By Shannon Ireland College students live for summer. They get a much-needed break from reading dense textbooks and studying for exam after exam. However, after months spent at home with Mom and Dad, they’re typically ready to head back to campus and regain their freedom when the fall semester rolls around. Back-to-school shopping typically includes new
The share of older renters has risen substantially over the past decade, with households aged 55 and over contributing 42 percent of renter household growth, according to a 2015 report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. That rate is expected to increase as more Baby Boomers retire. However, there are factors
Renting a home can often get a bad rap. It’s true that some aspects of being a renter are less than glamorous. The quirks of renting can range from 1980s burgundy carpet to a neighbor who loves to practice the trombone every evening for three hours or a landlord who refuses to take down the Holly Hobbie wallpaper in
Renters often plan out their lives in six- to 12-month increments. But sometimes life brings an unforeseen circumstance. Whether you just accepted a new job that’s in a different city, or you need to make room for a new baby, the idea of breaking your lease might make you a little nervous. Before you fork over
One of the hottest topics in housing is whether it’s better to rent or buy a home. The answer always changes based on market conditions, so it’s handy to use a rent vs. buy calculator to do comparisons on the fly. But you should also know how rent vs. buy calculations actually work so you can feel
There’s nothing worse than living next door to an incessant barker or yappy dog – even howling cats can be a nuisance. It’s important to make sure your pet isn’t the one your neighbors complain about. While a growing number of rental properties specialize in pet-friendly apartments and homes, it’s understandable why both property owners and their
The Baby Boomer generation is proving once again that they’re anything but predictable. In fact, Boomers are one of the fastest growing groups of renters in the country, and their numbers are expected to grow upwards of 12 million by 2030. While many Boomers are moving into rentals to downsize, others want the flexibility to move to stay
By Barry Bridges Look around any rented apartment, condominium or house and you’re likely to find the same things you would see in an owner-occupied home – furniture, clothes, electronics, and other belongings. In other words, you’ll see the same items that play an important role in everyday life. A standard home insurance policy typically provides
By Stephanie Reid, Avvo attorney and NakedLaw contributor When you factor in the formulaic legal documents, generic 20-minute interview, and perfunctory tour of the apartment and its amenities, it’s not unusual for renters to feel like they must either take it or leave it. It may not seem like there is room to negotiate the residential