Guide to renting, buying, investing and living

Your rights renting and buying in the US

What you’ll run into moving from Taiwan to Arizona, explained step by step, with the original English terms and sources. This is general information, not legal, tax or mortgage advice; check with a licensed professional before you sign.

Fair housing

Landlords, agents, and platforms can’t turn you away or steer you to certain neighborhoods because of race, national origin, religion, familial status, and so on.

Source: Fair Housing Act（42 U.S.C. § 3604）

Contract before showings

When buying, an agent must sign a written agreement with you before showing homes (including live video tours), stating the services and fees. This rule doesn’t apply to renting. If you don’t understand a clause, you can ask the agent to explain it in Chinese.

Source: NAR (from 2024-08-17)

Licenses you can look up

Agent licenses can be checked with the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE), and loan officers on NMLS.

Go to the lookup links on the partners page

Glossary

HOA	Homeowners Association. Collects monthly dues and sets community rules, such as exterior paint colors, parking, and where trash bins go.
SPDS	Seller Property Disclosure Statement. The seller must disclose known problems with the home, such as leaks, termites, and repair history.
BINSR	The repair request after inspection (Buyer’s Inspection Notice and Seller’s Response). The buyer lists requests, and the seller replies whether they’ll fix each one.
Security deposit	Under Arizona law, the deposit plus prepaid rent generally can’t exceed 1.5 months’ rent in total (A.R.S. § 33-1321). After you move out and request it, the landlord must return it within 14 days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) with an itemized list of deductions.
Earnest money	A good-faith deposit the buyer pays once the offer is accepted. It’s held by a third-party escrow/title company and credited toward the price at closing. Commonly about 1–2% of the price.
Escrow	A neutral third party (an escrow/title company) holds the money and documents, and only transfers title and releases funds once all conditions are met.
Pre-approval	Loan pre-approval. After reviewing your income and assets, the lender gives you a letter stating how much you can borrow, which you attach to your offer.
CC&Rs	The HOA’s community rules, spelling out what you can and can’t do, such as exterior changes, parking, and rental limits. Read them before you buy.
Closing costs	Costs of closing, including loan fees, title insurance, escrow fees, and more; the down payment isn’t included.
ITIN	A number the IRS issues for tax filing to people without an SSN. Investors need it to report rental income and home sales.
DSCR loan	An investment loan approved based on whether the property’s rent can cover the mortgage (Debt Service Coverage Ratio). Personal income matters less, and rates are higher.
W-8ECI	A form nonresidents give their property manager stating rent will be reported on a net basis, so the manager doesn’t have to withhold 30% of gross rent.
Depreciation	The building portion (not the land) of a residential rental can be expensed over 27.5 years, lowering taxable income each year; it’s recaptured and taxed when you sell.
LLC	Limited liability company. Often used to hold rental homes and shield you from liability; decide on tax and estate planning with an accountant and a lawyer.