As rents continue to rise, more and more people face the ongoing challenge of finding affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More. If you spent 2017 struggling to make rent and bills, it’s time to find some relief. Thankfully, affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More is attainable if you know the steps to take. Follow these four tips for finding affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More in 2018.
1. Figure out your income and expenses.
Before you start searching for affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More, you need to know how much housing you can actually afford. It’s surprising how many individuals and families scrape by month to month without actually knowing how much they make versus how much they spend. You must have this information in order to apply for affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More in your area, so let’s start here. Make a list of all your householdAll the people who occupy a housing unit. A household includes the related family members and all the unrelated people, if any, such as lodgers, foster children, wards, or employees who share the hous... More sources of income, followed by listing all your expenses — from rent to utilities to groceries to recreation. Pay particular attention to your total monthly income, and calculate one-third of that amount. According to the government, that is the maximum you should be paying in rent and utilities for your living situation to be affordable.
2. Get your paperwork in order.
Once you have a basic understanding of how much you make versus how much you spend, it’s time to start assembling the paperwork that proves your income. Collect pay stubs from at least the past several months, and gather tax returns from at least the past 2 years. You’ll need this documentation to apply for affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More subsidies, so get it ready now to help the process along as quickly as possible.
3. Check with your local housing authority.
One of the best resources to find affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More in your area is your local housing office — the local agency that administers government subsidies for low-income families. The Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEstablished in 1965, HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will em... More (HUDEstablished in 1965, HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will em... More) has a nice search feature on its website to help you find the housing office in your local area.
4. Work with a trusted management company.
Another way to find affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More (even alongside working with your local HUDEstablished in 1965, HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will em... More field office) is to work with a management company in your area that specializes in affordable and/or subsidized housing. You can often identify these companies with a basic Internet search or by obtaining contact info from your housing office. Working with a management company may provide you additional housing options if a certain complex doesn’t suit your needs.
Olympia ManagementOlympia Management, Inc. exists to meet the needs of the affordable housing community by providing top-quality living conditions, excellent management, compassionate interaction with tenants, and cons... More specializes in comfortable, affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More in many cities throughout the southeastern U.S. To learn more about availability and how to find affordable housingIn general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities. Please note that some jurisdictions may define af... More in 2018, call us today at 1-800-665-9994.