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Hey y'all! After a lot of contemplation and hard decisions I've decided to move back from Washington DC to Arizona. After I finish this year at college I'll be heading back around May/June hopefully but I need help figuring out all the logistics about getting my first apartment. For now this is a general ask as I write out a longer forum post but I'd like to get as much info as possible so go nuts in the meantime! |
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place hold/the longer explanation There are some things I'm already aware of and know I will be able to do/I understand, but that knowledge is somewhat limited. I will be moving with my beagle so I know I'll have to pay a pet deposit and fee each month, I'm looking at studios with a little bit of division between the living and sleeping space, and 1 bed 1 bath apartments. Just to give a little context if needed. I will have about 6 months of employment at the same place under my belt but obviously many more years of job experience consistently all the way back to when I was 16, so as for job record I'm not worried but I'm nervous about being turned down if they have a standard of the rent being something like less than 50% of your monthly income or something. I'm not totally sure what laws & all are in the area as when I lived there I was a teenager. I also will be paying the security deposit/first months rent with savings as the move means I'll have a week or two where I'm just getting established at the new place/transfered. I will be working full time for a few months before finishing up college credits where I will be hopefully mixing online/campus classes so I can continue to work full time/high part time. My main concerns are things that I don't know to look for. I grew up where I had a close family member who did real estate, so I understand physical things to look for when touring/some questions to ask as most of the houses they dealt with were rehab flips. But I'm worried that I will put myself in a compromising situation by not asking a question I should have. I figured that with HEE's super diverse community there were some players that could give a little parenting advice to me as I don't have my own to turn to! |
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In my experience if you go with a corporate landlord (like an apartment complex) you'll need to pass a background check, a credit check, have a security deposit (which may or may not be first and last month's rent and specials with only a small deposit or installment payments on the deposit can often be had) and a damage deposit if you have a pet, plus also probably pay pet rent. If you rent privately, things are a bit different. Rents might be superficially cheaper with a private landlord, but they often want references from previous landlords to go with the background and credit checks and they almost always want first and last month's rent up front cash as a deposit. They like it if you have at least 2 years at your present job (to prove stability) and will often have more restrictive rules than a corporate landlord, especially if they are your neighbor/share a duplex. Corporate landlords often have internet portals where you can report maintenance needs, pay your rent, pay any utility charges that are placed on your rent (if the complex shares the water bill, etc) and generally communicate with management if need be outside office hours. They usually employ their own maintenance and have arrangements with local services when it's outside their maintenance people's skill set. Private landlords generally don't have a portal, don't have pro maintenance, and might be more difficult to access, especially if they have a large management company overseeing their properties and live elsewhere. There are pros and cons to both types of rentals, but you need to consider all factors when deciding from whom you wish to rent. Corporate properties lack the personal touch, but have more resources. Private landlords may be friendly and family-like, but tend to be more protective of their property and charge more for damage (much of which corporations write off as "normal wear and tear". I've done both and do prefer the corporate route, but your mileage may vary. |
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Clear Springs you are amazing! I personally have been looking at corporate rentals as I prefer how they run things but being able to read over it and really compare the two has made me far more confident in my decision! |
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It's usually 3x the rent in monthly income. The studio with the short wall for your bed is usually called a "Junior One-Bedroom". That term cropped up about 15 years ago and has really caught on. Just make sure you read the lease agreement carefully. You might not be allowed to hang laundry or have a grill and might have quiet hours to follow among other rules. And you might have to report any maintenance issues promptly and not do any repairs yourself (they pay people to be on staff to do that stuff). Make sure you can literally live with whatever restrictions are put on you. Most of your neighbors will be nice, but there's always a Nosy Nellie or Griping Greg around to be a thorn in your side. Best of luck finding a good place. Don't place too much stock in the resident ratings on the internet...they tend to be written by people with axes to grind, or they're glowing testimonials for the website. I would go to the complex on my own one day and walk around. Look at the trash areas, the back side of the buildings that don't show from the street, see if any trashy cars that look like they won't even start are hanging around. See what the dog park (if they allow dogs they probably have one) is like. Poke your nose into places the tour guide will walk you on a path to avoid. That way at least you can see if the general maintenance of the place is up to snuff. Edited to add: I've lived all over the US in the past 30 years, so that's how I have had so much experience with apartments. Also, if you find a corporation that has apartments in other cities you might be transferred to you might be able to just transfer your remaining lease to that property and not have to apartment-hunt at all. |
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This is so helpful, as for living with the restrictions I don't think there isn't much I wouldn't be able to deal with as I'm not someone who does much "out of the norm" and would like to think I'd be considered a good renter but I know it's not really a thing. My biggest concern is the 3 times the rent rule as I'd be working on a masters and working at the same time so I wouldn't exactly be in a "career" job yet but I'm hoping I can find something within my budget as if I did the math correctly I could afford what I'm looking for with a job I have experience in and my side work I do. But that's just part of the process and I'll have to find a place that will work for my budget ultimately! I really appreciate all of the help and encouragement!
Clear Springs said:
It's usually 3x the rent in monthly income. The studio with the short wall for your bed is usually called a "Junior One-Bedroom". That term cropped up about 15 years ago and has really caught on. Just make sure you read the lease agreement carefully. You might not be allowed to hang laundry or have a grill and might have quiet hours to follow among other rules. And you might have to report any maintenance issues promptly and not do any repairs yourself (they pay people to be on staff to do that stuff). Make sure you can literally live with whatever restrictions are put on you. Most of your neighbors will be nice, but there's always a Nosy Nellie or Griping Greg around to be a thorn in your side. Best of luck finding a good place. Don't place too much stock in the resident ratings on the internet...they tend to be written by people with axes to grind, or they're glowing testimonials for the website. I would go to the complex on my own one day and walk around. Look at the trash areas, the back side of the buildings that don't show from the street, see if any trashy cars that look like they won't even start are hanging around. See what the dog park (if they allow dogs they probably have one) is like. Poke your nose into places the tour guide will walk you on a path to avoid. That way at least you can see if the general maintenance of the place is up to snuff. Edited to add: I've lived all over the US in the past 30 years, so that's how I have had so much experience with apartments. Also, if you find a corporation that has apartments in other cities you might be transferred to you might be able to just transfer your remaining lease to that property and not have to apartment-hunt at all.
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