Cost of renting a home
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10/17/2007
I moved to the southern part of Louisiana June 2007. I was shocked to find the rent rates to be higher here, than in Houston, TX. They say they raised the rent after Katrina to keep the wrong kind of people out of their neighborhoods. I think that it terrible. The states fine gas companies for price gouging during a crisis, I think they should do the same for home owners and real estate companies that handle rentals and raise the prices for the wrong reasons. To rent a simple 3 bd. 2 b. brick home is $1200 to $1800 a month. To rent a simple 3 bd. 2 b. mobile home lacking in looks and old you will pay $950 and up each month. None of these come with a good yard size.
I have a house outside Alexandria, La. 3 bd/2b on 3 acres and a pool for only $685 a month. In the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, you will pay anywhere from $1200-$2700 to rent a 3 or 4 bd. house. They had on the news the other day about having a hard time keeping the college graduates in Louisiana after graduation and wanted to find out why they are moving away. My oppinion is, they are finishing their education then relocating and finding jobs in places where the cost of living is much better and affordable. Who wants to spend most if not everything for the cost to live. I don't. My daughter is at LSU and tolerates the rentals for now but says once she graduates, she is going somewhere with lower rental rates and still offer great paying jobs. My husband make $98000 + a year and we spend almost $28000 a year just in rent, utillities & gas just to live here. I believe that is a total waste of money. And I believe if the state would lower the rental rates back to a normal fair rate for the housing, I believe college students would not be in such a hurry to leave this state after graduating from college. They would be more incline to seek work here and be able to afford the rent. How many fresh grads do you know starting out on a new job a new career can afford to pay $900 - $1200 a mont in just rent? My rental review for the Baton Rouge Parish, Ascension Paris and Livingston Parish and others in the southern areas, is not good. Livingston Parish, out of the three listed, is a little better but unfortunately the area is not as nice.
Tckat | Prairieville, LA