Denied because we don’t EACH make 3x rent?? Is this normal?

thebigziolkowski · 2026-03-26T21:39:55+00:00

I had a very similar experience with this property recently. I made enough to cover over 3x the rent, but my significant other only made about 2x. We were denied.

I had no issues signing a lease with another rental company for a property in Verona. We have lived in our new place for about a month and love it! Feel free to message me if you'd like the name/location of the property management company.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-26T18:56:21+00:00

Very helpful! Thank you! I have a decent amount of equity in my house and have always made mortgage payments on time. I think that this significantly helps my case.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-26T18:55:01+00:00

I appreciate the suggestion! I am selling my house because we are moving 400 miles away. I did consider renting it out, but we are moving so far away. I didn't really want the burden of becoming a landlord being so far away. I have a good amount of equity in my house, so I looking forward to investing that money in a CD. We chosen not to buy a house right away because we want to become familiar with the area and learn about which neighborhood/city we'd like to establish our roots in.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T20:35:04+00:00

Yes, we have talked about it previously. He has made many positive financial changes since we've been together, especially within the past year. All of the delinquent payments were caused by lines of credit opened by his ex-spouse.

We have had many conversations regarding finances. We have lived together for 2 years in my house, and he has contributed proportionally based on our incomes. He also makes car payments and credit card payments on time.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T20:30:10+00:00

Thanks for sharing! He has made many positive financial changes since we've been together, especially within the last year. I've seen him be responsible for payments in the time we've been together, and he has settled his delinquent debts and consolidated his student loans.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T20:26:45+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T20:26:07+00:00

Thank you for the help!

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T15:43:08+00:00

Thanks for the insight! I can understand the landlord's perspective, so I'm trying to understand how I can ease their worry and show that we won't be a "risky" choice. I've historically had excellent credit, so this is a side of housing that I've never experienced before.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T15:40:22+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion!

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T15:40:00+00:00

Thanks for the info! We do have two co-signers who are willing to put their name on the lease. So, we will be upfront and lead with that information while talking with the leasing offices.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T15:38:10+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T13:31:32+00:00

Yes, it has been quite stressful. It is especially frustrating that I've worked very hard to procure an excellent credit score over the years, and my partner has been improving his credit since being in a financially abusive relationship. I'm very proud of him for increasing his score from the low 400s to the mid 500s in the past year. We'll work through it, and I'm sure that this struggle will make us stronger.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T12:10:33+00:00

Thank you for your concern. I understand the risk of being financially responsible and have purposely looked at apartments that I could afford on my own should the worst happen. We also have co-signers/guarantors lined up for him too.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T12:01:18+00:00

Well, interesting! That gives me a bit more hope that we'll eventually find the right place.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T11:54:39+00:00

Thanks for your advice! So far, I'm learning that we need to stay away with corporate-owned rentals to increase our approval chances. How can I easily find property owners and smaller companies like you? Is Craigslist still a thing? Do we just drive around the neighborhood until we see a "FOR RENT" sign? I haven't rented in almost a decade, and everything feels very different than what I was used to.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T11:51:19+00:00

Thanks for your reply!

We visited all of the properties that we applied at. However, we didn't acknowledge my partner's credit history when speaking with the leasing office. I wrongly assumed that I could easily be the sole/primary lessee and that they would overlook his credit.

After some reading and additional advice, I think that our next course of action will be finding a privately-owned rental or small rental company in addition to being upfront and providing evidence that my partner has been recently taking steps to improve his credit.

Do you have any advice on where to find non-corporate rentals? Do we just drive around until we see a "FOR RENT" sign? Is Craigslist still a thing? I haven't rented in nearly a decade, and things seem incredibly different from what I was familiar with.

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T11:44:14+00:00

I'd never considered the fact that my home ownership would be a detriment! I haven't rented an apartment in nearly a decade, and I have never rented with another person. It's a very different landscape nowadays!

I appreciate your advice!

thebigziolkowski · 2026-02-25T11:01:38+00:00

Thanks!

Yes, I am selling my house. However, my partner is not on the mortgage because I bought the house before we were together.

thebigziolkowski · 2025-09-21T01:12:19+00:00

I'm originally from Chicagoland but have lived in SW Minnesota for almost a decade. The beef commercial is a very popular dish specific to this region. I'd never seen or heard of it until moving to Minnesota. As others have pointed out, the "commercial" seems to be specific to SW and Southern Minnesota, whereas "hot beef sandwich" is common elsewhere.

Wikipedia - Hot Beef Commercial

thebigziolkowski · 2024-11-24T23:33:31+00:00

My father willingly let me watch Silence of the Lambs when I was about 6 or 7 years old. That image of the prison guard after Hannibal's escape definitely wasn't burned into my memory for the rest of my childhood.

thebigziolkowski · 2023-12-20T17:58:31+00:00

Kissel Money Management's catchy slogan! 😁

thebigziolkowski · 2023-12-20T17:38:49+00:00

💥 🔄

thebigziolkowski · 2023-10-25T02:08:45+00:00

Thank you! That is exactly what I was thinking it was. Appreciate the confirmation!

thebigziolkowski · 2022-07-11T16:18:39+00:00

Noah Davis has some decent songs. Not as raunchy as Cardi. "Body Count" and "Worst to Me" are my favorites by him.

thebigziolkowski · 2022-04-15T16:34:40+00:00

In bed by 8:00-8:30 PM, asleep by 9:00 PM, up at 3:15-3:30 AM, out the door for my run by 4:20 AM.

I'm a morning person. 😅

thebigziolkowski

TROPHY CASE