Renting your first place?

[Lindsey]

I'm needing to figure out a living situation.. My boyfriend and I are in college, he lives 9 hours away, and we talked about spending summer break together since spending winter break apart isn't working out for us (and summer will be 3x as long). We have a problem. He can't come home with me because my parents' house is small and I don't have a bedroom. And we're not sure if his parents will let him bring me home.

So, I ask you this, kind people of Life Advice: How possible is it to rent an apartment or something as fairly inexperienced-with-life college students?

I looked at places in the area, we can get a place for $300/month if we're really lucky, or $450 if we're realistic. If I get my old job back at the pet store, which I've asked about and am guaranteed, I can make $150 a week after taxes, and I'll get a second job -- all the apts here are really close to the business district so I have tons of places where I can wait tables. $150 a week adds up to $600 a month, even more if I get that second job. He'd pay at least some portion of living expenses/rent, just unsure yet how much til he gets a job. So monetarily I'm sure we can afford it, as our only expenses will be food, phone bill and possibly internet. Neither of us has a car so no gas or insurance to account for.

However, we're 18 and 19 respectively. We'll be just out of our freshman year at college. We have no credit and no past rentals for references. I can't get my parents to rent a place for me. I'm not sure whether he can get his parents to help. If we end up doing this totally on our own, what should we be prepared for? Is it hard to rent a place with no real history, especially if we're only renting for a summer/3 months? How much of a deposit should we expect to make? If it helps, this is a college town so we'd be aiming for places that were rented to students over the semester and are clearing out for break.

Anyone have advice, personal experience, alternate solutions, ideas?

[Mytical]

You might want to see if your area has a 'income adjusted' rent area. I know here in the city I live in there are two, and my cousin lives in another many miles away. He pays $5 a month (no lie), because of their income. Not sure what they are called, or what the qualifications are..but if you have a government office nearby they can probably help you learn about it. They do give preferences to handicapped, veterans, people with kids, etc. Just keep in mind the more you make the more you will have to pay, and they have a cut off point where you will have to find someplace else if you make over a certain amount.

[Jester]

So, I ask you this, kind people of Life Advice: How possible is it to rent an apartment or something as fairly inexperienced-with-life college students?

Very possible. If you are both students, I would assume you live in or near a college town, and thus there are going to be places that are quite used to renting to students. Some will be willing to do the 3 month thing. Ask around.

I looked at places in the area, we can get a place for $300/month if we're really lucky, or $450 if we're realistic.

Look for whatever you can get, but until you have it nailed down, budget for the higher one. Gives you more options. And then, if you get something cheaper, bonus!

But make sure you examine any place thoroughly. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's good. There are some real shitholes out there.

If I get my old job back at the pet store, which I've asked about and am guaranteed, I can make $150 a week after taxes, and I'll get a second job -- all the apts here are really close to the business district so I have tons of places where I can wait tables. $150 a week adds up to $600 a month, even more if I get that second job. He'd pay at least some portion of living expenses/rent, just unsure yet how much til he gets a job. So monetarily I'm sure we can afford it....

I see a lot of ifs, maybes, and future possibilities. Unfortunately, you can neither make a realistic budget nor pay rent or bills with ifs, maybes, or future possibilities. I STRONGLY suggest you get the job situations taken care of BEFORE you get the accommodations. Also, and I can't stress this enough, the rent and the bills should be split 50/50. You're both students, you'll both be working, there is no reason why either one of you should shoulder more of the burden than the other.

Also, even if you don't agree with my 50/50 thing (and I think you're nuts if you don't go this route, but whatever), make sure you and your boyfriend agree BEFORE you move in what the division of things will be--not just bills, but chores and labor. For example, I love cooking but hate doing the dishes. Some people would be willing to do the dishes if they didn't have to cook....some people would not. Maybe he takes out the trash and you take care of the paperwork, i.e. getting the rent and bills paid on time to the appropriate people. Etc., etc. More relationships, both romantic and simply domicile-sharing, have been ruined by going in blind without any clearcut rules, than almost anything else.

...as our only expenses will be food, phone bill and possibly internet.

And electric. I don't know about your area, but in mine, most places do not include utilities. And electric is almost always the biggest expense. Some places may also charge you for water, sewer, and or trash removal. (My roommates and I pay electric, water, and cable/internet, for example.)

However, we're 18 and 19 respectively.

We have no credit and no past rentals for references.

Which is why it's useful to rent from places that are used to dealing with such people, i.e., young college students. It is very possible that you may have to pay a slightly higher deposit than more established people, and/or that you may need someone to co-sign for your apartment. Your or his parents may or may not be willing to do this--only you know that.

