Renting an apartment

[todservices]

So here in Spain, when you want to rent an apartment, they will ask you to show your revenues for the past 12 months - which is normal - but if you are self employed, they will require you to be registered WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION for 1 year... and if you are an employee, you must prove that you have been with your company for at least 1 year. Or they will simply not rent you anything.

I know in Bangkok, they ask pretty much nothing, they obviously get your passport info, you pay 3 months to enter the flat. and you can get a nice 1 bdrm condo for like $450/month. and utilities are ridiculously cheap : my friend in Bangkok pays $2/month for water, $25/month for electricity, $10 for internet...

How complicated are the conditions in your country to rent an apartment ?

[Klen]

Which city exactly ? In Prague , i used hunter agency so it was pretty easy process.

[CurrentlySober]

i cunt a4d2 rent an apartment...

[Grapesoda]

same issue, I have no job and was unable to lease a house from an agency. Only from private owners... the real issue for me is price... the small homes with lower prices are in slums and dangerous places to live. so I live in a 2500 SQFT place by myself. Much more than I need. I have empty rooms.

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by todservices

So here in Spain, when you want to rent an apartment, they will ask you to show your revenues for the past 12 months - which is normal - but if you are self employed, they will require you to be registered WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION for 1 year... and if you are an employee, you must prove that you have been with your company for at least 1 year. Or they will simply not rent you anything.

I know in Bangkok, they ask pretty much nothing, they obviously get your passport info, you pay 3 months to enter the flat. and you can get a nice 1 bdrm condo for like $450/month. and utilities are ridiculously cheap : my friend in Bangkok pays $2/month for water, $25/month for electricity, $10 for internet...

How complicated are the conditions in your country to rent an apartment ?

I never sign a contract. You just look on facebook and airbnb and book it. And negotiate for longer term if you want to stay longer.

In Holland if you want social housing (lower than 750 euro) there is a waiting list, ,depending on the city, between 4 - 15 years. Probably more, cause more refugees coming in than houses being build. You must have a maximum income, is mostly for people on wellfare that doesn't have a job.

So than you are in the "free sector" and a housing shortage so you pay maximum price and they have a lot of people that want to rent so they are picky. A friend simply paid 6 months rent upfront (he offered a year) so there was no need for banking info, accountant info (own boss) etcetra. Cash is always king.

[TwoTen]

I've never had a problem with renting. I just applied to the agency and they found me a suitable option. By the way, I was always lucky with the owners, no one gave a shit who I was or what I was doing

[todservices]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

A friend simply paid 6 months rent upfront (he offered a year) so there was no need for banking info, accountant info (own boss) etcetra. Cash is always king.

Unfortunately, this is not true anymore.
Cash is not king anymore.

For every apartment, you have to go through a insurance for payment default (seguro de impago) and they will check your asshole with great details, they will smell it with all their lungs.

They are usually large banks owning 1000's of flats, they don't care about your 6 months payment, they only want people who are working, pay taxes, who are stable, and who have been sole proprietor or employees for more than a year. It's part of the EU dictatorship to make it more and more difficult to get a flat for people.

[todservices]

Originally Posted by Klen

Which city exactly ? In Prague , i used hunter agency so it was pretty easy process.

Any city to be honest.
Prague is on my list too.
Good to hear it was simple.
pricewise in Prague ? how is it ?

[todservices]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

same issue, I have no job and was unable to lease a house from an agency. Only from private owners... the real issue for me is price... the small homes with lower prices are in slums and dangerous places to live. so I live in a 2500 SQFT place by myself. Much more than I need. I have empty rooms.

I don't want to be intrusive, but where are you located ?

[Klen]

Originally Posted by todservices

Any city to be honest.
Prague is on my list too.
Good to hear it was simple.
pricewise in Prague ? how is it ?

I was paying 500 euros for a 16 m flat, with included internet and maid. Before i left , price was raised to 550 euroes. However, this is still under average price, now average is around 600-700 euros for 1 room flat.

You can check https://www.bezrealitky.cz/ (without real estate agencies) and https://www.sreality.cz/ (with real estate agencies) for further info, and company which i used for flat hunting, visa and company registration is movetoprague.com

Place which you will pick depend on what you prioritize.

