I just finished working last year with a client who had a cat. This person was young and single, and had a little baggage in the form of a cat. At first, he was looking for a home to purchase, but due to location uncertainty with work, decided to rent instead.
First, we had real trouble finding landlords who would allow pets. I would say that only about 20-30% of the available properties listed pets as allowable.
From the landlord's side, most of these investors and owners aren't anti-pet, but they are anti no-profit. A single animal, if it's the kind that is not trained, or is old and incontinent, can cause easily $5,000 to $10,000 dollars in damage, even if it's only the fact that the smell will not come out of the house. A months' rent in damage deposit just won't cover the costs of getting the home back into shape to rent again or to sell.
So, here's my advice if you are just out of college. DON'T GET A PET ! First of all, you need to be flexible with your finances in the early part of your working career. Second, it obviously limits your opportunities for rental, which could hinder your career if you need to be in an area where you can network with other young professionals. Third, it can hurt your dating life. A lot more people than you might think are allergic to animals. I'm just saying...
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