How to Find an Affordable Place in Your New City
Monday, July 13, 2020, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
Moving to a new city can be a stressful experience, especially considering the number of details that need to be figured out along the way.
Finding a place to live is one of the most challenging parts of the moving process, and finding an affordable place to live is even more difficult.
Luckily, there are ways to find a place you love that won’t break the bank.
Here are a few tips for finding an affordable place to live in your new city.
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Try Short-Term Rental
If your move date is fast approaching but you still don’t have a great place to live in mind, don’t feel pressured to sign a lease before you’ve found the best choice for you. Instead, why not buy yourself some time to keep on searching by going for short-term rental as you get settled into your new city? A short-term lease is a great option if you are just getting settled and don’t yet have a feel for where you might want to live.
There are many positives to starting out with a short-term rental in your new city. For one thing, they are typically conveniently located with flexible, all-inclusive rates and are very easy to apply for. Short-term rentals are also available fully furnished, unlike a standard apartment rental.
If you find that you like a certain area of town, you can simply switch to another short-term rental in that area to try it out for a while. No complications, no need to pack or move furniture and no need to break a lease. It makes things much more simple when you’re trying to find the right forever home for you.
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Explore Alternative Housing
You’ve probably heard of tiny homes, a trend in minimalistic housing that’s sweeping the nation. Tiny homes are an affordable way to purchase a home, as long as you are willing to shrink your life down to the bare essentials. This is just one of a variety of “alternative housing” options that are growing in popularity, especially among people who would rather save money than spend it on rent or mortgage payments.
If you are open to a slightly less stereotypical lifestyle, there are many types of alternative housing you might want to explore. Tiny homes, houseboats, RVs, and vans (especially popular among some outdoor enthusiasts) and even revamped shipping containers are being used as unique and fun options for living more affordably.
One benefit of alternative housing is that it is far more affordable than buying or even renting a home. Tiny homes can go for as little as $10,000: less than a year’s rent in most parts of the United States. Unfortunately, alternative housing is usually very small and can be cramped, so if you like to entertain or have a family they may not be the right option for you.
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Consider Live-In Work
If you don’t have a job lined up in your new city and enjoy helping others, a live-in position might be a good option for you. There are many types of live-in jobs, where you are given room and board in addition to your paycheck.
If you have experience with children, being a nanny or “manny” (male nanny) is a common live-in work option. If you have medical experience, being a live-in night nurse to an older person who may need evening assistance is a possibility. In fact, even being a home manager for a wealthy family can pay well and include room and board.
The benefit of live-in work is that it typically provides more luxurious accommodations than living in an RV, for example. One downside to live-in work is that you may find yourself on call more than you would with a typical job since your home and your workplace are the same.
There are so many options when looking to find an affordable place in your new city. Whether you decide to look for live-in work, explore alternative housing like tiny homes or opt to start out with a short-term rental, the key is to open your mind to new possibilities and be willing to try things off the beaten path. Best of luck in your new home!
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