Finding an Apartment
Page 2
Knowing What You Can Spend
You should spend no more than 25 to 30 percent of your monthly gross income (your income before taxes are deducted) for rent. So if you're making $30,000 a year ($2,500 a month), you shouldn't be paying more than $700 a month for your rent, using the 28 percent calculation. The following table will help you figure out approximately how much you should be spending for rent.
| Annual Income* | Annual Housing Cost | Monthly Housing Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $ 20,000 | $ 5,600 | $ 466.67 |
| 25,000 | 7,000 | 583.33 |
| 30,000 | 8,400 | 700.00 |
| 35,000 | 9,800 | 816.67 |
| 40,000 | 11,200 | 933.33 |
| 45,000 | 12,600 | 1,050.00 |
| 50,000 | 14,000 | 1,166.67 |
| 60,000 | 16,800 | 1,400.00 |
| 70,000 | 19,600 | 1,633.33 |
| 80,000 | 22,400 | 1,866.67 |
| 90,000 | 25,200 | 2,100.00 |
| 100,000 | 28,000 | 2,333.33 |
*Gross Income
Another thing to keep in mind is that you're free to negotiate with an owner concerning the rent he or she is charging. You'll probably be more successful trying this with a private rental, as opposed to an apartment complex where rents are established. If you've found a place you like that's a little out of your price range, go ahead and ask the landlord to drop the rent by $25 or $50 a month. Depending on the rental market in the area, you may or may not get the results you want. Saving $50 a month in rent adds up to $600 a year. It's worth asking about, don't you think?
Up-Front Costs
Show Me the Money
A security deposit is the amount of money you pay to the landlord to protect against damages that occur to the apartment while you're renting it. He or she should give you an itemized list of deductions to your security deposit. If you fulfill the terms of your lease and leave your apartment in good repair, your money should be refunded.
Money Pit
If you find out your prospective roommate smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and likes to have wild parties every weekend, and you can't stand smoke and like to relax with a good book on a Saturday night, call off the deal before it's made. If you sign a lease, you're legally obligated and will be held financially responsible for your share of expenses.
When you find an apartment you can afford, it's not quite as easy as handing over your first month's rent and moving in. Your landlord also may require the following:
- An extra month's rent (usually used to cover your last month)
- A security deposit equivalent to one or two months' rent
So if you find an apartment for $700 a month, you could end up having to pay out nearly $3,000 before you even move in.
The extra month's rent and your security deposit should be kept in an escrow account, which is an account specified for the purpose of holding your money until it is either used or returned to you. Some states, but not all, require that security deposits be kept in interest-bearing accounts for the tenant.
All that up-front money can be pretty discouraging news, to be sure, and it is one reason Gen Xers are hanging out longer with Mom and Dad. It's also why many people choose to rent with another person or a group of people.