Moving to NH, rental market is crazy

[Archipelago]

My wife and I are moving to New Hampshire in a few months (Manchester NH and surrounding areas). Many of the apartments I've called around are taking people by waitlist only. Some of the waitlists were on wait for over a year. We are well qualified and do not have any pets.

Any tips for finding a place in a tight market? I'm starting to worry a bit about finding a place in time.

[NotBadForADad]

First off. Welcome to the greatest state in the nation!

My advice is to look for something near the north end, preferably on the Hooksett line or Goffstown line. There are some decent houses/duplexes you can rent.

West Side is OK, areas by Memorial High are ok, Londonderry area is also nice but avoid Woodedge Estates and Crystal Lake Apartments.

I had an apartment at Countryside Village before I bought my house, which is now rebranded as Halstead Countryside.

I would avoid everything from Cilley Rd to Webster Street and from Elm street to Mammoth Road.

[Archipelago]

First off. Welcome to the greatest state in the nation!

My advice is to look for something near the north end, preferably on the Hooksett line or Goffstown line. There are some decent houses/duplexes you can rent.

West Side is OK, areas by Memorial High are ok, Londonderry area is also nice but avoid Woodedge Estates and Crystal Lake Apartments.

I had an apartment at Countryside Village before I bought my house, which is now rebranded as Halstead Countryside.

I would avoid everything from Cilley Rd to Webster Street and from Elm street to Mammoth Road.

Just out of curiosity, what makes it the greatest state to live?

Wow! Thanks for the tips, this is far more local advice than I expected, so I appreciate that!

[NotBadForADad]

First off. Welcome to the greatest state in the nation!

My advice is to look for something near the north end, preferably on the Hooksett line or Goffstown line. There are some decent houses/duplexes you can rent.

West Side is OK, areas by Memorial High are ok, Londonderry area is also nice but avoid Woodedge Estates and Crystal Lake Apartments.

I had an apartment at Countryside Village before I bought my house, which is now rebranded as Halstead Countryside.

I would avoid everything from Cilley Rd to Webster Street and from Elm street to Mammoth Road.

Just out of curiosity, what makes it the greatest state to live?

Wow! Thanks for the tips, this is far more local advice than I expected, so I appreciate that!

Born and raised New Hampshirite, so I may be biased.

But, in Manchester everything is 45-60 minutes away, whether it be Mountains, lakes, the ocean, Boston. Nothing is too far.

[Captain Cactus]

Hello my friend.  NH's real estate market is bonkers and highly discouraging.  As you may remember, I've been looking for a condo up in Waterville Valley.  The craziness just keeps escalating and escalating to higher and higher levels of absurdity.  For example, a condo that sold for $385K pre-pandemic just sold for $695,183.  Every single property that comes on the market gets batted around in a bidding war with multiple offers and nobody wins except the seller.  People who could afford a place a couple years ago (like me) have been boxed out.  I'm bitter.

NH in general is a madhouse right now, primarily fueled, I suspect, by remote-working Bostonians bent on living their best life.

Do you have an established network up there at all?  If so, maybe someone you know knows someone who is currently renovating and will have a place to lease in a few months? 

[Archipelago]

Hello my friend.  NH's real estate market is bonkers and highly discouraging.  As you may remember, I've been looking for a condo up in Waterville Valley.  The craziness just keeps escalating and escalating to higher and higher levels of absurdity.  For example, a condo that sold for $385K pre-pandemic just sold for $695,183.  Every single property that comes on the market gets batted around in a bidding war with multiple offers and nobody wins except the seller.  People who could afford a place a couple years ago (like me) have been boxed out.  I'm bitter.

NH in general is a madhouse right now, primarily fueled, I suspect, by remote-working Bostonians bent on living their best life.

Do you have an established network up there at all?  If so, maybe someone you know knows someone who is currently renovating and will have a place to lease in a few months?

Hello, yeah I hear you on the hot RE market! I've got some apartments in CT and had people reaching out to rent them before they could be put up for rent. The RE market here is also crazy, but the houses and condos don't sell for quite the exorbitant prices as up in your neck of the woods. Maybe because we have state income tax...

We have no connections in NH, we are visiting and moving there for the first time! Goes without saying if you know anyone in the Manchester NH and surrounding areas, let me know. We're going to be great renters and neighbors.

[Captain Cactus]

Hello my friend.  NH's real estate market is bonkers and highly discouraging.  As you may remember, I've been looking for a condo up in Waterville Valley.  The craziness just keeps escalating and escalating to higher and higher levels of absurdity.  For example, a condo that sold for $385K pre-pandemic just sold for $695,183.  Every single property that comes on the market gets batted around in a bidding war with multiple offers and nobody wins except the seller.  People who could afford a place a couple years ago (like me) have been boxed out.  I'm bitter.

NH in general is a madhouse right now, primarily fueled, I suspect, by remote-working Bostonians bent on living their best life.

Do you have an established network up there at all?  If so, maybe someone you know knows someone who is currently renovating and will have a place to lease in a few months?

Hello, yeah I hear you on the hot RE market! I've got some apartments in CT and had people reaching out to rent them before they could be put up for rent. The RE market here is also crazy, but the houses and condos don't sell for quite the exorbitant prices as up in your neck of the woods. Maybe because we have state income tax...

