How Much Does Renting a House Cost?

Renting a house is a great alternative to apartment living if you either cannot afford a mortgage, or move from place to place frequently. Great for families, most home rentals will provide a yard and garage and will give a family more of a sense of community than perhaps they would feel in a larger apartment complex. The cost to rent a house varies greatly depending on location, size of house and other amenities, but can usually compete with the rent of a larger apartment.

Function

Renting a house provides a more permanent home setting for small families and provides opportunities for pet ownership otherwise not afforded in some apartments or condos. Private and quiet, house rentals can offer more storage and play area than the typical apartment.

Types

House rentals can cost anywhere from $600 a month to over $1700, depending on the size of the home, build date and location. Homes can be of any style, including bungalow, ranch or a duplex, and may or may not include a garage or basement. You may even find a mobile home for rent.

Size

Small homes can offer as little as 800 square feet, while larger models can be upwards of 2700 square feet. Most homes offer a minimum of two bedrooms and as many as six for an above average home. Larger homes with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms will rent for usually over $1000 but will most likely include both a yard and a garage.

Considerations

House renting offers the privacy you want, but also usually means you have some upkeep of the grounds to consider. You may need to cut the grass, maintain the gardens and shovel snow depending on the location. You may have to provide your own lawn keeping equipment such as a lawn mower, as well as a snowblower if you are in a four-season location.
Also, apartment dwellers frequently benefit from free utilities, while house renters must generally arrange for and pay for their own. Gas, water, electric and sometimes trash pick up must come out of your own pocket.

Benefits

The benefits of renting a home are mostly the peace and quiet afforded by being a bit of a distance away from a neighbor. Also, house rentals usually offer more storage room than an average apartment and can be both more private and more easily accessible than an apartment building would be.

Potential

There are potentially more homes for rent on the market right now due to the economy and so getting a good price on a rental home is far easier with the glut of available dwellings. You may need to cover the mortgage payment for the owner, and can frequently work out a rent-to-own deal if you are interested in purchasing the house at a later date.

Resources

• rent.com
• realestate.msn.com