Apt.Search Help- Fiancé pays but I don't have job yet (San Francisco: apartment, rental market)

[Ktappy]

Hello

I'm moving to San Francisco to join my fiancé in August.
He has been there one year and currently rents a studio but we are searching for a new place together.

My question is, if I am still jobless while we are apartment hunting, how do we approach this with landlords and on rental applications?

While I am job hunting he will support us both financially. His job and income shouldn't pose any problems on his own merits ($170K/yr).

He solely will be paying all rent and fees (until I have a job) but will it still put us at a disadvantage that I do not have an income?

We know how insanely difficult it is to find a good place so I'm wondering if others have been in the same or similar situation, if they were penalized for one person not having a job? Any tips or advice?

Thanks

[fashionguy]

There shouldn't be a problem. They usually just check combined income.

Originally Posted by Ktappy

Hello

I'm moving to San Francisco to join my fiancé in August.
He has been there one year and currently rents a studio but we are searching for a new place together.

My question is, if I am still jobless while we are apartment hunting, how do we approach this with landlords and on rental applications?

While I am job hunting he will support us both financially. His job and income shouldn't pose any problems on his own merits ($170K/yr).

He solely will be paying all rent and fees (until I have a job) but will it still put us at a disadvantage that I do not have an income?

We know how insanely difficult it is to find a good place so I'm wondering if others have been in the same or similar situation, if they were penalized for one person not having a job? Any tips or advice?

Thanks

[rkwalton]

If he's making $170k, I don't see why you'd that that would be a problem. Many people live together these days, especially in the Bay Area. It would be silly for a landlord to turn away an otherwise good new tenant because he or her partner isn't working. Beyond competing in the booming rental market here and finding a place, you've got nothing to worry about.

[Isebiel]

Yep. No problem. You'll still go on the application of course so you're a legit resident. And they'll do a background check on you. But combined income is what they want to see.

[mayorhaggar]

With that high of an income they won't care unless you're trying to rent a place that is too expensive to rent on 170k, like some massive 5 bedroom apartment or something. Just get a place you can afford on his salary alone and you'll be fine.

[mdwstrnkid]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

With that high of an income they won't care unless you're trying to rent a place that is too expensive to rent on 170k, like some massive 5 bedroom apartment or something. Just get a place you can afford on his salary alone and you'll be fine.

With rents the way they are right now, a $170k income would support a nice 2BR in a good neighborhood, not a massive 5BR place.

[mayorhaggar]

Which is why I said a landlord would have a problem with someone trying to rent a giant 5br apartment on that salary.

[mdwstrnkid]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Which is why I said a landlord would have a problem with someone trying to rent a giant 5br apartment on that salary.

Ah sorry, read that too quickly

[uptown_urbanist]

we rented our place based solely on my husband's salary. It was not a problem at all, although I was required to fill out an application (required of all tenants over the age of 18).

[Ktappy]

Great. Thanks for all the replies. I guess my concern was that if he took off for example, they would be stuck with a tenant that couldn't pay and they would see that as too high of a risk (though god forbid that should happen!).

One less thing to worry about. We're really not looking for a huge 5 bedroom. Just a decent one or two bedroom (hopefully near or in the SOMA...).
Now it's just the challenge of actually finding a place!

Thanks again