12 Tips for Apartment-Hunting in Ho Chi Minh City

The blending of the modern Western features and the traditional architecture of Vietnam has made Ho Cho Minh City one of the premium destinations in Southeast Asia for tourists and property investors. This is why there is a demand for villa rental deals, rent a house options, and apartment for rent in Ho Chi Minh City. However, each district in HCMC offers various housing or rental deals depending on the location, accessibility, and amenities available. For expats looking to rent apartment at HCMC, it is important to remember the following signs when finalizing a deal.

1. Determine how to get to work or school. Before you rent apartment in Saigon, make sure you know how to get to work or school. Not all districts have the best access to public transportation such as districts 2, 3, 5, and 7. If you own a car, make sure to ask the landlord if there is a safe parking space for your automobile within the property complex.

2. Get to know all the districts. Looking for Ho Chi Minh apartments for rent is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You cannot just pick the least expensive deal you can find and fail to consider how far the apartment is from your workplace or school. Each of the 24 districts in HCMC is distinct and the price range of the villa rental, apartments, and rent a house deals will also vary greatly. For example, a condominium rental in district 1 will be more expensive than getting a full deal for rent a house in district 3, because district 1 has a higher price range for rent than district 3. However, an apartment for rent in district 2 might be a better deal for an expat who is looking for a long-term deal than in expensive serviced apartments in district 3.

3. Look for markets and restaurants. The same goes for shopping malls, markets, cafes, and restaurants in the district. Some districts such as districts 5, 7, and 10 are known for the variety of Vietnamese cuisine and Western dishes. But the affordability of the food and the access to restaurants and supermarkets will also impact the convenience of living in certain districts even if there are cheap villa rental or apartment for rent in Ho Chi Minh City.

4. Look for hospitals and schools. As one of the best cities for expats in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City also boasts of the best hospitals, schools, and universities in the country. But if you are a foreigner looking to rent an apartment at HCMC, you should also consider the districts that cater to foreign students. Districts 7, 10, and Binh Thanh have the most number of internationals schools and universities, that is why they have also several affordable rent a house deals and Saigon apartment rental for families and for individual students.

5. Set a budget and stick to it. You should consider the deal only if you can afford to pay it. There are plenty of cheap but quality apartment for rent in Ho Chi Minh City, so don’t despair if you cannot find a deal the first time. Financial experts advise that your rent should not exceed 25% of your current income. If you work in district 1, you will still be able to rent apartment at HCMC in the surrounding districts.

6. Make a list of five properties for your initial search. Determine what type of property you can afford based on the number of individuals who will share with the rent (this could be a roommate or a family member). Then, look for the best-reviewed Saigon apartment rental listings or villa rental in the surrounding districts to begin your search. Your final decision does not necessarily have to be limited to the five choices, but they could be your basis for comparison during your search.

7. Visually-inspect the property. Never sign a deal unless you have been allowed to inspect the apartment or house. Be suspicious of landlords who are too eager to agree to a price. How do you know if you’re getting a good deal? Inspect the walls, windows, sinks and faucets, water pressure, electricity and appliances, and the pipes. You might also want to observe how noisy the neighbors are or if you can hear the car horns from the highway.

8. Talk to the neighbors. Take time to ask the neighbors for details about the area and how the landlord treats them. You will gain more invaluable information about renting of accommodation at Masteri in Vietnam located at Thao Dien and getting to know the entire neighborhood this way. You can also ask them where to shop, dine, or which places you should go to for fun and recreation.

9. Compare the amenities and incentives. Do not sign with the first good deal you find when looking to rent an apartment in Saigon. There might be better deals with better amenities and incentives the longer you search.

10. Ask for a complete price breakdown. Before you negotiate with the lease, you should have an idea of the range of the rent in that district then ask for a detailed list of the amenities you’re paying for. The list should include the monthly rent, security deposit, initial payment, and other services.

11. Read and understand the contract. Go over the contract carefully before signing because you don’t want to regret not paying attention to the details after you have paid. The contract should contain the lease agreements but determine which ones are applicable to you or not.

12. Get to know the landlord. You don’t need to be the best of friends with the landlord to get the best villa rental deal, but you should at least have all his/her contact details. It will also be easier to ask for discounts when you rent apartment in Saigon if you build a rapport early on.

Source: Rdutrek