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Large family (2 adults, 6 kids at home) with 2 older labs (90 pounds each, fixed), and 2 male cats (fixed.) Income puts us at a $900 a month affordability (1/3 of income.) We have bad credit (business failure/foreclosure almost 3 years ago), good rental references, and enough money to pay extra deposit if necessary. Husband's new job is with a stable employer.
We can't find a rental. We don't necessarily need 4 bedrooms - we function just fine with 3. I can't seem to get people past "6 KIDS!" I paid one application fee before for a house where he knew our income and credit issues before we paid him - yet he still turned us down for "insufficient income and bad credit."
I have called numerous realtors and private ads. I get what seems like a promising lead and it either is already rented or they don't know anything you could put 8 people in. The most recent is a 3 bedroom, but I have to pay the $30 app fee before they ask the owner if he is willing to allow 8 people to live there.
We need to be within 45 minutes or so of the intersection of Hope Valley Rd. and MLK Blvd. I don't care about # of bedrooms so much, but we do need about 1100 square feet (laid out well) and hopefully a bath and a half. We could pay more to be right in that area because we won't have the commuting costs. My preference would be to have a place within 20-25 minutes of a good pediatric therapy place (S/L and OT.) However, most places want income 3x the rent.
Places I have found that don't care about the credit or income issues as much as in BAD parts of Durham - not going to do it. I'd live in a tent at the lake first!
Sure it isn't the pets that are working against you? Maybe it is just in the city? We have rented three places (outside city limits) and have never been asked for credit references. All have been really nice properties in good safe areas.
It might be harder like I say in the city proper?
Sure it isn't the pets that are working against you? Maybe it is just in the city? We have rented three places (outside city limits) and have never been asked for credit references. All have been really nice properties in good safe areas.
It might be harder like I say in the city proper?
I don't know - almost every landlord I have talked to wants a credit check regardless of location. I also get way more comments about the 6 kids than I do the 4 pets. If we don't find a place with the dogs, the alternative choices are terrible. (Edited so that we can focus on the "finding a rental" and not on "what will happen to the dogs if we can't find a home for them."
More than happy to live in the country (the home we are in now is the first "in town" house we've had in 10 years), but I can't find a place like that, either.
How did you find the country listings? I haunt Craigslist daily, but haven't found much that is commutable to his work. The downside of rural areas is that my boys won't get therapy because the commute is too long.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 02-11-2011 at 11:24 AM..
Reason: Edited out reference to deleted post
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, but I can relate to having a family too large for our price range. I can tell you from lots of experience searching in Durham that your family size is WAY too large for what you are looking for and the price range you need. A three bedroom? The landlord would probably tear up the application. I don't care how open the floor plan is, it's not gonna happen. No landlord is going to take that risk as there is increased wear and tear on a property with that many people inside such a small space. Yes, I had a property management company tell me this. I also had someone tell me that a 1400 square foot 3 br townhouse was too small for two adults and three kids.
There seems to be a pretty large gap in what we think is comfortable for our families (and situations) and what a landlord wants occupying his investment.
As a matter of fact, if I'm not mistaken (I was told this at a complex), the law here is two persons per room, which would mean that you're honestly looking for a 4 br minimum even though you don't want one. Also, some landlords may still consider your family size too large for a 4 br if the square footage is a bit lacking. You may think three kids to a room is just fine and dandy, but a landlord is trying to protect his investment. I'm sorry, but for your income limits, the bad parts of Durham is what your price range will dictate.
If you want some more ideas on places to call that don't have listings online or the newspaper, please see my website in my profile under contact.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, but I can relate to having a family too large for our price range. I can tell you from lots of experience searching in Durham that your family size is WAY too large for what you are looking for and the price range you need. A three bedroom? The landlord would probably tear up the application. I don't care how open the floor plan is, it's not gonna happen. No landlord is going to take that risk as there is increased wear and tear on a property with that many people inside such a small space. Yes, I had a property management company tell me this. I also had someone tell me that a 1400 square foot 3 br townhouse was too small for two adults and three kids.
There seems to be a pretty large gap in what we think is comfortable for our families (and situations) and what a landlord wants occupying his investment.
As a matter of fact, if I'm not mistaken (I was told this at a complex), the law here is two persons per room, which would mean that you're honestly looking for a 4 br minimum even though you don't want one. Also, some landlords may still consider your family size too large for a 4 br if the square footage is a bit lacking. You may think three kids to a room is just fine and dandy, but a landlord is trying to protect his investment. I'm sorry, but for your income limits, the bad parts of Durham is what your price range will dictate.
If you want some more ideas on places to call that don't have listings online or the newspaper, please see my website in my profile under contact.
Thanks. We don't have to be in Durham, even - I've looked in Granville County, Person, Orange, and Alamance. Even with a 4br minimum, there isn't a place for us at that price range. I assumed 2 people per room and looked for 4 bedrooms first, but can't find anything unless we go to a 1+ hour commute (which would still be unaffordable as the commuting costs would kill us.) The bad parts of Durham are simply not an option under any circumstances - I will not raise my children in that kind of environment.
Another thing - we are not picky. I have no problem with trailers, small houses, non-traditional houses, or apartments/duplexes. My biggest criteria is a decent neighborhood. We've struggled with that where we are, but we do have very, very good schools. I'd hate to trade this for a much worse area with bad schools. At least here the neighbors are just crazy, not dangerous!
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 02-11-2011 at 11:25 AM..
Reason: Edited out reference to deleted post
I agree that you might want to check Johnston County. I know several people with 5-6 kids and pets that are renting homes in that price range. For perspective, we're considering renting our 3400 sq ft, 5 bedroom home for $1600-1800 a month. Prices are much cheaper here.
I agree that you might want to check Johnston County. I know several people with 5-6 kids and pets that are renting homes in that price range. For perspective, we're considering renting our 3400 sq ft, 5 bedroom home for $1600-1800 a month. Prices are much cheaper here.
Whenever I have checked Johnston County, I get commutes of 50+ miles. I love the idea of Johnston County because of the elementary strings program in the schools. What areas have less than an hour commute to that part of Durham?
ETA: And where do you find the rentals listed?
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I paid one application fee before for a house where he knew our income and credit issues before we paid him - yet he still turned us down for "insufficient income and bad credit."
If we don't find a place with the dogs, the alternative choices are terrible. (Edited so that we can focus on the "finding a rental" and not on "what will happen to the dogs if we can't find a home for them."