[AMDWarrior]

Originally Posted by todservices

Unfortunately, this is not true anymore.
Cash is not king anymore.

For every apartment, you have to go through a insurance for payment default (seguro de impago) and they will check your asshole with great details, they will smell it with all their lungs.

They are usually large banks owning 1000's of flats, they don't care about your 6 months payment, they only want people who are working, pay taxes, who are stable, and who have been sole proprietor or employees for more than a year. It's part of the EU dictatorship to make it more and more difficult to get a flat for people.

Cash is still definitely king..

[CurrentlySober]

Serious question. Instead of spending a small fortune to line the pockets of some 'Fat Cat' landlord... Why not just Squat somewhere, amd live 100% completely rent free? Its perfectly simple... You are even protected by Squatters Rights and you will have over a year and a halfs free accommodation, before they can legally evict you...

According to data provided by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the average period that property owners in Spain have to wait to evict an illegal squatter in 2021 was 18.1 months. In other words, it currently takes just over a year and a half for final court rulings to evict squatters in Spain.

https://www.idealista.com/en/news/le...enant-in-spain

Needs must n' all that. Think what you could do with all that money you'll save!

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by todservices

Unfortunately, this is not true anymore.
Cash is not king anymore.

For every apartment, you have to go through a insurance for payment default (seguro de impago) and they will check your asshole with great details, they will smell it with all their lungs.

They are usually large banks owning 1000's of flats, they don't care about your 6 months payment, they only want people who are working, pay taxes, who are stable, and who have been sole proprietor or employees for more than a year. It's part of the EU dictatorship to make it more and more difficult to get a flat for people.

Yes, just wave some cash money. Worked 6 months ago.
Will be more difficult in the future cause small landlords disappears cause of new taxes.
Friend of mine rents out studios for expats, cash is welcome. But high prices.
For some landlords it is even not profitable anymore to rent out, cause more tax and cause of rent-regime you can askmax 1000 for many appartments in the future.
They only will rent out per year to minimize the risk they have to pay back rent when it is above the max.
And many prefer expats cause they will leave and not get the "rental rights"when staying less than 1 year.
Else you might not get them out, while the government is introducing a maximum rental price.
And chalets that are used for recreation are filled with people that can't find a normal house and live there (illegal).

Every country is different, Holland is fucked. Even short time airbnb rentals forbidden/restricted.

Outside Europe it is much easier. Rented a studio for 225 euro a month in Brazil and 50 euro for gas and electricity. Or a big appartment for 450. Went to Mexico to escape lockdowns and 700 usd all inn right at the beach. Canary Islands i rented easily. Tourist places with low seasons are best. Else the appartment stay empty many months anyway. Here it is 4 months high-season, 8 months more quiet (but great).

Just go to Canary Islands, enough for rent there. Avoid the big expensive cities.

[wankawonk]

in america you have to do the song-and-dance about credit checks, pay stubs, references from previous landlords and sometimes employers

so, self-employed people have to do extra legwork. Operating under your own corporate entity helps a lot.

I bought a house even though I'd rather have my money in stocks/crypto, because jumping through hoops for landlords is fucking annoying.

[NatalieK]

here in Spain, since Brexit, it´s very hard to locate rental accommodation & yes, they check you out vigorously. Cash is not king, all rentals are through banks.

There were too many holiday people, come over, spend a few months in long term rentals, then leave without paying last few months rent or leaving huge electricity bills.

& now, most Brits are selling up and therefore lack of rentals...

glad to be in an apartment with sea views & a nice private roof solarium & balcony

[NALEM]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

I never sign a contract. You just look on facebook and airbnb and book it. And negotiate for longer term if you want to stay longer.

In Holland if you want social housing (lower than 750 euro) there is a waiting list, ,depending on the city, between 4 - 15 years. Probably more, cause more refugees coming in than houses being build. You must have a maximum income, is mostly for people on wellfare that doesn't have a job.

So than you are in the "free sector" and a housing shortage so you pay maximum price and they have a lot of people that want to rent so they are picky. A friend simply paid 6 months rent upfront (he offered a year) so there was no need for banking info, accountant info (own boss) etcetra. Cash is always king.

Originally Posted by todservices

Unfortunately, this is not true anymore.
Cash is not king anymore.

