Renting Rant
So I’ve been trying to put as much money aside to savings to be able to afford a place to rent. My significant other and I are basically paycheck to paycheck, so we save very little each month. We have been trying very hard to find a family friendly rental for us and our 4 year old. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to find anything under 2k for a 2 bedroom.
Now here is my rant. Not only are so many of these rentals ridiculously overpriced, but some of these applications fees and extra costs???? Anything over $50 for an application fee just doesn’t sit right with me. I finally found an apartment in a safe area going for roughly 1,500 and was so excited! Except here are the extra fees.:
• $75 Application Fee Per Applicant
• $500 Pet Deposit per cat
• $85 One time Fee per cat
Between 2 adults and 2 cats… we would be paying $150 just to apply and $1,170 just to move our 2 elderly cats in. With first months rent and security deposit, all together would be $4,170. Not even taking into consideration costs of moving our stuff 40+ min away (we have to leave our area, we have been out priced), and installing utilities.
Our pay has not increased at the same pace as rentals have. Living paycheck to paycheck while renting makes it so challenging to save accordingly, especially when emergencies happen. Hospital bill? Car breaks down? I’m exhausted. We’re in our mid-late twenties and feel zero hope to ever afford to save enough to own a home. “Have more kids” “There is a birthing crises!” “Why are so many couples not having kids anymore?” Save it. We’re lacking basic, affordable starter homes. Insurance and childcare costs are beating us bloody. Maybe I’m just being pessimistic as I’m so tired, but fucking fuck.
ANY WAYS…. Is $75 applications normal in your guys area? I’m seeing anywhere between $30- $100.