I hear stories all the time of people's rent going up $300-600 just after a year.

Oh sorry, I thought you were pretending to be speaking from my perspective.

Will make* please don't forget her legal income right now is $0

Why 10 downvotes for making 3K? Are people offended I don't make more money, wtf??

Trying to live in Ayer/Lowell/Worcester?? Come on now

My family will help out a little with the down payment and my soon to be wife will make 2x what I make. You're right though. On my salary alone there is no way I could buy a home here.

I'm looking at Worcester and everything east of Worcester. I work mostly remote and only need to go into the office once a week.

I added this comment to my post, but just in case people have scrolled past it...

EDIT: I was trying to keep my personal life out of this conversation, but since so many have been helpful and inquired about my situation, I will share a little. My fiancee and I are in the process of getting married and it's taken quite a long time to complete this process to get her green-card, etc. It might even take another year, that's why I want to rent for the next year. Once she gets a job legally here, she will make 2-3x as much as I do, this is when we will apply for buying a house because combined incomes will qualify for so much more. Until that point, we will just live off my my salary. I hope this makes my situation a little more clear. Thank you to those have have given helpful advice.

I want cash in hand for buying a house. I can only withdraw up to 10K from by Roth (penalty free) as a first time home buyer. So I don't want all my money locked up.

Yes I have, and buying a house is the plan, but I need to rent for the next year.

I am, but I need to rent for the next year.

lol so there are just SO MANY renters with high incomes and great credit scores??

The thing is, I could. If push came to shove I would do it, I just think there will be a better deal out there.

No not Boston. Areas like Lowell, Marlborough, Worcester, etc.

My point is, just because you make more, doesn't mean you have more. If you were a landlord, would you rather rent your $1,500 studio to someone making 3K a month with an 800 credit score and a net worth over 100K, or rent to someone making 5K a month with a 650 credit score with barely 5K in the bank and a $500+ a month car payment?

The reason I say this is because I have several friends who make 2-3x as much as I do, but they're terrible with their money.

Landlords have expectations of their tenants staying beyond a year if they jack up the price?? Who's to say I don't get a raise or promotion to keep up with the landlord's greed?

Fair enough

I take home 3K a month, looking for a place for $1,500.

How did you get someone to rent to you?

Yes crime rate specifically. I don't want to have to worry about catching a stray bullet or my wife being assaulted the minute she steps out of the apartment. I don't care about nightlife, highway access and schools.