We have no connections in NH, we are visiting and moving there for the first time! Goes without saying if you know anyone in the Manchester NH and surrounding areas, let me know. We're going to be great renters and neighbors.

I'm also in Connecticut.  The land of steady habits... *sigh*.

I'm afraid I don't know anyone that would be helpful in NH.  The only thing I can think of is expanding your search area and include more rural areas.  Not sure how eager you are to settle down, but you may be able to buy yourself some time by doing long-term rentals via VRBO.  I've found that some places really discount deeply if you commit to longer periods of time (ie 30 days +).

[chasingsnow]

This might not be super location-specific but we live in Canada where housing markets in most major cities are really tight (the one we moved to last fall was the top 3 lowest vacancy rates in Canada). We put together a renters resume its about 3 pages and included:

-Pictures of us
-Info about our income and jobs
-Why we are moving
-Our hobbies
-How we would be good tenants
-Landlord references

In a market where our house got hundreds of applicants we were able to luck out. Best of luck in finding a place

[Archipelago]

This might not be super location-specific but we live in Canada where housing markets in most major cities are really tight (the one we moved to last fall was the top 3 lowest vacancy rates in Canada). We put together a renters resume its about 3 pages and included:

-Pictures of us
-Info about our income and jobs
-Why we are moving
-Our hobbies
-How we would be good tenants
-Landlord references

In a market where our house got hundreds of applicants we were able to luck out. Best of luck in finding a place

Good idea! Thank you!

[clarkfan1979]

This might not be super location-specific but we live in Canada where housing markets in most major cities are really tight (the one we moved to last fall was the top 3 lowest vacancy rates in Canada). We put together a renters resume its about 3 pages and included:

-Pictures of us
-Info about our income and jobs
-Why we are moving
-Our hobbies
-How we would be good tenants
-Landlord references

In a market where our house got hundreds of applicants we were able to luck out. Best of luck in finding a place

Good idea! Thank you!

Tell the landlord you are handy and capable of doing small repairs. As a landlord, if I can buy material and my tenant fix something in 1 hour that's a huge win and worthy of discount on rent.

[NotBadForADad]

This might not be super location-specific but we live in Canada where housing markets in most major cities are really tight (the one we moved to last fall was the top 3 lowest vacancy rates in Canada). We put together a renters resume its about 3 pages and included:

-Pictures of us
-Info about our income and jobs
-Why we are moving
-Our hobbies
-How we would be good tenants
-Landlord references

In a market where our house got hundreds of applicants we were able to luck out. Best of luck in finding a place

Good idea! Thank you!

Tell the landlord you are handy and capable of doing small repairs. As a landlord, if I can buy material and my tenant fix something in 1 hour that's a huge win and worthy of discount on rent.

^^^ This +1.

When I was renting, I often time would offer my services, I must of painted so many different apartments, or mowed lawns, or built things along the way to save a few bucks.

When I was a landlord, I loved with renters would help out. Time is valuable and as me getting older, I have no qualms with paying a few bucks for someone to do something that would otherwise take up a half a day for me away from my family or other important hobbies. Again I say that, but there are still things I will do. Like installing my own flooring in my house. No one has the standards I do except for my brother. But on the other hand, I let other people paint. Not that I can't do it, I just don't have the patience for all the cutting in. Or hiring out lawn services weekly.

[Archipelago]

This might not be super location-specific but we live in Canada where housing markets in most major cities are really tight (the one we moved to last fall was the top 3 lowest vacancy rates in Canada). We put together a renters resume its about 3 pages and included:

-Pictures of us
-Info about our income and jobs
-Why we are moving
-Our hobbies
-How we would be good tenants
-Landlord references

In a market where our house got hundreds of applicants we were able to luck out. Best of luck in finding a place

Good idea! Thank you!

Tell the landlord you are handy and capable of doing small repairs. As a landlord, if I can buy material and my tenant fix something in 1 hour that's a huge win and worthy of discount on rent.

Fantastic idea! I'll note this when submitting applications.

[ChpBstrd]

Much like with job applications, the pictures of ourselves thing could be perceived as being in poor taste, as if you are encouraging racial discrimination. A discrimination lawsuit's discovery process could uncover such records and use them as evidence. Either of these reasons would make me consider another deserving applicant, but other landlords would no doubt be swayed (because they actually are discriminating).

[sailinlight]

Much like with job applications, the pictures of ourselves thing could be perceived as being in poor taste, as if you are encouraging racial discrimination. A discrimination lawsuit's discovery process could uncover such records and use them as evidence. Either of these reasons would make me consider another deserving applicant, but other landlords would no doubt be swayed (because they actually are discriminating).

Agree, this screams to me, "I'm going to be a really picky renter and call you for every little tiny issue in the middle of the night". Complete opposite of "I'm pretty handy and can fix small leaks and paint, appliance issues, etc"

[iris lily]

First off. Welcome to the greatest state in the nation!

My advice is to look for something near the north end, preferably on the Hooksett line or Goffstown line. There are some decent houses/duplexes you can rent.

West Side is OK, areas by Memorial High are ok, Londonderry area is also nice but avoid Woodedge Estates and Crystal Lake Apartments.

I had an apartment at Countryside Village before I bought my house, which is now rebranded as Halstead Countryside.

I would avoid everything from Cilley Rd to Webster Street and from Elm street to Mammoth Road.

Just out of curiosity, what makes it the greatest state to live?….

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