I joined Roommates.com to find a roommate and I possibly found one, but I noticed one person said he would have to do background checks on the people who applied. How can I do that? Is there a website that would do that? They seem fine, but just in case.....

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I joined Roommates.com to find a roommate and I possibly found one, but I noticed one person said he would have to do background checks on the people who applied. How can I do that? Is there a website that would do that? They seem fine, but just in case.....

Google turns up several web sites that do it. I usually go through a PI to check out potential tenants, because it's just easier to have someone else do it. In your shoes, I'd want a credit report too (with a score, the more expensive one), since I know of one too many people who got stuck paying a lot of other people's bills in roomate situations. I've never seen any background checks turn up anything that would make me not want to rent to someone, but a shitload of scary credit reports.

yeah..i know there are tons of sites out there, but I was wondering of any legitimate ones that people have tried.... also, what do most people out there pay for rent (which I know it is hard to compare, but just to get ideas-.)

Can't really help you on the roomate front but as far as rent goes, but...

I am looking at apartments in South Orange County. A one bedroom seems to be about $1100-$1200 and up.

Oh my... the mortgage on my three bedroom with swimming pool, 2 car garage, and 2100 sq ft costs me less than that.

Oh My, Oh My, ohhhh...

The mortage is paid off, and my property taxes for last year (the whole year) was less than that.

Indeed, it's a bit rough out here. On the other hand, there is pretty much no place I'd rather be. Life is pretty sweet in So Cal, especially weatherwise. Being (relatively) close to the beach is a big plus too.

$1300 for a one bedroom, office, living room, one bath, NO garage or parking spot, utilities NOT included, in the middle of SF. Good times!

$1500, one bedroom, one bathroom, no utilities, and I live alone; but I do have a covered parking spot.

Gorram cat needs to start paying rent.

€200 - 1 bedroom 16m2, 2 shared toilets with 1 shower, shared kitchen and dining room.

$650/month for 1,700 square feet (3 bed, 3 bath), 1st floor in the Middle East. Good times.

I was paying 1650$ a month for a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 car spaces and no utilities in Miami. but it was sooooooo nice.

it was either that or pay 1000 a month for a 2 bedroom in the hood next to the highway. you make the decision!

$200 a month in a 2300 sq ft house, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, and an upstairs utility room (not yet finished). I have two of those rooms and one bath to myself. I won't be there much longer, though.

is it just me but does $350 for a house that would have 4 people in it seem a little high?

Without any further information...I have no idea. There are a ton of factors, and you list only one. There are four people, but are there four bedrooms? How many bathrooms? How much additional living space? Are utilities included? What's the location like? What's the area housing market like?

I was renting rooms in Williamsburg, VA for $450 a month, but that included utilities, and it could have been $550 considering the location and how nice the place was. Hell, $600 might have still gotten me somebody.

So that's $1400 total. That doesn't sound too high around here for a house that would support 4 people, unless you're sleeping two to a room.

I charge $1500/month for 2 bedroom, 2 bath, ground floor condo (900 sq ft?) without utilities here in NJ.

My rent just went up to $1750/mo for my 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom here in Fairfield, CA. I'm moving. :/

Yeah.

Oh well, that's life, right?

That's pretty crazy... especially for Fairfield. I'm paying $1300 for a 2 bedroom in the middle of SF.

Yeah, just a few years ago I was in a much larger 2 bedroom for $1100/mo. Things are going up around here like mad.

Viva la rent control!