Individuals and families looking for affordable living spaces can explore townhomes for rent. Townhome units are part of larger communities with various floorplan options and shared amenities. It’s also important to be aware of what a landlord cannot do in Oregon? when renting, ensuring your rights as a tenant are protected. Here are some tips for finding a townhome that fits your budget:
1. Calculate Expenses
Establish a budget to narrow your search results before you start looking for townhomes for rent. Creating a budget involves looking at your financial records, credit score, and buying potential. Making a list of your current expenses compared to your income will help you determine how much you can spend on rent while having enough funds to cover other key costs and add to your savings. Some financial experts recommend only renting a space if the monthly expenses are 30% or less of your total income. Leaving room in your budget for price fluctuations and market changes will help you prepare to find a rental that meets all your needs.
2. Filter Search Results
Look for townhomes on credible rental listing sites to find units in your desired neighborhood and price range. These sites might be run by individual communities, property management companies, or other real estate parties. If you want to live in a specific community, visit their website directly to avoid fraudulent listings. High-quality listing websites have tools that allow you to filter your search results by price, number of bedrooms, location, and other features. Setting your filters to show only townhomes in your budget will help you find a range of properties in your price range.
3. Tour Properties
Once you’ve found some townhomes that match your price goals, schedule walk-through tours with the property managers. Exploring the units in person will help determine if they meet your space needs. Take notes during the tours so you can review and compare the features of the units after you’ve toured each one. If the homes in your budget are too small for you or your family, you may need to increase your budget. The price of rental properties tends to increase with more square footage.
If rental communities are unclear about their pet policies in online listings, schedule a meeting or tour with the property manager. Touring the units allows you to ask property managers whether they allow pets. If they are a pet-friendly community, ask if they have size restrictions or if they charge a one-time or monthly fee for pets. You should include a general pet fee in your rent budget if you have larger animals like dogs or cats. If you own a dog that needs to play outside, look for communities with green spaces or designated dog parks. The costs to maintain these amenities should be included in your rent. Smaller animals that live indoors or in a tank or cage may be allowed in some communities without pet fees.
4. Find Roommates
If you find a suitable home outside your budget, renting it with roommates reduces your monthly expenses. To find trustworthy roommates, ask family and friends if they know anyone needing a place to rent. Sharing the costs with a roommate may allow you to select a unit with a larger floor plan. This gives you more flexibility when searching for rentals while staying within your monthly budget.
Find Quality Townhomes for Rent
Townhome community managers should provide potential residents with transparent information about their units. This information should include types of available floorplans, average rent and utility expenses, and lease requirements. Look for a community with high-quality homes located near schools, stores, and other resources that improve your living experience. Contact the leasing office of a reputable townhome community today to learn more about their pricing and availability.