Renters With Pets May Need To Buy A Home
One of the major problems pet owners experience is finding a home (apartment, condo, or house) to rent that will actually allow them to bring their pet. Many landlords, property managers and homeowners are afraid, for one reason or another, to rent to people with pets.
In most cases, a landlord will charge a pet “deposit”, meaning that if certain requirements are fulfilled then the “deposit” or part of the deposit is deemed refundable. However most landlords base their pet deposits on a number of things such as but not limited to: size of pet, type of pet, breed specific, as well as number of pets. Landlords have the right to limit what type of animal will be allowed on the property, such as dog, cat, reptile, etc. In most cases multi family landlords do not allow reptiles.
A landlord may legally charge a deposit as well as an additional fee, labeled pet rent. In most states, there is no law prohibiting a landlord from charging an extra fee each month for a pet. This additional fee may be considered pet rent. The monthly pet rent may be in addition to a pet security deposit, labeled refundable or non-refundable.
The difference between a deposit and a fee is that a deposit may or may not be refundable; a fee in itself is not refundable. So make sure you understand the concept of the three terms, refundable deposit, non-refundable deposit and fee.
Service Animals however do not apply to this standard rule. According to The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act protect the right of people with disabilities to keep emotional support animals, and or service animals, even when a landlord’s policy explicitly prohibits pets.
However, In most situations, so long as the tenant has a letter or prescription from an appropriate professional, such as a therapist or physician, and meets the definition of a person with a disability, he or she is entitled to a reasonable accommodation that would allow an emotional support animal in the apartment, and can not legally be charged a pet deposit (refundable or non refundable) nor can they be charged the monthly fee of pet rent.
You have worked hard and saved every extra dime you had. You have enough money saved up and are ready to begin your search. Well congratulations my friend, but slow down a bit. You still have a lot to learn. Since this is the first time you are buying a house you should become familiar with the terms and paperwork involved. A new buyer should at minimum know what the following refer to: Earnest money, Bid, RESPA, HUD-1, Deed vs Mortgage, Escrow, Mortgage Ins./Private Mortgage Ins., and closing costs. There are many other terms but these involve your money so you should know what they mean. Evaluate your finances so you don’t buy a home for more than you can afford.
Just because the financed payment is $400, that won’t be your actual payment. If your loan has mortgage insurance it will be added to the monthly cost. Then you have your taxes and homeowners insurance. Often a mortgage company will offer to escrow those into your monthly payment. This is where the lender pays the ins and taxes one time a year and you pay them back in installments. Once you start looking at houses you will want to make sure the house you choose won’t need any major repairs.
Most homes will have a few minor cosmetic issues, which is okay. You want to stay away from any of the major issues. In the event the house does need repairs find out if the seller will take care of them before the closing date arrives. Often the seller will discount the cost when they are trying to sell a home in lieu of making the repairs. You need to be sure to check with your lender to make sure they will still finance the property with the repairs incomplete.
Take a look at the appliances as you inspect the property. Determine how old they are and if they are energy efficient. This will give you an idea if new appliances will need to be purchased in the near future. Also look at the ceilings and under the sinks for any signs of water leaks. When you are in the bathrooms be sure to turn on the water in sinks and showers to check the water flow. You will also want to flush the toilet to ensure the septic line is not blocked. If you are able bringing a plumber to inspect all the pipes throughout the house, even better. One place new home buyers often fail to inspect is the attic. Always take a moment to take a quick look. Check for insulation and proper ventilation.
The attic aids in keeping the house cool in summer and warm in winter. Since you are purchasing your home it is assumed you plan to live there for a long time. So you will want to drive by the property at night to get a feel of the security. Visit during the day and on weekends as well to get a feel of the people in the area. Once you have looked everything over and the home is something you are greatly interested in, call the agent and tell them your want to sell a house. It is now time to make a bid on the house. Just don’t forget to stay within your budget and account for taxes and ins to increase your payment. Good Luck and Congratulations!