Getting Started - How To Prepare Your Housing Search

Finding an apartment in the U.S.A. is relatively easy, but in large cities can be time consuming and nerve racking for one. Whatever you do, give yourself plenty of time to find exactly what your looking for.

It is best to start the apartment search from your country or you can plan to set some time once you arrive. If you come with your family, it may be more convenient for them to come when you find adequate housing. If you come alone it is best that you stay in a hotel, with friends or with family.

Most importantly for not loosing time is to have a clear idea of what you are looking for in an apartment. It is best to start by familiarizing yourself with the surroundings area by walking up and asking people about the existing community.

Temporary Housing

Once you get to the U.S., you may need temporary accommodation until you find something definitive. Please note that U.S. hotels can be expensive, especially in big cities, if you can't afford it go to a motel. These are usually found on the outskirts of town and provide accommodation in clean rooms at reasonable prices. Some hotels, apartments and pensions also offer long term accommodation and often have lower tariffs/rates for weeks or months.

Preparing Your Housing Search

There are many options when looking for housing but as always, the more you're willing to pay, for example, an agency, the easier it the search will be.

In the U.S., to rent or buy a home you ask for a copy of your credit history (credit report). It's a good idea to understand the basis of credit information, know your rights and know what is on your credit history so you can answer the questions that the owner may have regarding your credit history.

Each owner has their own way of evaluating the credit history. The main objective is to establish whether you are reliable from a financial standpoint. The owner wants to make sure they can trust you to pay your rent when due. If you have a bad credit record, you could attach a letter with your application explaining why these are on your record.

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Housing/Apartment Classifieds - A Lot Of Choices = A Lot Of Competition