[Saad Khan]

What is the best route to take to find a good pet friendly rental house. I'm a little weary of anything on craigslist. I know some real estate agencies have some rentals listed. I found a few possibilities before we moved here but none of them wanted pets over 20lbs. So that is why we went with another apartment. (It was easier)

I'm looking at just either a rental until we can put back enough for a down payment. I found an awesome house that I am in love with unfortunately I don't have the $20,000 yet to put down. But other houses will come along. But I'm looking at finding a rental until I get saved up the rest of the way, so for a short time. Because unfortunately I don't think you can take out a loan for a down payment and still get approved for a home loan. I may be wrong but I don't see how that would work.

Or I am looking at a Rent to Own situation.

I can't do the apartment thing anymore its driving me nuts. At the end of this lease I am done apartment living. I litterally have to dodge hitting a Shih Tzu everyday. Somehow this neighbor has 3 shih tzus even though the pet policy only allows for one. 2 are little puppies. I think she was letting her bitch wander one day in heat and she had pups. The pups are definately not purebred. So anyways she has 3 dogs (Even though you are only supposed to have 1) that are wandering. I litterally nearly hit one the other day and I said to the lady "Hey is this your dog" she nodded. I told her "You might want to keep it on a leash before it gets hit by a car, the leash law applies even here" She just told me NOT to tell her what to do with her dogs. We've got another neighbor that litterally sets off the smoke detectors 3 times a day when they cook. We live in a non smoking building and you are required to be 30 ft away to smoke. People still sit and smoke in the breezeways. Which if I didn't have bad asthma that gets set off by cigarette smoke, I wouldn't care. But we requested and are paying more for a non smoking building for a reason. I found my neighbors persian cat, hiding under my car. She leaves her door open day and night so the cat can come and go as she pleases. If she isn't careful she is going to end up with a coyote in her living room!

I'm just tired of living on top and right next to people. I know even in a house I will have neighbors I don't like. But alteast we won't be sharing a wall.


So I figure I need to get started now I've got 10 months left in this lease. What is your advice for finding a decent pet friendly rental house?

[heilyprollecyspor]

We've been lucky in finding our rentals, even with 2 dogs (one a SBT mix), a couple cats and around 40 snakes. The first place was found from a small ad in the local newspaper, the next through our reptile club and the last through a posting on FB by friends of the owners.

My BFF has had excellent luck with Craigslist. He has posted a "wanted" ad and also responded to ads on the site. In both cases he's found great places to live and had no issues at all. I've always had better luck renting from private parties instead of through a rental company though your experience may be different. Here in the Northwest it can take a bit of time to find a place but starting to look early and letting people know what you're looking for is the best way to go about it. Just remember to give a date that you're wanting to move! I learned the hard way when I put out the intention of wanting to move last time - I forgot to include "in June"...and we ended up paying double rent for 3 months because of it. I wouldn't change it for the world though - I love the house we're in now!

[Saad Khan]

It seems to take a bit of time here too. ANd unfortunately it seems everyone moves in the spring and summer so there isn't much available in the fall. But last time I started looking about 3 months in advance and nothing really turned up so that is why I am starting now. We had found one place through Craigslist but the place had a lot of issues so we passed.

I just know there has to be something out there. And I'm willing to look high and low. I've contacted a realestate company that has some rentals listed. But again though I'm not really able to be actively looking yet. I'm still locked in for 10 months.

Its tough because how soon is too soon to look and how late is too late? You know

[investor]

Honestly, I've had really good luck with Craigslist.

I have not had ANY luck going through rental agencies - but that is with having a bully breed. I've seen several rentals available that allow larger dogs, so I'm sure you can find something!

I know around here, you can pick up a booklet of listings at the local grocery store... or go to a local real estate office and ask for a listing of pet friendly rentals.

[Saad Khan]

Honestly, I've had really good luck with Craigslist.

I have not had ANY luck going through rental agencies - but that is with having a bully breed. I've seen several rentals available that allow larger dogs, so I'm sure you can find something!

I know around here, you can pick up a booklet of listings at the local grocery store... or go to a local real estate office and ask for a listing of pet friendly rentals.

I never even thought of that. Thanks.

I just can't do this apartment thing much longer.

[JEWELMARGY]

Hit the little Shit next time it's possible.

Anyway. With rentals, they tend to get people in them fairly fast. I would always start looking around about 3 months before I had to move out.

Posting a "rental or rent to own" wanted on CL is a good way to start. List your specifications and demands and see who contacts you. Checking with real estate agencies for either of those is also a good start. A list of foreclosures is always nice (it's how I found my house, and I paid $18,000 for it). And of course drive around and check out any neighborhoods you may like to live in.

[Saad Khan]

Thanks