For every apartment, you have to go through a insurance for payment default (seguro de impago) and they will check your asshole with great details, they will smell it with all their lungs.

They are usually large banks owning 1000's of flats, they don't care about your 6 months payment, they only want people who are working, pay taxes, who are stable, and who have been sole proprietor or employees for more than a year. It's part of the EU dictatorship to make it more and more difficult to get a flat for people.

While there are always exceptions, I have the same experience as Tasty1. I prefer to not release any business related information, so I find a sweet spot in prepaying the rent. It is typically between 6 months and a year. Before doing so, I take the extra step of making certain (verifying) that I am dealing with the owners on the property or their legal representative, and the rental agreement and acknowledgement of the rental fees being prepaid are notarized.

In some countries, the utility companies will not transfer the bill into the renters name, making the owner legally and financially responsible at all times. Often this is illegal on the part of the utility company, and you can force them with permission of the owner to accept the renters information. Nonetheless, the work around this also, is learning what the average monthly charges are, and prepaying 6 months or more.

Prepay (cash) remains king in negotiations.

[baddog]

Sounds like the USA is the easiest place to live. Why are you guys going through an "agency?"

Actually, what do you mean by an agency? I never dealt with one when I used to rent.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by todservices

I don't want to be intrusive, but where are you located ?

That was southern California. Now I'm in northern California, paying less for twice as much

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by baddog

Sounds like the USA is the easiest place to live. Why are you guys going through an "agency?"

Actually, what do you mean by an agency? I never dealt with one when I used to rent.

Real estate agencies or other rental agencies Handel most of the properties. Most of the properties are owned by venture capital groups and banks these days. I was paying, 2700 for basically a slum house on a dirt lot with a dope spot around the corner. The rent went up to, 3200 after I left. Only place I could get in Palmdale, due to dog and job situation

[pornlaw]

As Tasty1 said, Holland is fucked. There's a huge housing shortage. But if you are in the upper echelon of rent, it gets a lot easier... sometimes.

I looked at an apartment in the center of Amsterdam. The owner who I met personally, wanted a years rent in advance... almost 45.000 euros because I was an expat... and then she Googled me and decided not to rent to me - obviously because of the porn background.

Yet, when I met her she couldnt stop bragging about how she could trace her ancestors back to the VOC 400 years ago. She was bragging about her ancestors being slave traders...WTF

But I ended up finding a place in the center of The Hague very easily through an introduction to the agent by a mutual friend. We even talked about porn and he couldn't care less...

Now I am trying to rent a 2nd apartment in Southern Italy as a summer get away place... 550 a month for 1300 sq feet with a huge balcony and views of the ocean and Mt Vesuvius...

But the agent won't rent to me because I'm not an Italian citizen and according to her in order to get utilities I need to be an Italian citizen... lol

Im just going to offer to pay a year in advance and see how she reacts...

[lockept93]

That western countries are more expensive to live is no secret. But always include the whole living costs in the math. Do u need to pay for study? What about healthcare? Can u trust the police without paying them? What are the (/) income for normal people in the country?
I also can go to a poor country and live like a king with something that would be a shitty income here in my home country.

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by lockept93

That western countries are more expensive to live is no secret. But always include the whole living costs in the math. Do u need to pay for study? What about healthcare? Can u trust the police without paying them? What are the (/) income for normal people in the country?
I also can go to a poor country and live like a king with something that would be a shitty income here in my home country.

I think you have the wrong idea about countries.

If i look left i see middle class and some poor Mexicans. If i look right i see 5 star resorts and million dollar villa's. Building new appartments next door starting at 450.000. In 10 years there will only be million dollar villas here.

In Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Gran Canaria, Argentina, Vietnam i stay in good neighbourhoods where tourist rent a hotel room for 100-200 usd a night. Most of the youth also has better education than the generation before. The Americans here now complain about the strong pesos, many have to move to cheaper parts of Mexico to be able to retire.

Don't need to live like a king. I prefer i don't have to work till my retirement age (69 in Holland) and die soon after. But travel the world before i am in a wheelchair. You can't buy more time.
Europe is nice, but only in summer 1-3 months.

