How are people getting housing?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I have been married for just over 2 years and have struggled financially since day 1. But we have managed to better our situation as far as earned salary. Unfortunately during our worst times our credit took a dive. Now we are at a point where we have paid off our collections and are waiting for our credit report to reflect that but in the meantime we can’t seem to get accepted to rent anywhere. We make more than enough for the places we have been applying. But due to our poor credit score nobody will take us. We are currently living with family but they are kicking us out so we need somewhere to go. We make too much for income restricted housing but we don’t make enough for most of the places that are safe to live in. Any advise?

[TheRealPepperPotts]

When my husband died, I found out that I had no credit because I was on his credit card account as an authorized user. He had fantastic credit because we paid it off every month, but I had nothing. I couldn't even qualify for a store card. What I did was take out a small, share-secured loan from my bank. I didn't spend it, I just used my money to pay myself back and it reflected on my credit enough to bring it up. I also got a secured credit card and once my credit was up enough, I qualified for a small store card. That varied my credit enough to demonstrate that I was a good borrower (I am debt-free, but we kinda have to play the game these days. Sorry, Dave Ramsey). Because of taking these steps, it took me about a year to correct the issue and I was able to purchase the home I was renting.

On the rental situation, go ahead and apply as soon as you can to whatever is available. Be first in line. Then, go in to the property manager or landlord's office. Make sure you look clean and polished. Explain your situation calmly and politely, and let them know you plan to (buy a house, pay off debt, etc.). Landlords hate finding new tenants and if you can convince them that you have a plan and are low-risk as far as drama, they may give you a chance.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

On the immediate housing need, I'd apply for a camp host job. That's what we did. Super easy and mostly fun. You get a free spot for an RV and sometimes a small stipend. Sometimes you'll have challenging campers but it's mostly low-key. The drawback is that one of you will have to be onsite and you won't get weekends off for the season. But it might get you by.

[electromagnetic]

I think you may have to focus on building your credit score first. Maybe apply for an insured card first.

Insured: the cards that utilize your own money as credit and when you’ve built enough credit to get a bank version, you can close it and claim your monies back.

I’m not sure about where you live but you can also look into private landlords that are willing to take you guys in.

[monorprise]

Tough situation when you got bad credit as it means nobody really trust you to pay your bills as such you have to go with people who have trust issues until you prove you're good for the money.

Depending upon where you live the other option is to move to a place with better housing options. In the U. S. the Midwest has some of the best housing options due to general population decline.

if that is not an option you really do have to sign a renters agreement with whom ever you can get. If your parent can co-sign that might help you get into a better place.

[Unit1]

By You finding someone willing to provide you with a housing offer.

That's what i did. When i was a migrant in a dictatorship ruled region and looked for places to rent it was not uncommon to encounter actual xenophobes, that not only denied my request but also said things i thankfully Don't remember anymore.

Back in my homeland where i'm at there are more people than just me, that are applying for housing for rent. out of the other applicants My landlord has chosen me.

Buckle up.

[MzAsh]

Why not find a place for rent until your credit score improves?

[Mr_twoface]

Depending on where you are living, sometimes, you can talk to the landlord and agree to pay a downpayment of 2-3 months rent in security deposit since you have a low credit score. That's a form of guarantee for them that you will not abandon them and thereafter continue to paying your rent. Usually you will get your deposit back in full upon exit (if there aren't any damages) or can agree to pay the last remaining month or two from it.

As for finances and credit score. If you have various of credit cards, get rid of most of them until you've got one good one and possibly one debit card. I've also over the past two years used an monthly Excel sheet where I've put down every purchase into it based on various categories and hence over time been able to see where we've been able to cut corners and where our expenditure is too much. Maybe that is something you can also do.

[deus_ex_sisyphus]

You have an immediate housing need and lost your safety net living with your family. Either live out of a car, find roomates to rent from, or move into a less than ideal spot be it an ADU, sketchy neighborhood, boat, RV, or out of state house. It sucks, but those are generally your options.

People our age are getting into houses by assuming loans that were given when interest rates were between 1-3% and paying a premium or moving to an area with a cheaper cost of living out of state or out of country.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

There are also hostels, they often have people from other countries that want to travel the US inexpensively. Vacation rentals sometimes offer discounts for extended stays as well.

[deus_ex_sisyphus]

@TheRealPepperPotts You're right, Hostels would be a great temporary option to use, while evaluating other options. I just don't think it'd be cheaper or even more sustainable long term than alternatives

[TheRealPepperPotts]

Oh, I didn't mean it as a contradiction, just another idea. You made great suggestions and I was thinking the same thing!

[patois]

Pay an entire years rent in advance. You still end up with the same rent. The landlord is guaranteed to lease the property for a year. You build your credit/rental history. While you have no rent for the year, be responsible and save another year's rent. The following year they might even let you go month to month if you are good tenets... No body loses. It's pretty self explanatory.

