This is exactly the reason why I am looking to rent instead of buy. Right now, you’d think the rental market would be ripe for the picking. However, in my opinion, there are so many vacancies that the landlords aren’t properly fixing them up and making them available. You’re left with old foreclosures that were abandoned by the previous ‘owners’ (and these are in pretty bad shape.) If you use the internet, you can search for some houses for rent, but trying to go through a standard channel is frustrating.