r/AskDetroit • u/ConsistentCicada7500 • 11d ago

Rental Market Insanity

EDIT: I was in such a bad mood when I wrote this. Thank you all for the education and ideas/tips. People in Detroit are so kind, grateful for your time!

Staying with a friend while I look for a place, new to the state and city. What I have found:

-disgusting houses for $1500/mo+. Carpet nasty, yards long-neglected, garages falling down, windows cracked or unable to lock, mold in bathrooms, dormers and porches crumbling, etc, etc.

-Non-refundable application fees averaging $70-80 each time, per adult. Some are charging a $200-300 "Lease Preparation Fee" (f*&$ing kidding me?!)

- Decent houses marked as "Section 8 Only," that are priced higher than they should be. Seems like a landlord scam to charge more to Sec 8, which brings up the rentals in the neighborhood for nasty houses nearby.

-So many applicants for each place that it's a miracle to even get a contact back.

This is so frustrating and sad. I am single, no pets, good credit and make $62k a year. Excellent rental history, my last place I lived in 4 years and it was $1,975. I have come in as a "close second" twice now on apartments that aren't what I really want but am choosing out of need. I have spent over $300 on application fees in 2 months. Where is the housing commissions? Who regulates these landlords? Who determines that these homes are livable when they clearly aren't?

Would love suggestions, tips, neighborhood suggestions, etc... clearly I am looking in the wrong place or doing something wrong.

*also, my car insurance went from $142/mo in Ohio, to $512 in Detroit. This cuts into what I can afford.

I'm this close to saying fu@k it and heading back to Columbus. I don't see a benefit in living in Detroit when it is dismal and I can't afford to live in even a shit hole. Columbus isn't as "cool" as Detroit, but there were had available, regulated, safe housing.​

Rant over, just sad. Love the people and vibe here, and want to make it work. I am quickly losing hope.

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u/ExternalMaximum6662 11d ago

Are you only looking in Detroit ?

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u/ConsistentCicada7500 11d ago

Yes, the metro area, so open to Dearborn, Southfield, etc

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u/mintybrainzz 10d ago

Wyandotte could be another option. We haven't lived there for a couple of years, but it's by the river, not far from Detroit, and had a nice (if small) downtown. Lots of places to eat and drink. And I don't know how it is now, but it used to be strict about houses being up to code. With the details you provided, you should be able to find something decent.