 

What does a rental include?
Most rentals come with kitchen and bathroom appliances, such as a stove, refrigerator, bathtub and sinks. Some also come with laundry and dishwashing machines, air conditioners and other specialties. You n eed to chec k out the details of each rental you look at.

What are the legal and financial details of renting?
Renting an apartment requires a fairly simple contract and a small outlay of cash, usually first month and a payment equal to one month's rent, for  "security." The monthly payment is smaller, you will have to real estate taxes and the landlord is responsible for maintenance and repairs. Most of the time, heat and water are included in the rent payment. Sometimes other utilities, such as cable or electricity are also included.

Credit history
Before you begin your search, be aware that the landlord (owner of the rental) may want a credit history. If you are new to the US, and don't have a credit history, gather references and letters of recommendation from your own country if you can, and be prepared to give a larger security deposit. You may not need to, but it's good to be prepared for the possibility.

Finding the apartment

There are three main ways to apartment hunt: local real estate/rental guides, online, or the main newspaper's classified sections. Check local supermarkets and convenience stores for publications. Once you identify living places that you'll want to see, call to schedule a time to do so. 

Subletting

Sometimes, a person who rents an apartment or home will move elsewhere, or go on an extended trip, but still want to keep their lease. In the meantime, they may rent the apartment or home to someone else (maybe you?) while they are not using it. This is often a good arrangement because approval can be quicker and easier, and the term of the lease may be shorter, or open-ended. Use all the guidelines for renting or buying when you check for a sublet, and make sure the sublet is legally allowed before you move in.

Finding a roommate

Perhaps the least contractually obligated form of home hunting involves renting a room or part of a home from someone who already lives there. If you are single, or even just a couple, with little cash, credit or furniture, this may be just the thing for you. It usually doesn't require credit checks, it's generally inexpensive, and often includes many furnishings. It's one of the fastest ways to get into a home and start getting established in your new community.

Check the home, neighborhood and community, then act quickly

Do a thorough check on appliances, security, neighborhood reputation, local services, community to make sure you will be safe and comfortable living there. But try to do all that as quickly as possible because in many areas, rentals go very quickly. Once you decide hat you like a place, you will need to submit an application, often with a reasonable application fee, and--if approved--sign a lease, which is a legally binding contract that promises you will live in the apartment and pay the rent for a certain, fixed period of time. The lease also protects you and ensures that you can stay in the home. If you get a rent stabilized or rent controlled apartment (ask if it is), your rent is guaranteed to stay at a certain rate, or to increase from lease to lease or year to year at a small, fair rate.

 

Buying an apartment or house

Benefits of buying a home

The advantages of buying a home include the investment and equity factor. If you later sell the home, you can end up making a profit. In the meantime, equity--meaning real estate collateral--can help you get good credit lines at low interest rates. You will get a tax break on your mortgage payments, and on real estate and other homeowner taxes. The mortgage is the monthly payment you make on the house. It can feel a lot like rent, except that a house comes with additional payments, such as the taxes, and any maintenance needs that come up. Don't underestimate maintenance needs. If a toilet springs a leak, or the heating goes, you will need to fix it, and pay for the repair. Some brand new homes come with warranties that guarantee most things will not break for a certain period of time. If they do, the outfit who sold you the house will do the repairs free of charge .

Funding a home purchase

To buy a house, you generally need a substantial amount of money to put down. If you explore options with agencies such as HUD, which helps low income families get a mortgage with low interest, you can put down as little as 3 percent plus closing (administrative/sale) fees. Most people pay at least 20% as a down payment though. You also generally need excellent credit and a good job history to purchase a home. If you are lacking either, you may want to rent for a while until you can build up a savings and good credit. 

Inspecting your investment

Every community has a real estate guide, at least one real estate office and classified listings for home sales in the area. You should inspect a home for sale even more thoroughly than you would a rental. A home is an investment, either in your own future, living there, or in terms of resale value later on. Do a lot of research on your local market and home buying strategies before you buy.

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