When you first arrive in the United States you will probably first look for a home or an apartment to rent. Particularly in urban areas, this can be tricky business when you are unfamiliar with a community. Things you will want to consider in making you decision are:

Cost of the rent -- how does it fit into your budget? What does the rent include? Some landlords include all the utilities with your rent, some include heat and hot water, some include nothing at all. Usually upkeep and repairs are the responsibility of your landlord. Some are good about this sort of thing; others are not. Beware, however, of leases which hold YOU responsible for all maintenance expenses.

What additional costs are your responsibility? If the cost of heating or cooling the apartment will be left up to you, ask for approximate figures so that this can be considered when making your decision. Ask what the electric and gas bills amount to on average.

Is it convenient to your job or school, that of your spouse and children, so that commuting does not become a burden on your time or your finances? This is especially vital if any of you will be using public transportation -- find out routes and schedules to see if it is a viable location.

Is the neighborhood safe? You should feel safe in your own home and not have to worry that it has been broken into while you were away or that you will become a target for crime once you set foot outside. While we acknowledge that crime can happen anywhere, anytime, you do not have to put yourself in a spot which statistically is unsafe. You may be able to afford the rent on a home or apartment in an area which is rather safe, but where you would be unwise to walk alone outside after dark -- be aware of these things and do all within your power to keep yourself and your family safe.

After you have decided on a home or an apartment to rent, you will be asked to sign a lease. Be aware of the contents of your lease. Anything you are unsure of, ask for clarification. At this time you will also be asked to pay your security deposit. This is usually equal to one month's rent <sometimes two>. It is placed in an escrow account which will be returned to you when you leave, unless you damage the apartment in some way and the landlord needs to use it for repairs. <Be warned that there are cases of dishonest landlords who fabricate reasons to keep your security deposit.> You will also be asked to pay the first month's rent and, in some cases, the last month's rent as well. As you can see, you may have to have a lot of money when you go to sign your lease.

Once you know your move-in day, you will want to contact the utilities companies to have them turned on. Some places may require a large deposit on these as well. As an alien in the U.S. without an established credit history, it may be difficult and expensive to begin proving yourself to be reliable where your debts and obligations are concerned. Once these initial steps are taken, however, you should find that things gradually become easier.

Keep in mind that, even if you have signed a lease for a year or more, the law in most places allows you to break a lease with a certain amount of advanced notification <possibly 2 or 3 months> with no financial penalty. If you are really miserable and find something else which is perfect, you may decide that it is worth the penalty <usually your security deposit> to break your lease without the proper notification.

You should investigate renter's insurance. Most companies which provide Home-Owner's Insurance also sell to renters. Without this, your belongings are not covered, should your building suffer fire, flood, theft, or other damage.

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