Week 2 (Day 8-14): "Lock housing + cashflow"
Finalize longer-term housing (or commit to a timeline)
Time to move beyond temporary housing. U.S. leases are serious legal contracts. Landlords often use the '40x Rule', you need to earn 40x the monthly rent annually. Show your Job Offer Letter or I-20 as proof. Before you move in, record a high-definition video of every room to document existing damage. This protects your security deposit.
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A U.S. lease is a serious legal contract. Most landlords will ask you to pay the first month of rent and a security deposit before you move in. This deposit is usually equal to one month of rent.
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In big cities like New York or Boston, landlords use the "40x Rule." This means they want you to earn 40 times the monthly rent every year. Since you are new, do not worry. You can show them your Job Offer Letter or your I-20 form to prove you have the money to pay.
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You have a legal right to document existing damage. Take a high-definition video of the unit before you move your first box.
Resources
Record your progress
Mark this subsection complete to track your progress.