Finding a new home - having so much trouble!

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

Hi everyone,

I think this forum is the best place to post this general query... I have my K1 interview in London on Monday (which I cant wait for - we have been waiting far too long to be together as it is). Anyway, our plan is to make the big move at the end of April and get married at the end of June. The wedding is all planned. Its just the 'small' matter of finding somewhere for us both to live.

Russ (the US citizen) currently lives in an apartment which wouldn't be suitable for both of us to live in, plus our labrador, Honey who'll be joining us too. Its very small and the landlord doesnt accept pets. There's also no back yard etc... So, we are now on the hunt for a smallish (I think they call them single family homes) in north New Jersey.

What I didnt expect was find the rent soooooo high. For a two bedroom property everywhere seems to be at least $2,000. I obviously won't be able to work as soon as I make my POE, so Russ will have to support us all on his own for at least three months. We're thinking we will be able to get by with $1,500 rent per month but theres not many places available for that amount (and that will allow pets). Another thing I have found completely crazy is that realtors expect a finders fee! Russ says this is quite normal but to me, being English, is completely alien!. One realtor emailed us straight away to ask if we can pay the full 1 months rent equivalent as the finders fee?! I couldnt believe it!!!! Sure enough, we expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars for credit checks/references (although I dont know what they're gonna come up with for me) and about a months rent equivalent for the deposit, plus the first month in advance but an extra $1,500 for them just looking?! That seems crazy to me!!!

How did you all find it and can anyone make any suggestions....? Is rent and fees generally negotiable in the US? We've also advertised on Craigslist and are looking for a private landlord desperately, but nothings come up. Help! We need a new home to move into by April!

Edited January 22, 2010 by RUSSandRACHEL

[Flames9_RN 358]

always check craigslist

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think it will probably be hard to find a place more than 2 months in advance since most landlords will list vacancies as they become available - likely only a month in advance when a tenant gives notice.

The finders fee is unfortunately the reality in that part of the country (NYC and the tri-state area) but I know a lot of people who are able to get around it, such as craigslist.

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

Thanks for the replies guys. We have checked Craigslist but will definitely step up the search on there now. And we dont have to wait two months to move, if we find somewhere great and within budget Russ could move in after giving a months notice with his current landlord. Then I'll join him in April.

Does anyone have any advice about credit checks/references before marrying and recieving your green card? Does it make things more difficult getting my name on the tenancy aggreement?

[Flames9_RN 358]

When i moved from Canada to the USA, we rented an apartment--they just conducted a credit check on my wife and references from her. Think we had to put down a motnhs rent for security purposes, maybe it was only a half months rent--there are laws regarding that, and probably differ from State to State, I'm sure a quick Google search can inform you of tenant laws for your state. Craigslist can be great, BUT be beware of fraudsters. read 1 story online that happened back in Canada where the people (a few of them, just not 1) had even gone to the house to rent, met with the person, and got ripped off--as that person took off will with everyones $$$. Again if its probably too good to be true, it probably is,lol Kijiji.com is another good site, much like craigslist.

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

Thanks everyone for your replies!!!! We are still on the hunt and getting more and more stressed as the days go on.

Russ went with a realtor and had a viewing at a nice 2 bedroom single family home this week. It had a large 2 car detached garage in the garden (which is enclosed). So, Russ went on a second viewing this week when the realtor dropped the bombshell that the garage is not included and the landlord intends to have full access back and forth to the garage and to his huuuuge snow-plough truck that sits in the garden!!! We were really upset by this 'cos we thought we'd found a gem and all along they told us this was included, even though it wasn't. So, Russ, aparently, got the pushy sales talk, 'credit report... lets go into my office... ya ya ya...' And he told the realtor 'no' we're not happy about this and aren't gonna go any further unless you can negotiate a deal about the garage/truck in the way'. She completely turned on him and snapped 'forget it!' and dissapeared into her office with her sandwich!!!! Can you believe it! What a b**ch!