[FuqUFggt]

I did this when I was kicked out at 17 for shaking up with my 23 year old student teacher. It worked out perfect because my year rent was up as I turned 18 and she found a new child to molest

[on_my_knees]

I'm from North Carolina, I don't know if that makes a difference, but when I met my first landlady, I had responded to an ad on Craigslist. She just said, you look like an honest person, sign this lease and pay the first month and last month upfront. That was just the way she was. There are people like that in the world who look at you in your eyes, not on a piece of paper. You can also negotiate your way out of the credit check, perhaps with a sizable upfront rent payment. People love the way money smells when you wave it in their face.

[Basement-Bum]

Have you noticed how similar the size is when you roll money across the length into a cylinder? It's about six inches long. And knows the word "inflation" too. Why don't people love it when I wave it in their face?

[Anonymous]

Private homeowners. Forget complexes, they're run by real estate companies-which have the guidelines you outlined that you don't meet. Plus, they're only interested in getting as many applications as possible, for the non refundable app fees. Private homeowners usually only care about 2 things. 1. That you've got proof of income. 2. That you're older/working, so it won't be a party house that gets trashed. Usually they'll be good with a sizable deposit and proof of income, and won't require rental history. They also don't give a shit about credit. If you can prove you've got a job, and how much monthly you make-and can pay that deposit ASAP? You're in. I've gotten em everywhere from South San Francisco to Iowa to Columbus Ohio like that.

[JacobJordan]

Find a place that doesn't do a credit check. A credit check is stupid because it is just a way to ensure you can pay it. If you have enough to pay it pay it. Other option if you have enough to do a down-payment on a house and can qualify for a loan do that instead rent is far worse

[Anonymous]

My friend did this through having God as her foundation. After this, everything went her way. Bills came down, mysterious credit was on her new home phone line, builders charged less and did jobs with extra for nothing. She pays over 50% less for all bills than others in almost identical situations and the Bank called her saying there was money in an account she didn't even know about.

Most people do all of this on their own strength and by relying on man. They have no idea...

[DrPepper12]

That's some grade A bullshit but Americans seem to tolerate it - especially the boomers who won't sell making more inventory and then saying "I do not want affordable housing in MY neighborhood". Fuckers. That's a tough one. Are there illegal basement apartments in your area?

[TheRealPepperPotts]

What's concerning to me is that the US allows foreign buyers that drive up the cost of housing because US real estate is "cheap" compared to many places. That money then floods the market, allowing homebuyers to bid higher and higher on housing that has historically had varied inventory pricing. In my state, housing has a minimum of 300K-400K. Doesn't matter if it's a dump or a nicer home, 600sqf or 1500 sqf, it's listed at 300K minimum. Add in higher interest rates and corporations now investing in single family homes on a large scale, and now young families cannot afford even an entry-level home to start their wealth-building journey. It's a huge problem.

[DrPepper12]

@TheRealPepperPotts I agree. A ticking demographic and financial time bomb.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

Yep.

[Massageman]

You can rebuild your credit score by (wisely) using certain brands of credit cards. Just be sure to pay it off IN FULL each month. You can do a search on line "rebuild credit scores" and you will get several cards and banks that do this. Find the ones that do NOT charge a "service fee" or "membership" to do so. I wish you well.

[Anonymous]

and that's how people become homeless. one reason: poor credit. no one will rent to them. stupid little things. you're going to have to have a talk with multiple landlords and see if someone will be willing to rent to you with bad credit. get a realtor. they will do the hard work. (you won't have to pay them, since you're renting and not buying).

[Alwayreckles93]

Lets be honest here EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET LOVES VICTORIAN HOMES. I am %100 sure all people love old house the texture. No one wants toove inside a boring brand new house much less in agated communities I am correct right?

[jennifer_bloom]

Maybe if you offer to pay more than what the landlords are asking, they will take a chance on you despite troubled credit.

[LiamJHayden]

Hidden secret: a lot of churches have lists of rentals by members. Even if you do not attend, you are far more likely to find someone who will accept first and last and not go through a credit check, which you are currently likely to fail.

[gemgem]

You could check into an extended stay hotel and live there until your credit improves. I know it isn't the ideal place to live, but at least it is something.

[D_Bonez_nutt]

If you voted for Biden then this is what you wanted. If not... I do feel bad for your situation.

[exitseven]

Years ago we worked hard , made sacrifices, saved our money and looked at a hundred houses in a dozen towns until we found one that was halfway decent the we could affordm

[Anonymous]

Just suck it up and you'll have to live in the hood or something. You don't have many options. Family kicking you out, you're definitely not getting housing so the option is live in the hood until you can afford to move to the suburbs. Logically this makes sense.

[jamesgoldman]

Seems like you'll have to wait until the credit changes but hey my AMEX card got cancelled last year and it's still listed as open on my credit report

[Jamie05rhs]

Unfortunately no place is face to live in anymore, due to Democrat policies. Just learn how to fight and buy several weapons.