Wednesday, October 23

5 tips for renting for the first time in the United States

Arlenys Tabare

Before thinking about renting an apartment for the first time in the United States, it is important consider some aspects. In this way, the person who wants to take that first step feels that the decision they are making is the correct one, since there are a variety of options with which they will stumble along the way, especially in big cities where offers may vary.

For that reason, it is important to keep in mind, what is the budget, the location and the conditions in which you want to live, After this, begin to visualize the properties, knowing their characteristics, rules, payment methods and other conditions. This search can take a few weeks to find the one that best suits the needs of the tenant.

What to consider before renting

The first step is to evaluate how much money and budget does the tenant have to rent, usually some areas of large cities can be very expensive. For the director of Wealth Strategies for Women at BAM Alliance, Manisha Thakor, a general rule of thumb to always keep in mind is that “rent should not exceed a quarter of her take-home pay,” she advises.

Second, you must be patient. finding a good place to live is not so easy As it seems, the time can be from one to three months, all this will depend on how competitive the market can be, and the needs of the person seeking rent. For that reason, it is important Do not get carried away by the first offer that appears.

In third place, the papers must be in order, do not wait until the last moment to have all the documents that some tenants request and if possible also create a tenant profilecurrently there are platforms with forms that facilitate this step.

Fourth advice, when finding the property and verify that it is in optimal conditions, adapts to budgets and expectations; It is important to read the lease very welldo not ignore any of the clausesforms of payment and others that will avoid problems and inconveniences in the future.

The fifth step and one of the most recommended is invest in renters insurancethis is a good option for protect assets and even pets while you are renting, although some states do not require it, certain landlords may request it.

Finally, it is always important have a record of all rent payments, Currently there are platforms to carry them out associated with some banks, this in the future may be beneficial for applying for a loan if you want to buy a house.

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