However, you do have a source of references that you are overlooking: past or current employers. While they have not rented to you, if they are willing to give you a good reference, it shows the prospective landlord that at least someone out there thinks you are responsible adults.

I can't stress enough how important I think it is that you guys lay down the groundwork ahead of time, and that you split the rent and bills 50/50. As you said, you are 18 and 19, so do not have that much experience in such things. Actually none, if I recall your post correctly. I am 40, and have been living away from my parents and with roommates since I was 18 (1988), as have most of my friends, so I have experienced and observed innumerable roommate situations, both good and bad, great and awful. I dare say I know a thing or two about this, having had both great roommates and ones that were memorable in all the wrong ways.

[Seshat]

You'll have a ton of expenses you haven't thought of.

Furniture.
Kitchenware.
Whitegoods.
Manchester.
Cleaning supplies.

Where are you going to get them - and what will you do with them when you're done?

[Lindsey]

You might want to see if your area has a 'income adjusted' rent area. I know here in the city I live in there are two, and my cousin lives in another many miles away. He pays $5 a month (no lie), because of their income. Not sure what they are called, or what the qualifications are..but if you have a government office nearby they can probably help you learn about it. They do give preferences to handicapped, veterans, people with kids, etc. Just keep in mind the more you make the more you will have to pay, and they have a cut off point where you will have to find someplace else if you make over a certain amount.

Thanks, I appreciate that! I'll look into it and see if there's something similar around.

I STRONGLY suggest you get the job situations taken care of BEFORE you get the accommodations. Also, and I can't stress this enough, the rent and the bills should be split 50/50. You're both students, you'll both be working, there is no reason why either one of you should shoulder more of the burden than the other.

Also, even if you don't agree with my 50/50 thing (and I think you're nuts if you don't go this route, but whatever), make sure you and your boyfriend agree BEFORE you move in what the division of things will be--not just bills, but chores and labor.

Duly noted. They're currently "ifs" just because we literally talked about this for the first time a couple days ago. I've talked to my previous boss and she promised I can have my job back over the summer, so that's at least one income accounted for. I plan on job hunting as soon as we're back on campus for a second job, and he has a job on campus so he can save money while he looks for a summer job. We'll definitely have our incomes squared away before we secure a place to live.

And we agree about chores and everything - we already live together at the dorms so we're used to helping each other with little things, and are willing to split the big things.

And electric. I don't know about your area, but in mine, most places do not include utilities. And electric is almost always the biggest expense. Some places may also charge you for water, sewer, and or trash removal. (My roommates and I pay electric, water, and cable/internet, for example.)

You'll have a ton of expenses you haven't thought of.

Furniture.
Kitchenware.
Whitegoods.
Manchester.
Cleaning supplies.

Where are you going to get them - and what will you do with them when you're done?

The more high end places we're looking at are furnished, albeit in a basic fashion, and include utilities, since they are student housing. We'll still need cookware and cleaning supplies, but that's relatively cheap, we'll buy them at some point this semester. My family lives nearby so I can store everything at their house after we move out of the apartment.

Which is why it's useful to rent from places that are used to dealing with such people, i.e., young college students. It is very possible that you may have to pay a slightly higher deposit than more established people, and/or that you may need someone to co-sign for your apartment. Your or his parents may or may not be willing to do this--only you know that.

However, you do have a source of references that you are overlooking: past or current employers. While they have not rented to you, if they are willing to give you a good reference, it shows the prospective landlord that at least someone out there thinks you are responsible adults.

Thanks for the perspective.. I think that's all do-able, and we're both in good standing with our employers from before college so I'm sure that will be one reference we can secure. We'll have to talk about the co-signing, I'm not sure about that - but my parents have co-signed loans for me, so it's entirely possible they'd be willing to help.

Thanks for the perspectives so far everyone!

[Jester]

Manchester.

Manchester?

Okay, I give up....what's Manchester? Other than a city in England, of course.

They're currently "ifs" just because we literally talked about this for the first time a couple days ago. I've talked to my previous boss and she promised I can have my job back over the summer, so that's at least one income accounted for. I plan on job hunting as soon as we're back on campus for a second job, and he has a job on campus so he can save money while he looks for a summer job. We'll definitely have our incomes squared away before we secure a place to live.

Good to see. Sounds like you're approaching this the right way so far.

The more high end places we're looking at are furnished, albeit in a basic fashion, and include utilities, since they are student housing.

