renting: Pretty Sneaky Sis
- 02/08/08 01:30 AM
When is a rent increase, not an increase? When you call it something else. At least that's how ApartmentRatings.com sees it based on reviews of apartments submitted by over 600,000 renters. Some of what ApartmentRatings.com describes as "unscrupulous landlords" are finding ways to make money off their tenants without officially hiking rents. Some charges seem reasonable. You be the judge on the others. Here are some of the things landlords are doing nationwide: Parking. Charge $20 or more for parking an additional car. Fees for guests. Charge $5 for a one-day parking pass for a guest. If a guest stays more than three days, tack … (6 comments)
renting: The Price of Ownership
- 02/06/08 02:13 PM
A useful way to look at the total cost of housing is to evaluate the monthly cost of ownership. An ownership cost is any expenditure required for the possession of property. A working definition is important because there are many hidden or forgotten costs people overlook. These costs are borne by owners and not by renters. There are 7 costs to owning a house. Although some of these costs are not paid on a monthly basis, they can be evaluated on a monthly basis with simple math. These costs are: Mortgage PaymentProperty TaxesHomeowners InsurancePrivate Mortgage InsuranceSpecial Taxes and LeviesHomeowners Association Dues or … (1 comments)
renting: You think renting is the way?
- 02/06/08 01:10 PM
Think it's hard affording a home here? Pity the poor renter. Last year a Northern Virginia worker needed to make $24.73 an hour ($51,438.40 a year) to afford the average $1,286 fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment, says the non-profit Center for Housing Policy in Washington, D.C. That is out of reach for most of the service industry workers - the burger flippers, hotel workers and sales clerks - that keep the DC/VA/MD economy humming. Even an entry-level worker in a white collar job might have trouble making that much. To be fair, paychecks of sales clerks and service workers fell short … (4 comments)
When is a rent increase, not an increase? When you call it something else.
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