Moving to a new country always brings a great many practical questions, and one of the most important is finding somewhere to live. How well that first house or flat is chosen shapes how comfortable the adjustment is, what you spend every day, and even how quickly you get used to your new life.
The property market in the USA is very different from the one people in many other countries are used to. It has its own rules on renting, on screening tenants, on signing contracts and on paying for utilities. And the cost of housing can vary a great deal even within one city.
Where to start looking
Most people start looking for housing before they even arrive in the USA. That lets you see rent levels in advance, pick suitable neighbourhoods and work out roughly what you will be spending.
The most popular sites are:
- Zillow;
- Apartments.com;
- Realtor.com;
- Redfin;
- Craigslist;
- Facebook Marketplace.
On these sites you can see photographs of flats, floor plans, rent levels, the terms of tenancy and even reviews from previous tenants. But do not stop at the internet. Once you arrive, it is worth visiting the neighbourhoods you are interested in, talking to local people and seeing the options with your own eyes.
Sometimes a flat that looks perfect in photographs turns out to sit beside a noisy road or in a troubled neighbourhood. Many residential complexes also have their own websites, where current listings are posted directly without intermediaries.
Temporary housing after the move
You cannot always find a permanent flat straight away. Many families choose temporary housing for a few weeks first.
Suitable options are:
- hotels;
- apart-hotels;
- Airbnb;
- short-term flat rentals.
That gives you time to sort out documents, open a bank account, get a social security number and get to know the city. Short-term accommodation costs more, but it lets you make the decision without rushing. In a few weeks you can learn much more about the neighbourhoods, the transport and the local amenities.
How to choose a neighbourhood
The choice of neighbourhood often matters more than the flat itself. Even good housing can turn out to be inconvenient if you have to spend hours every day travelling to work or study.
When choosing a neighbourhood it is worth weighing several things at once: how safe it is, how easy it is to get around, and whether there are shops, schools, parks, hospitals and convenient roads. Before signing a contract, it is a good idea to visit the area more than once. Better still, see it in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. That makes it easier to gauge the noise, the traffic, the parking and the general atmosphere.
It also helps to look at crime statistics and the ratings of local schools. Even if you have no children yet, the quality of the school district often affects property prices and the general appeal of an area.
What affects the rent
The cost of housing in the USA is shaped by several things at once.
The price is affected by:
- the city;
- the neighbourhood;
- the size of the flat;
- the number of rooms;
- the condition of the building;
- the age of the building;
- whether there is parking;
- a pool, a gym and the complex's other facilities.
The difference between neighbourhoods can be enormous. Sometimes a flat only a few kilometres from the centre costs half as much as an equivalent property in a prestigious area. And remember that the price in the advert is far from always the final cost.
Additional costs
Once a flat has been chosen, many people meet payments they did not expect.
Besides the monthly rent, you often have to pay:
- a deposit;
- the first month's rent;
- an application fee;
- a parking space;
- keeping pets (if you have any).
Water, gas, electricity, internet and rubbish collection are sometimes billed separately. So before signing a contract, always check the full list of compulsory payments. It is not unusual for two flats with the same rent to work out completely differently overall because of these additional costs.
Which documents you will need
Almost every landlord screens prospective tenants. To apply you will usually need to provide identification, documents confirming that you are in the country lawfully, details of your income and your place of work.
Landlords very often check credit history too. For immigrants who have arrived recently that can be a problem, since there is no credit history yet.
In such cases a landlord will sometimes agree to a larger deposit or ask for a guarantor (a co-signer). If a person can show enough savings in a bank account, that also improves the chances of the application being approved.
Tenant screening
A background check is standard practice. The landlord wants to be sure that the future tenant will be able to pay the rent on time and has no serious legal problems.
The check may look at credit history, income, previous addresses, references from former landlords and the absence of serious breaches of the law. There is no need to be alarmed by it — it is done for practically every tenant.
The tenancy agreement
Before signing, read every clause carefully. Pay particular attention to these sections: the length of the tenancy, the terms for renewing it, the rules on ending it early, responsibility for repairs, the terms for returning the deposit and the payment arrangements.
If any clause raises questions, ask the landlord to explain it there and then. Do not sign a contract simply because "that is how it is done here". Changing the terms after signing is considerably harder.
Utilities
After moving in, tenants often have to set up some services themselves. The most common are electricity, internet, mobile service, and sometimes gas and water. In many states this takes only a few minutes and is done entirely online.
Before signing up, compare the offers of several companies, because prices can differ noticeably.
Inspecting the flat before you move in
Before taking the keys, it is advisable to inspect the flat carefully.
It is worth checking that these work:
- the doors;
- the windows;
- the air conditioning;
- the heating;
- the plumbing;
- the appliances;
- the lighting.
Photograph anything you find wrong straight away and send it to the landlord. That helps avoid claims when you move out and the deposit is returned.
Getting the deposit back
The deposit is financial protection for the landlord. When the tenancy ends it is usually returned in full, provided the flat is in good condition. Part of it can be withheld, though, if there is damage to the property, heavy soiling of the premises, unpaid bills or a breach of the agreement. So before you move out, it is advisable to give the place a thorough clean and put right any small faults.
Common mistakes New immigrants often make the same mistakes. The most common are choosing a flat too hastily, reading the contract carelessly, not checking the neighbourhood and sending money before viewing the property. It is also unwise to accept suspiciously cheap offers.
If the price is well below the market, check the landlord and the property documents especially carefully.
Useful advice
Start looking early and do not limit yourself to one website. Always compare several options, even if the first flat seems right. Do not be afraid to ask the landlord about additional costs, repairs, parking and the rules of the building.
It is best to put every agreement in writing. Keep copies of the contract, payment receipts and your correspondence with the landlord. If you have serious doubts, it is better to go to a licensed estate agent.
Finding somewhere to live in the USA takes time, care and preparation. But understanding how the American property market works makes the process considerably easier.
The right neighbourhood, a contract read carefully and documents prepared in advance help you avoid most of the common problems and make settling into life in a new country far calmer. The better a prospective tenant prepares beforehand, the sooner they will find housing that genuinely suits their family and their budget.
End of the article.
All guides →
