For South African emigrating to the US, finding a new home is an essential part of getting settled. One of the important decisions that you will make is whether to rent or buy. Renting a house when relocating to the US is common for many South Africans. It gives them a chance to survey the property market before making a long term commitment; however buying a house in the US is pretty straight forward.
If you decide to rent, you will be required to prove your financial stability to prospective landlords. Be prepared to provide your credit history from a South African credit bureau. Written verification from your South Afrcan creditors may also be helpful.
Most apartments come furnished and finding an unfurnished apartment in the US can be tricky. It will be easier to find an unfurnished house.
It’s important to know your rights when looking for a place to rent. The Housing and Urban Development is a government agency that administers the Fair Housing Act (FHA) – a law that makes it illegal to refuse to rent or sell to people based on race, color, national origin.
You will be able to buy a house with a mortgage and 20% down payment in the US after 2 Years employment in the same or similar line of work AND 2 Years Tax Returns using your I-TIN number. An ITIN is an individual tax identification number issued by the IRS for immigrants who need to file taxes but are ineligible for a Social Security Number.
To ensure that your move to the US runs smoothly, contact us to help you export your household goods and personal effects. We provide a complete relocation solution for your peace of mind.