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by pornlaw

As Tasty1 said, Holland is fucked. There's a huge housing shortage. But if you are in the upper echelon of rent, it gets a lot easier... sometimes.

I looked at an apartment in the center of Amsterdam. The owner who I met personally, wanted a years rent in advance... almost 45.000 euros because I was an expat... and then she Googled me and decided not to rent to me - obviously because of the porn background.

Yet, when I met her she couldnt stop bragging about how she could trace her ancestors back to the VOC 400 years ago. She was bragging about her ancestors being slave traders...WTF

But I ended up finding a place in the center of The Hague very easily through an introduction to the agent by a mutual friend. We even talked about porn and he couldn't care less...

Now I am trying to rent a 2nd apartment in Southern Italy as a summer get away place... 550 a month for 1300 sq feet with a huge balcony and views of the ocean and Mt Vesuvius...

But the agent won't rent to me because I'm not an Italian citizen and according to her in order to get utilities I need to be an Italian citizen... lol

Im just going to offer to pay a year in advance and see how she reacts...

45.000.... crazy. I wouldn'spent that much living in Amsterdam. Must be an expensive big appartment. In Groningen (much nicer city), you would rent a complete old "grachtenpand" in the center.

Better rent near Vesuvius and don't buy

[LetterTwenty7]

It's pretty standard for an EU country. They want to ensure you have adequate means of subsistence to avoid issues with people who want to work and stay in a country illegally.

[lockept93]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

I think you have the wrong idea about countries.

If i look left i see middle class and some poor Mexicans. If i look right i see 5 star resorts and million dollar villa's. Building new appartments next door starting at 450.000. In 10 years there will only be million dollar villas here.

In Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Gran Canaria, Argentina, Vietnam i stay in good neighbourhoods where tourist rent a hotel room for 100-200 usd a night. Most of the youth also has better education than the generation before. The Americans here now complain about the strong pesos, many have to move to cheaper parts of Mexico to be able to retire.

Don't need to live like a king. I prefer i don't have to work till my retirement age (69 in Holland) and die soon after. But travel the world before i am in a wheelchair. You can't buy more time.
Europe is nice, but only in summer 1-3 months.

Im talking about to not forget to include all factors in the math, not that it's not better or cheaper somewhere. Sure even in every country itself u have different areas with huge differences. In the end it is important what u want in your life - not everyone need more than 3 months summer, not everyone want travel all the time. Also children are a important factor and the own age.
If I would live somewhere nice and cheaper than our area in europe, then yes I may would also think about Thailand and such things. But not Somalia, doesn't matter how cheap it is.
Just do what makes u happy - this is the biggest value.

[The Porn Nerd]

I just moved to Amsterdam and it took me four months and thousands of US dollars to find an apartment. The competition for housing is so insane here that when a property becomes available it is normal to have 50-200 applicants apply for a viewing.

I have been to open houses where there was a 100 person line around the block to view a 50m one bedroom flat on the top floor of an old Dutch building. Asking rent: $2000 euros not including utilities. It actually rented for $2700 which means there was a bidding war.

In Holland they are housing students (the ones least likely to have the resources to rent a normal flat) in these giant plastic boxes near the Schipol airport, like fucking hamsters. Many places for rent will specify "no students" or "not for sharing" (no roommates). Completely crazy! Then you have to worry about the expat services who will charge you one month's rent on top of the landlord's security and sometimes large fees, too. Many are dishonest and the ones who are legit make you (the expat) jump through fifty hoops in terms of documentation before they will even represent you. Fun times!!

[Klen]

Originally Posted by pornlaw

As Tasty1 said, Holland is fucked. There's a huge housing shortage. But if you are in the upper echelon of rent, it gets a lot easier... sometimes.

I looked at an apartment in the center of Amsterdam. The owner who I met personally, wanted a years rent in advance... almost 45.000 euros because I was an expat... and then she Googled me and decided not to rent to me - obviously because of the porn background.

Yet, when I met her she couldnt stop bragging about how she could trace her ancestors back to the VOC 400 years ago. She was bragging about her ancestors being slave traders...WTF

But I ended up finding a place in the center of The Hague very easily through an introduction to the agent by a mutual friend. We even talked about porn and he couldn't care less...