So we are officially done with realtors. They are blood sucking, used car salesmen with no spine, no matter what country you're from!!! And they expect a months rent in commission? For what???!

So Russ has drawn up a flier and is going to post it everywhere he can in the area, looking for a private landlord, offering a 2-3 bedroom home in North Jersey. We have also been on Craigs list and always get the same scam replies... all the same, word for word - 'I have expensive furnishings.... Click here for yout free credit report' No mention of an actual real person, a possible viewing or an offering of a telehone number...

So the search continues... Dos anyone else have any good ideas??? We have a month to find somewhere and time is ticking fast!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

A Craigslist story: A guy I know personally moved into a new house across town last year and listed his previous house with a realtor. She called him, furious that he had also listed his house for rent on Craigslist, when she was trying to sell it for him. She had somehow seen the listing with pictures, description and at a very reasonable price. A scammer had taken the information from the realtor website apparently. I wrote an email expressing interest in renting the house and having a viewing. I got a very detailed reply. They were currently working as missionaries in England...yada yada yada...but the keys and agreement would be provided by.....you get the idea. They included a phone number. The Houston police would do nothing about it because nobody's money had actually be taken by fraud before it was discovered and reported to Craigslist to remove the listing.

Be very careful.

Edited January 31, 2010 by Nich-Nick

[SapphireDreams 71]

We managed to find an apartment in NYC without paying a realtor's fee. We just searched ads on Craigslist and only looked in the "no-fee" section.

[Ricky+Vanessa 43]

I know this is basic but have you tried http://www.apartmentfinder.com/New-Jersey? There's another site but I can't remember. Most of the places (to my knowledge) are apartment complexes so you can approach them directly. It's worth a look I guess.

I know that over the years I've used this site and the other one I can't think of right now when Ricky has been looking for an apartment. And believe me he's lived in three different complexes since he's moved back to ATL. We have a beautiful house now thanks to his hard work (YAY us).

[Darnell 8,478]

MOST apartment finders (not realtors) will match you up based on what you want, either at full retail OR a 'discount' for the first 6 months - but the fee for 'finding' is paid by the apartment complex (to the apartment finder ) not paid by the rentee.

If money is truly a concern - I suggest you settle in a university town, taking over the lease of a grad student in a house, who just graduated and needs to move immediately. lets see - thats a lot of data - let me break it down?

--university town - lease prices on older houses are less, usually.

--take over a lease -- someone has a need to move, and doesn't want to break their lease, but the landlord allows for someone else to 'take over' the lease, till the end of the term of the lease. after that, the lease can be renegotiated.

--grad student - someone in a MS or phD program, who is graduating in May, and has to leave town immediately.

Craigslist is a good place , you betcha, with some 'usual' caveats.

You can also find housing via the student housing office at a uni, even if yer not a student there.

Russ might have good luck through a church, actually - to contact members there , during Sunday School or an evening mixer event, inquire.

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

Thanks for your advice everyone, but after much searching we have finally found a house! Yaaaaay! Its wonderful and we did it all without those pesky blood sucking realtors!

I just wanted to recommend the only place that I found to be legit and really helpful - www.sublet.com. Its basically like craigslist where landlords directly list their apartments or houses available to rent and they either pay a small fee to Sublet for allowing tenants access to their contact details, or they choose whether the tenant should pay the fee. So unsuprisingly, many landlords expect you to pay the fee. But we contacted a few people and every single one appeared to be genuine... none of this 'give us your credit report upfront' rubbish...

Anyway we paid about $40 and found our house!!! A lovely Polish couple own a few properties down in Soth Amboy in NJ and had a 2 bedroom split family house for us. They are very fond of dogs (perfect for our labrador, Honey) and it was only $1350 per month! Russ signed the lease two days ago and he'll be moving in on April 1st and then coming over to the UK to help me make the big move on May 31st.

So thanks for all your advice everyone, and if anyone else is struggling to find somewhere have a look on Sublets website