California’s population is at its lowest growth rate in over a century. The Los Angeles Times reports, “From July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, California saw a net gain of only 21,200 new residents — a 0.05% growth rate not seen since 1900.” ((Hayley Smith, Hailey Branson-Potts, “COVID-19 drives California population growth to record lows,” LA Times, Dec.

As you decide where you want to live, you might consider renting a house as an option. This choice involves less of a commitment than buying a home as well as less of an upfront financial obligation. But the process of renting a home can also have some significant disadvantages, including the following:

You don’t build up any equity.

COVID-19 has created unprecedented interruptions -- both economic and personal -- for people around the world. In the United States, the wide variety of state-government responses and timelines for reopening have created an atmosphere that is ripe for abuse by unscrupulous people.

Communication is vital in the real estate industry, especially when marketing, showing and closing a rental property. Leasing agents and renters reach out to each other to clarify income history, employment details, and reference checks. Communication becomes essential during the tenant screening process, as landlords review potential renters’ backgrounds to make the best leasing decision.

No matter if you rent or own your property, everyone has an expectation that they’ll feel comfortable when they’re in their own home. Of course, what makes someone feel truly “at home” is dependent on the person—some feel at home when they can get creative in the kitchen, others just need a place where they can plop down and watch Netflix.

Believe it or not, there is a difference between a pet, service animal, and an emotional support animal. According to the Fair Housing Act, landlords are required to make the appropriate accommodations to tenants who require “service and emotional support animals” to function on a day-to-day basis.

Many times, a landlord or property manager will require a co-signer for someone with poor or little to no credit history. While your first instinct may be to help a friend or family member in need, it is important to understand what is at stake when you co-sign for a property.

Between millions of listings, agents, and applications, renting a property can be a daunting task. If you don’t follow a process, or if you are new to the rental landscape, you can easily get lost and overwhelmed. However, simple things like doing a little research or using an online rental application with tenant verification built-in can make finding a new apartment significantly easier.

When you are looking to rent an apartment, chances are you will either go through a property management company or a real estate agent. But what are the differences between the two? What benefits do each provide? Because they work in similar fields and often perform similar tasks (e.g. tenant verification and collecting online rental applications), it is easy to get a property management group confused with Realtors.

Between the widespread scams, nightmarish landlords, and sketchy first meetings, Craigslist has no place in the current apartment rental market. As someone who has used the service as both a renter and landlord on numerous occasions, I can personally attest to the downsides of the platform.

Many renters find themselves in a situation where they have an extra room. Maybe you had a roommate move out, or maybe you’ll temporarily be living in a different location due to travel or vacation. Either way, you still have a few months left on your lease to pay for whether you live there or not.

Any time you are faced with moving to a new home, whether it is across the country or to a neighboring city, planning the transition can feel overwhelming. This is around the time you realize how much stuff you actually own. Take some time to think and you will realize how little you actually need in everyday life.