Now I am trying to rent a 2nd apartment in Southern Italy as a summer get away place... 550 a month for 1300 sq feet with a huge balcony and views of the ocean and Mt Vesuvius...

But the agent won't rent to me because I'm not an Italian citizen and according to her in order to get utilities I need to be an Italian citizen... lol

Im just going to offer to pay a year in advance and see how she reacts...

Having a last name which sounds Italian did not helped ?

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

45.000.... crazy. I wouldn'spent that much living in Amsterdam. Must be an expensive big appartment. In Groningen (much nicer city), you would rent a complete old "grachtenpand" in the center.

Better rent near Vesuvius and don't buy

look at vids about NYC apartments..

[pornlaw]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

45.000.... crazy. I wouldn'spent that much living in Amsterdam. Must be an expensive big appartment. In Groningen (much nicer city), you would rent a complete old "grachtenpand" in the center.

Better rent near Vesuvius and don't buy

Yeah it was a great place... 2 floors, 2 large bedrooms, office - on a canal and it had an indoor heated pool...

Im glad she rejected me... I found a place in The Hague in the center that Im happier for considerable less.

[pornlaw]

Originally Posted by Klen

Having a last name which sounds Italian did not helped ?

Surprisingly no. This is the village my family is from and they are trying to keep me out.

[Tasty1]

I was wondering where you can rent a nice place for 3 months in the US.
What would be a nice stay?

[The Porn Nerd]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

I was wondering where you can rent a nice place for 3 months in the US.
What would be a nice stay?

Define "nice".

Given your posts and what a cheap fuck you appear to be (joking) you can forget about most of the "nice" major cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, etc.

However, if you can drive and don't mind living a little away from city centers I would recommend these States:

North Carolina
South Carolina
Florida (the northern parts)
New Mexico
Colorado
Oregon
Washington (State)
Nevada (outside Las Vegas)

Stay away from:

California
New York
New Jersey
Texas
Florida (southern part)
Massachusetts

If you don't mind being in bumfuck nowhere:

Maine
West Virginia
Nebraska
Montana
Wyoming
Oklahoma
Minnesota (outside Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Alaska
Hawaii

Be prepared to drive a lot, spend a lot, eat a lot and get fat a lot. LOL
Oh - and keep your head down (guns bang bang!)

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

Define "nice".

Given your posts and what a cheap fuck you appear to be (joking) you can forget about most of the "nice" major cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, etc.

However, if you can drive and don't mind living a little away from city centers I would recommend these States:

North Carolina
South Carolina
Florida (the northern parts)
New Mexico
Colorado
Oregon
Washington (State)
Nevada (outside Las Vegas)

Stay away from:

California
New York
New Jersey
Texas
Florida (southern part)
Massachusetts

If you don't mind being in bumfuck nowhere:

Maine
West Virginia
Nebraska
Montana
Wyoming
Oklahoma
Minnesota (outside Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Alaska
Hawaii

Be prepared to drive a lot, spend a lot, eat a lot and get fat a lot. LOL
Oh - and keep your head down (guns bang bang!)

Looks like not many cheap options. I already went to Miami a month an drive around to Key West, Orlando. And did Highway 1 from San Francisco to Palm Springs and Vegas, Joshua Tree.

Looking at the prices i think when i go to the US i take 1 month New York in a studio. Most to see there and no need to rent a car.

[adultinnovation]

how's palm springs.. I've never been there but seen some nice little Villas for sale there pretty cheap

[pornlaw]

Originally Posted by adultinnovation

how's palm springs.. I've never been there but seen some nice little Villas for sale there pretty cheap

Surface of the Sun hot in the summer, beautiful in the Spring, Fall and Winter.

But to escape the heat, get a pool which most villas will already have and you can take a tram to the top of San Jacinto Peak - there's about a 30 degree (F) difference in the temps on the Valley floor to the top of the Peak.

[The Porn Nerd]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

Looks like not many cheap options. I already went to Miami a month an drive around to Key West, Orlando. And did Highway 1 from San Francisco to Palm Springs and Vegas, Joshua Tree.

Looking at the prices i think when i go to the US i take 1 month New York in a studio. Most to see there and no need to rent a car.

