Finding a Place to Stay for New Immigrants

[LJ75 3]

We are a family of 4 expected to make the move in August, after I won DV lottery and we passed the interviews. My brother and his family live in Syracuse, NY, and this will be our first address (already got the tickets). 

 

Now, based on our research, we'd probably be better off elsewhere, and after looking at various options and criteria for months (COL indices, schools, job openings, but also weather, potential commute times etc), we believe that Charlotte NC would be a better place for us to start our new lives.

 

The thing is, we don't have anyone in Charlotte, and we'd practically be on our own from the day we land (from Syracuse, sometime in August / beg Septemer). I am hoping that my brother could possibly help with the credit card, being a guarantor for the property etc, but we need to look at the alternative in case he (declines).

 

So, the tentative plan is to get as much done as possible online even before we get there, then get AirBnB for a week or so if we need to, and then get a 3/6 month rental in a good area (main factor being public schools quality - middle and high). 

 

It'd be great if we could get your experience about finding a place;

 

• what was your approach
• what were you looking at
• how did you get to know about it
• how were the landlords and your experiences with them
• how did you (and they) go about your lack of credit history
• what were the terms you eventually agreed on
• what would you do differently if you were to do it again

[EmilyW 1,437]

We were in your exact position last year moving to Charlotte.

 

We opted for an apartment with Weinstein Properties because they were more immigrant friendly in that the lack of credit history etc didn't hurt us with them. Other companies just ignored us because we were too hard work.

 

With Weinstein, I contacted them and they helped me through the application process.  My brother acted as a guarantor for us.  And we proposed paying our lease in advance to offset the fact that we were a high risk for them.

 

They are upfront about month to month rental costs so you don't have to do any negotiation with them.

 

For us, it was a good experience.  The apartments were nice - if a little dated - and it was a soft place to land when we first got to Charlotte.  

[LJ75 3]

1 hour ago, EmilyW said:

We were in your exact position last year moving to Charlotte.

 

We opted for an apartment with Weinstein Properties because they were more immigrant friendly in that the lack of credit history etc didn't hurt us with them. Other companies just ignored us because we were too hard work.

 

With Weinstein, I contacted them and they helped me through the application process.  My brother acted as a guarantor for us.  And we proposed paying our lease in advance to offset the fact that we were a high risk for them.

 

They are upfront about month to month rental costs so you don't have to do any negotiation with them.

 

For us, it was a good experience.  The apartments were nice - if a little dated - and it was a soft place to land when we first got to Charlotte.  

Thanks. We don't mind paying in advance as long as the place is OK and everything is legit. We'l contact them and see if we can get somewhere. I am not clear though on why your brother needed to act as a guarantor if you paid your lease in advance - shouldn't it be one or the other?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  It is not only move in they are worried about but that you will move out when your lease is up and that you will not trash the place.  If you are new to the US you have no credit or job history here so they want someone else to sue if you refuse to move or leave openings in the wall that weren't there when you moved in.  ( not that you would but as a land lord I know how terrible some seemingly nice people can be )   

[EmilyW 1,437]

It wasn't a matter of one of the other.  It was a matter of proving to the company - in the absence of a credit history in the US - that we weren't a risk and that we had options.  My brother was happy to go on the lease but we were also happy to pay in advance to prove we had the cash.  

[mallafri76 1,012]

When I immigrated to the US, I leased an apartment in Texas while still living in Sweden. I went off Google reviews to find a good place. I then had to send them bank statements showing I had at least three times the rent in assets. This was also with Weinstein Properties. They were great and very open to working with new immigrants. 😊

[LJ75 3]

There are some great properties, so we'll see what's feasible. 

 

In some cases, there is an application fee just to get on the waiting list, and I am not sure I'd be OK with that - really not clear what do I get in return for that fee.

 

Also, did they come furnished, semi-furnished or what? 

[EmilyW 1,437]

An application fee is just par for the course, alot of the time.  We own a rental here and, when applicants submitted their application, we asked them to pay for a background check.

 

The complex we were in, the fridge, microwave, oven, stove, washer and driver was included. The windows also all had blinds. You will have to buy the rest.