How do you find a roommate with no credit ? (San Diego: apartment, renters)

[dg628]

I’m 21 and have never had to borrow money in my life. Everytime the bank has checked my credit score before I bought my beater truck they said my score is.......N/A.

I know I should probably just open a secured cc but I’m already leaving Friday or Monday so should I just bet on sleeping in my truck for awhile ? Doesn’t really bother me.

I know at this stage in my life I could never secure a apartment unless it was a privately owned but I’m not sure how leanient people are who rent rooms out. San Diego is a very desirable area so I might very well be *#%$’d.

[malcorub16]

If you are young and broke like I was when I came to SD and don't know anyone here, find a furnished residential hotel downtown. It's a good option to get to town and get situated for a few months.

[dg628]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

So what is your question?

Will anyone rent to me without credit ? I could very well put two months down in advance. I’d prefer it that way actually so I know I’ll have a roof over my head for 2 months atleast.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by dg628

Will anyone rent to me without credit ? I could very well put two months down in advance. I’d prefer it that way actually so I know I’ll have a roof over my head for 2 months atleast.

Look for private renters not rental businesses.

[oddstray]

And as soon as absolutely possible, you should get that secure cc - and actually use it - to start building a credit score. You should have started on that when you turned 18, but I don't know how much they teach teenagers about how credit works in this country. Clearly not enough, not soon enough.

[K12144]

Originally Posted by oddstray

And as soon as absolutely possible, you should get that secure cc - and actually use it - to start building a credit score. You should have started on that when you turned 18, but I don't know how much they teach teenagers about how credit works in this country. Clearly not enough, not soon enough.

The problem is that they give you all the horror stories of kids who get their first credit card at 18 and run up huge bills. So, you get people like me who are like, "No prob, I'll be responsible, not even get a credit card, especially since I don't need one for anything." Then the credit industry is like, "LOOK HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THIS PERSON IS!"

It's a stupid false game, but, the credit industry somehow took over so now people have to play if they want employment, a place to live, etc.

[TacoSoup]

No credit is better than bad credit when you’re young. If you have a job and the funds to cover rent and deposit some property managers or individuals will be understanding, at least they always were in my case renting from both. I was always honest upfront saying you won’t find anything good or bad. If you don’t seem like a sketchy person I’m sure someone will take a chance on you. Everyone had no credit at some point in their adult life. There’s a social group for Pacific Beach on Facebook where people are always looking for roommates.

But you are right about getting a secured CC. Stop using a debit card or cash for your everyday purchases and use a CC and pay it in full at the end of the month. You’ll build your credit in no time. Good luck to you

[malcorub16]

Yes, I am impressed OP is thinking about secure credit card to build up credit at 21. I wasn't thinking about or even taught that until I was 26-27 and had already racked up $3K in credit card debt from when I was 20 that I hadn't paid back.

My credit report is stellar today despite never having paid the CC debt from my youth, those 7 years fly by and the letters I still get today go right into the fire place. But as another poster said, no credit is better than bad credit.

Do you have worked lined up here in SD OP?

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Look for people renting out rooms or even trailers out a bit like Ramona or Poway. If hundreds of thousands of illegals can rent apts someone is obviously renting to high risk tenants.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by oddstray

And as soon as absolutely possible, you should get that secure cc - and actually use it - to start building a credit score. You should have started on that when you turned 18, but I don't know how much they teach teenagers about how credit works in this country. Clearly not enough, not soon enough.

Use it and then pay in full every month. Does wonders for your credit.