Let me know when you are thinking of going and I will give you a deal on my one bedroom apartment in Manhattan. I AirBnB it out when I am not there so I would need to know dates but I would definitely hook you up.

[todservices]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

I just moved to Amsterdam and it took me four months and thousands of US dollars to find an apartment. The competition for housing is so insane here that when a property becomes available it is normal to have 50-200 applicants apply for a viewing.

I have been to open houses where there was a 100 person line around the block to view a 50m one bedroom flat on the top floor of an old Dutch building. Asking rent: $2000 euros not including utilities. It actually rented for $2700 which means there was a bidding war.

In Holland they are housing students (the ones least likely to have the resources to rent a normal flat) in these giant plastic boxes near the Schipol airport, like fucking hamsters. Many places for rent will specify "no students" or "not for sharing" (no roommates). Completely crazy! Then you have to worry about the expat services who will charge you one month's rent on top of the landlord's security and sometimes large fees, too. Many are dishonest and the ones who are legit make you (the expat) jump through fifty hoops in terms of documentation before they will even represent you. Fun times!!

This is EXACTLY what I want to avoid.
I don't need that kind of shit in my life.
Although I have an apartment now and I can keep it for many years, I'm seriously thinking about leaving the EU dictatorship and go to some "developing" countries, where the rat race is not as fierce as it is now in so-called "developed" countries.

I was watching some YT videos about ecuador, and I could see guys on their motorbike in the city with no helmet! I want to live in a country where cops don't give a shit if you wear your helmet or not. Sure, some heads are cracked here and there, but that's freedom to me

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

Let me know when you are thinking of going and I will give you a deal on my one bedroom apartment in Manhattan. I AirBnB it out when I am not there so I would need to know dates but I would definitely hook you up.

That sounds great! Still must decide if/when fly by the US to our next destination in Europe.
But would be around 14 July, if we don't fly directly to Europe.
And they must lift the vaccine mandate, could be in may.

Looking at New York, we must see it once in our lives. And take the time to walk everywhere.

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by adultinnovation

how's palm springs.. I've never been there but seen some nice little Villas for sale there pretty cheap

It was small, but nice town. Few bars, remember we went to 1 big bar with live music. But was 14 years ago. Looked like a very safe and clean town. Must be some famous people with villa's living there. And we where happy, had a good cheap hotel there. Visited the Airplane Museum.

Joshua Tree Park was nice to drive through. But nothing there to live in. Camping there with a camper must be nice.

I see a new town is growing next to Palm Springs. We thought it was a little bit for old-timers and hideaways for celebs.
Could become a new hotspot that area.
https://www.cityofdhs.org/5-reasons-...rn-california/

[Tasty1]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

I just moved to Amsterdam and it took me four months and thousands of US dollars to find an apartment. The competition for housing is so insane here that when a property becomes available it is normal to have 50-200 applicants apply for a viewing.

I have been to open houses where there was a 100 person line around the block to view a 50m one bedroom flat on the top floor of an old Dutch building. Asking rent: $2000 euros not including utilities. It actually rented for $2700 which means there was a bidding war.

In Holland they are housing students (the ones least likely to have the resources to rent a normal flat) in these giant plastic boxes near the Schipol airport, like fucking hamsters. Many places for rent will specify "no students" or "not for sharing" (no roommates). Completely crazy! Then you have to worry about the expat services who will charge you one month's rent on top of the landlord's security and sometimes large fees, too. Many are dishonest and the ones who are legit make you (the expat) jump through fifty hoops in terms of documentation before they will even represent you. Fun times!!

Hilversum might be easier, 20 minutes by train to Amsterdam. There are no universities in Hilversum. So less students want to rent there. Also The Hague has no big universities. I was looking to buy to rent out in Hilversum. Good location and relatively better priced.

My sister lived in a container-flat in Amsterdam. Was fine and best space you can have as student cause price set by government and it is a complete studio. Till the government decided to use 50% for refugees and problem cases. Good for integration they said.... And after study you must move out and won't be able to find a house so many return to cities they came from.

When i was 19 i already had an apartment with social rent cause i worked. And than went to study for 5 years So i had a whole apartment for myself while other students searching for an (expensive) room. Can forget that now, and it wasn't near Amsterdam. Amsterdam and Utrecht are most crazy regarding houses.