Relocation · Reinvent NY glossary
A lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord and tenant establishing the terms of a rental arrangement. Standard NYC leases are 1-2 years. Key provisions include monthly rent, security deposit (typically one month), utilities included/excluded, subletting policy, renewal terms, and pet policy. In NYC, landlords typically require proof of income (40x monthly rent annually), credit check, employment verification, and references. Foreign renters without US credit history may need to pay additional months upfront (2-6 months) or provide a guarantor earning 80x the monthly rent.
The four states international buyers ask about most: New York up 5.2% on the year, California at a 4.22% yield, and what Texas and Florida really cost.
Indiana, Missouri and Ohio in 2026: state gains of 3-3.5% on the year with yields of 5.75-6.61%, and the secondary cities quietly outperforming the metros.
Baltimore in 2026: a $192,669 typical value, $1,799 rents and an 11.2% gross yield — the highest on the Northeast corridor, and what the price is telling you.
Ohio in 2026: a $251,502 state median up 3.5% on the year, with Cleveland at a 14.13% gross yield and Columbus at 6.96% — and what separates the two.
Moving to New York and working out the order of things?
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