Renting or buying a home in the United States
What to know when you rent, the steps to buy, and where to find official price data.
✓ Checked against the sources: October 2026⚠️ This isn't legal or financial advice. Use an independent professional for any purchase.
Renting
- Read the lease carefully. Tenant rights are set at state level, and each state has an agency that deals with them.
- Don't pay before you've seen the place and signed a lease.
- Anyone who asks for payment by wire transfer, gift cards or crypto, or pressures you to decide fast, is almost always a scammer.
- A landlord doesn't need your SSN or credit score before you agree to rent.
🔒 2 more sections in this guide
- 🏠 Buying
- 📊 Real prices
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