Upon your arrival in the United States, you may be placed in temporary housing of some sort. This may be a corporate apartment, leased communal home, or hotel room. If you will be a traveller, your employer will usually arrange all housing; if you'll be in a fixed location and responsible for your own lodging, you'll want to get settled as soon as possible and this will begin as soon as you locate a suitable apartment. Your Buddy can advise you which areas of town are safe and most convenient to your place of employment. Remember, since commuting in the United States can take some time, it is usually best to live as close as possible to work. In addition to saving you money on commuting, it also means that you will have time to go home for lunch, run an errand, etc., during your regular lunch break.

In selecting your new home, do not be bashful about inquiring about the neighborhood. While most U.S. cities are safe to live in, there are high crime areas which must be strictly avoided. Seek a safe residential area with well lighted parking, hallways, and common areas. Before signing a lease, talk to the neighbors and local business owners. Ask them if they feel safe in the neighborhood.

If you will be working as a traveling professional, your employer will usually arrange your housing. Otherwise, most residential apartments in the United States require the execution of a "lease". A lease is a contract whereby the tenant promises to rent a given unit for a certain amount of time at a certain price. The general rule is: the longer the lease, the lower the monthly payment. Since you will probably be obtaining your first home in the United States, it may be a good idea to avoid a long-term lease commitment. If you sign a one year lease and are unhappy with your housing, you can always move next year. If you sign a three year lease, you may be stuck longer than you would like. Occasionally, in areas of high vacancy, it may be possible for you to negotiate a month-to-month arrangement with the landlord. Although this may cost you a little more money each month, it may be worthwhile, since it will give you continuous flexibility to relocate at your convenience. Again, bear in mind that commuting distance to work is an important factor.

Once you have selected your home, you will probably be eager to furnish it. The United States has a vast variety of furnisher and accessories dealers, and you would do well to shop around thoroughly before making any final purchases. It is often possible to find very similar furnishings at extremely different price ranges, and the first store you shop may wind up being the most expensive. Certain places, such as Pier 1 Imports, offer a variety of international products at competitive prices. Department stores have also become increasingly competitive, and furniture warehouses continue to offer excellent prices. Be wary of "designer showrooms", since these usually have extremely high catalog and staff overheads; chances are you will find something very similar at a lower price if you go to the department stores and warehouses.

One last item: you will need to get a telephone and electric service in your new home. The easiest way to do this is to look in the front pages of the telephone directory of the city in which you live. Telephone numbers for the phone company, as well as for the utility companies, are clearly listed. Call the phone and electric company and advise them of your new location and needs. You will probably be able to make all of the arrangements over the telephone, with them sending you a bill. You can pay the bill with a check from your checking account. Finally, it is a good idea to spend an hour scanning the Yellow Page directory for your city. There is an abundance of information regarding local community events, services, and telephone numbers which will ultimately assist you in getting settled in your new home.