If you’ve been looking for a new home or apartment to rent, you may have noticed that it’s not exactly easy to find the perfect spot unless you’re willing to pay really high rent. All across the country, rent prices have been increasing by enormous amounts, and only those with high income have been able to afford living in certain areas.
Although you can’t force landlords to lower their rent prices, there are some things you can do to find a reasonably-priced home for rent.
1. Beware of scams
When house hunting, it’s tempting to consider options that seem like amazing deals, like places with low rent or incredible homes listed for far less than what you’d expect to pay. Many of these situations are scams, and it’s crucial that you learn to spot them so you don’t end up a victim.
Some of the most common scams are people who claim to be landlords who live out of the country, and therefore cannot meet with you in person. They often request payment before they’ll give you a virtual tour, and won’t show up for in-person showings. These scams typically copy genuine listings, but use phony contact information. If you were to drive by the address listed, you might see a “for rent” sign, but if you respond to the scammer’s ad, your money will end up in the scammer’s hands.
Another popular scam involves listings that are real addresses, but they aren’t even for rent. Sometimes scammers scout out desirable properties and use the address in their listing, knowing people will look it up and want to live there. Then they ask for money before they’ll let you view the property, and if you pay up, the scammer will just disappear.
No matter how much you want to find a nice place, always keep in mind that really cheap rent could indicate the listing is a scam. Stay vigilant, and never send anyone money sight unseen. Even then, make sure the person showing the home is legitimate.
2. As friends and family
Not everyone will list their home or apartment for rent in all the places you might be searching, like Facebook marketplace and Craigslist. So, ask around for leads. See if anyone you know is aware of someone wanting to rent out their home.
You may want to check your local Facebook groups, too, since many homeowners post rental listings in these groups to avoid paying large advertising and listing fees elsewhere. Community groups can be an excellent way to find an affordable home from a private homeowner.
3. Consider roommates
When you can’t afford the rent all on your own, consider sharing a house with roommates to reduce your expenses. Having roommates isn’t always easy, but it can be enjoyable if everyone has their own bedroom, there are enough bathrooms, and you can agree on how to use shared spaces.
If you and a friend or two have good credit, you can rent a place together and move in at the same time. Or, you can find someone who is renting out a room in their home.
4. Apply for rental assistance
Sometimes finding an affordable home to rent involves getting rental assistance, rather than refining your search efforts. If you’re able to get help with the rent, it could open up far more options for you as well as help you get into a place you couldn’t afford otherwise.
5. Post your own ads
Just like landlords post ads when they have a home or room for rent, try posting an ad with the details of what you’re looking for, either on local community bulletin boards or online. There are also roommate-matching websites, like SpareRoom.com and Roomster.com that you can use to find a good match.
6. Consider moving to a new area
Sometimes particular areas tend to be far more expensive than others. For example, cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and New York City have some of the highest rent prices in the country. In fact, California and New York are known for having sky-high rents. Some states, like Kentucky and Louisiana, tend to have lower rents, even in bigger cities. Be willing to move to another location if you can find something within your budget.
There are affordable homes out there
Rents are at an all-time high, and that makes house hunting on a budget a little harder. However, even though many homes have high rent, if you look hard enough and don’t give up, you’ll find something affordable.