I am planning on moving out for the first time to a one or two bedroom apartment or condo in southern California. Some questions I have are how much will utilities start up and monthly cost be? How can I determine how much rent I can afford? Any and all other advice will be helpful too. Thank you
2007-01-23 12:27:34 · 5 answers · asked by The Not-Know It All 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
first you need to research the prices, locations, and also the rooms.. so you can find the most suitable for you...
to determine which one you can afford of course you need to consider your income.. my opinion is the highest price you can achieve is 1/3 of your income.. so you still can save money and also use it for your daily needs, shopping, having funs or vacations, etc..
2007-01-23 13:11:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I help people find rentals in Irvine,CA and surrounding areas. Your utilities should be around $200-300 a month (some require deposites as well, like $100 for electricity).Your rent should be 50% or less of your monthly take home pay. Video tape the place before you move in and after you move out and make sure you do a walk through with the owner during those two periods as well.
Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you need additional information.
Regards
2007-01-23 12:36:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read your lease thoroughly and keep a copy (you will eventually want to move out and will need to refer to it). Take pictures of the place before you clean it or move any items into the place. (That way when you move out, you can prove that you left it in the same condition you got it. The landlord may try to say you put a stain in the carpet and keep your deposit.) I don't live in CA, so I'm not sure how much your utilities will run. You can ask some of your friends that have a same sized place to give you an idea. Depending on what the utilities are paid with rent, you will have phone, cable, water, trash disposal, internet, electricity, renter's insurance, and groceries.
2007-01-23 12:34:30 · answer #3 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all.... Southern Cali is EXPENSIVE... so right off the bat I recommend getting a roommate...
Utilities vary on how the building is made, what floor you live on, etc... but a safe guess would $100-150
As far as determinig how much rent you can afford.... well, most apartment complexes require that you make 2 1/2 the cost of your rent.... so for example if your rent is $1000.00/month then you have to be making $2500.00/month in order to live there.
Good luck on your search.... if you do plan on looking for a roommate a great website is rent.com. you can search for roommates based on location.....
2007-01-23 12:35:16 · answer #4 · answered by Ali 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get renters insurance, it doesn't cost much
2007-01-23 12:35:48 · answer #5 · answered by slack action 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