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Tips For Renting A Home In Santa Clarita

While homeownership is still very popular in Santa Clarita, with over 68% of people living in homes they have bought, renting might well be a better option for you. During 2020, everything has changed, including the ways people are choosing to settle down.

In the climate 2020 has created, of financial as well as social uncertainty, tying yourself to a mortgage may not be the best idea. This is especially true if you would have to use up much of your savings on a downpayment. No matter how secure your job seems, it doesn’t have to take a global pandemic to change that. Savings are more important than ever.

Furthermore, being able to downsize or move to accommodate new circumstances may be important as well. You can do that when renting, but will struggle as a homeowner to find a buyer in troubled times.

If you’re planning on renting a home in Santa Clarita, take the following tips into mind.

Negotiate the terms

Housing in Santa Clarita (both renting and buying) is significantly more expensive than the national average. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept paying more for less. When going into a rental agreement, both parties need to be happy with the terms.

Try negotiating the price down. With COVID-19 still hanging around, you might get a bargain. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

If they won’t negotiate down, ask to include provisions that keep them from raising rent too much year on year. Most people neglect to do this, and end up having to move the moment the landlord realizes they could be charging more. They might not agree to these terms but, again, if you don’t ask you will never know.

Get renters insurance

Homeowners who need a mortgage on their home must also get a homeowners insurance policy covering  the house itself and their possessions. Renters however, often neglect to insure anything. While the landlord will have insurance, you and your stuff won’t be covered. . If disaster strikes, you can be left with nothing.

The good news is that renters insurance is readily available and fairly affordable. Homeowners can get great insurance from Lemonade, and they offer excellent renters insurance as well. In addition to insuring your possessions, renters insurance may pay for a place to stay if the home you’re renting becomes unlivable.

Personal liability cover can also be an important inclusion in renters insurance, especially in the case a homeowner claims against you if you cause damage to their property.

Consider a furnished place

Everyone wants the interior of their home to reflect their own preferences. This is why renting a furnished place often seems like a last resort. However, there may be advantages to renting a furnished apartment or house.

If you plan on staying in a place for a limited period of time – a year or two at most – buying furniture may be a big mistake. You’ll get furniture that suits your current space, but might not work at all in your next place. Then, trying to sell the furniture in order to buy new items is going to be an exercise in disappointment as you let pieces go for half their retail price.

Monthly rent for a furnished place is obviously more expensive, but it can save you money long-term.

Prioritize access to the outdoors

If you’re renting an apartment, chances are you’ve been looking at places with no outdoor space  with no garden of your own. However, one of the lessons 2020 has taught us is that access to the outdoors can keep you sane.

This isn’t to say you need to rent a place that has a garden. That may not be a possibility for you. But try and find a place where the apartment block itself has an outdoor space. Alternatively, find an apartment with a balcony that’s big enough to actually use.

It will be particularly important if you’re not going back into the office much even once the pandemic is under control.

Renting in Santa Clarita may be your best option in 2021 so keep these tips in mind to make sure you get the best living space possible.


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Tips For Renting A Home In Santa Clarita

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