Heck of a time finding a rental. Help! (Baltimore, Frederick: extended stay, apartments)

[Minier]

We're having a heck of a time finding a short term rental for a family of 4, a cat and a dog. Duh, right?!

We will be looking for homes to buy, but need to live somewhere (moving from NY) while we search. We don't want to rush the house search. But, boy, it's hard to find a short-term rental. I understand the reasons why people don't want to rent out short term. I've looked into some apartments complexes that do short-term, but most won't take the dog (either no dogs or no dogs his weight - 40lbs) or they have exorbitant fees for pets AND short-term rentals or they are in a not-so-nice part of town.

Soooooo, any suggestions? I'm a bit stumped

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Minier

Soooooo, any suggestions? I'm a bit stumped

Board the dog at a kennel, and visit him so he doesn't feel abandoned. Then find a rental for your family and the cat.

[LittleBlackDogs]

Where are you looking? I'd suggest that you contact the local animal shelter -- most keep a list of pet-friendly rentals. Also, I know you want short-term, but would your options increase if you just went ahead with a one-year lease?

[Minier]

Where are you looking?

Frederick, MD

would your options increase if you just went ahead with a one-year lease?

Yes, if I went for a one-year lease there would be a lot of options. But I'd have to potentially break the lease at some point once we found a permanent home to buy. It could take us a year, but it could also take us a few months. Any thoughts on that particular approach? Is this what most people actually do? because I'm starting to not understand how people transition from one owned home to another.

P.S. - the dog is a problem, but not the biggest issue. It's the "short-term" factor that has ended up being the biggest hurdle in finding a place. And kenneling the dog for months on end is not an option (and is really expensive!)

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Minier

Any thoughts on that particular approach? Is this what most people actually do? because I'm starting to not understand how people transition from one owned home to another.

One relative who has moved for jobs several times does it very efficiently. The husband went ahead and stayed in an extended stay place at the company expense. The wife researches potential places, and the husband looks at them after work. When the kids are through school, they narrow things down more and they spend two weekends with the whole family looking. (The dogs stay in a kennel.) Then they make a decision and make an offer. They have had to carry two mortgages for a few months, but they never had to rent a house for the whole family.

You might consider putting a time limit on your search to force a decision. If your family can't make a quick decision, commit yourself to renting for a whole year. (I am a landlord, and I certainly don't want to be stuck with a vacant house when somebody moves out in February in the middle of the school year.)

[goldenage1]

Another suggestion is to broaden your search to Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, where short-term leases are more common. On Craigslist I found 3 places In gaithersburg for a 2BR apt which accepts dogs.

[SunnyTXsmile]

Originally Posted by Minier

We're having a heck of a time finding a short term rental for a family of 4, a cat and a dog. Duh, right?!

We will be looking for homes to buy, but need to live somewhere (moving from NY) while we search. We don't want to rush the house search. But, boy, it's hard to find a short-term rental. I understand the reasons why people don't want to rent out short term. I've looked into some apartments complexes that do short-term, but most won't take the dog (either no dogs or no dogs his weight - 40lbs) or they have exorbitant fees for pets AND short-term rentals or they are in a not-so-nice part of town.

Soooooo, any suggestions? I'm a bit stumped

Ah, if you were looking in Baltimore, I could help you out. I don't know any leads in Frederick, though. Sorry. Good luck and have a safe move.

[Zxcvbn]

Are schools an issue yet? I know you had a question as well about a north Frederick neighborhood, but if you are open to it, check out Urbana. Great schools, and there are homes and townhomes for rent. Even if the listing may not say options, call the listing agents to discuss anyway. Things can be negotiable sometimes, especially if an owner wants a property rented. Some of the for-sale owners may be willing to do rentals as well, if they cannot find a buyer. Better to have money coming in for the next six months and put the home back on the spring market in February than not having any source of $. My advice is to keep calling, and to look at Urbana if you haven't already.
Villages of Urbana dot net and check rentals on hotpads or realtor.

[LittleBlackDogs]

That's a great suggestion, Zxcvbn, about negotiating for the short-term lease. Certainly worth asking! And Minier, it's so nice to hear people making decisions to bring their pets with them. So many times, people dump their pets at the shelter because "they are moving and can't take them along." That's ridiculous.... it might take a little extra work to find a pet-friendly rental (as you are finding out), but it can be done. My pets are part of my family and I always have considered their needs, too, when house-hunting.

But best of luck - hope you find something great soon!

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by LittleBlackDogs

it might take a little extra work to find a pet-friendly rental (as you are finding out), but it can be done.

If the OP is still looking at a temporary rental, The Reserve at Ballenger Creek allows dogs up to 70 pounds, and has 6 month leases. It is across from a shopping center. The Elmwood Terrace Apartments allows dogs up to 40 pounds and has 3 and 6 month leases. It seems to have parkland at the back of the complex.