Good to hear....but you still should be planning for the possibility that you don't get one of the high end places in question, and that utilities may factor into the equation. I hope for your sake that you DO get one of these places, but in all situations in life, not just this, it's good to plan for all possible contingencies.

We'll have to talk about the co-signing, I'm not sure about that - but my parents have co-signed loans for me, so it's entirely possible they'd be willing to help.

Suggestion: approach this in the "if then" mode. I.e., "Mom, Dad, IF these places need a co-signer for us to live there, would you be willing to do it?" Or go apartment-hunting first, find out if you and your boy will be able to sign on your own, and if not, then ask your parents. Whatever you do, DON'T be the ones to suggest to prospective landlords the idea of a parental co-signing. They will always say yes, to cover their own asses. Go in with the idea of it's just you and the boy, and if the landlords suggest a co-signing situation, say that you will see if it's possible. Just like any other sales situation (and don't be mistaken, that is just what this is), never show all your cards, and always offer less than you are actually willing to give.

[trailerparkmedic]

Can you REALLY find a place for 3 months? Short term leases are difficult to find and more expensive (per month) than year long leases. Maybe it's time to jump from dorm to apartment and get a year long lease.

Don't get a cheap place just because it's cheap. Make sure you are in a safe area, with a decently maintained apartment.

[blas]

Many places have month to month leases, but I've never done any research to see if they are easier to handle than yearly leases.

If it helps you any, I got my first place at 19 (granted I had a roommate who had already moved in) and I had no previous renting history and was approved no problem. You gotta start somewhere.

I don't know what they go by if you have no rental history, I am assuming they just used my roommate's history, but they also did a background check on me and that was good.

[AdminAssistant]

Don't get a cheap place just because it's cheap. Make sure you are in a safe area, with a decently maintained apartment.

THIS.

My concern with HUD (aka government housing) is that it tends to be in the not-so-nice part of town. I'm sure that there are exceptions, but if you go that route, I would ask many, many questions about crime rates and who your neighbors will be.

I live in a college town, and from experience I can tell you that you need to start looking *now*. The best places go very quickly here. Which is a reminder that I need to start to looking. But anyway. I do know of some complexes around here that do 6-month leases, but I've not heard of many month-by-month leases.

Honestly, your best bet would probably be to sublet a room or apartment. If it's a college town, there may be people who want to keep the apartment, but also go back home or go elsewhere to work for a few months. A lot of my friends in KC worked summer stock, which meant that they were out of town for the whole summer and needed someone to watch their place, pay rent, feed pets and plants, etc.

[Jester]

Can you REALLY find a place for 3 months? Short term leases are difficult to find and more expensive (per month) than year long leases.

Easier than you might think in college towns. Especially when so many students leave for the summer months and go home. I assume the OP is looking for a place for her and her boy for the summer. If not, that may be more difficult, but a lot of places will still do month to month.

Also, in addition to apartment complexes, as has been said, consider renting a room in a house or apartment. A good place to start for this is the school's union....many places have bulletin boards for such things. Although it's been so long since I've been in school, such things may be done electronically now. Check with your school or the union about this.

[Seshat]

Manchester? Okay, I give up....what's Manchester? Other than a city in England, of course

Generic term for fabric stuff: sheets, towels, teatowels, rugs, blankets, etc.

[fireheart]

Generic term for fabric stuff: sheets, towels, teatowels, rugs, blankets, etc.

Or in other words, what the non-Aussies refer to as linen.

why yes, we do speak another language now don't we

There's actually shop labelled "Manchester and More" somewhere in my state....

[Amethyst Hunter]

Furniture. Kitchenware.

Goodwill/thrift stores! You can find some AMAZING stuff in incredibly good condition, especially if these stores are located in an affluent area.

I have a GORGEOUS set of like-new dinner plates in rainbow colors (think Fiestaware - these aren't, but they're similar in appearance) that I found at a Goodwill in November. I paid less than $30 for all of these plates; whoever originally owned them probably paid AT LEAST $20 PER PLATE, they're of that good a quality. There are 8 of these things...grab yer calculator and get crackin'.

[Jester]

Or in other words, what we Aussies refer to as linen.

why yes, we do speak another language now don't we

Actually, that's pretty much what we call those items here in the U.S.: linen.

[PepperElf]

But make sure you examine any place thoroughly. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's good. There are some real shitholes out there.

yeah the area and neighbors can add to that as well.

i would recommend, before you pick any apartment see if they have a rating at www.apartmentratings.com and check out the area to see if it's high crime.

you also might want to consider an apartment where you rent a room in a house. though be aware of who the housemates are and make sure you can lock your room.