worthj1970@yahoo.com (John W.) wrote in message news:<73fde4f0.0306190601.1693afd2@posting.google.com>...
> anotherfool@hotmail.com (another fool) wrote in message news:<44845040.0306160045.79c1ece9@posting.google.com>...
> > 
> > I don't know - the housing situation here is pretty open (lots of
> > places for sale and rent).  And we hit it both in one house we were
> > interested in and the one we eventually rented.
> > 
> > In case #1 when they found out that a foriegner was inquiring about
> > the house they said they didn't want me because they were looking for
> > a 'long term lease' - when asked if 3 years wasn't 'long term' the
> > landlord said 'no I'm looking for someone for 5+ years'.  The realtors
> > told us this had only become a problem when he found out I wasn't
> > Japanese.
> > 
> > In case #2 the house we eventually leased the landlord wanted copies
> > of our passport picture pages.  We faxed them over and the landlord
> > wanted copies that were lighter since he couldn't see our faces.  When
> > we asked the realtor they just sort of apologized that he was afraid I
> > might be black.  I wasn't really thrilled (and after getting here and
> > finding out the AC's they told us were working DON'T I'm less
> > thrilled) but I needed someplace to stay - and the house is
> > inexpensive and will let us keep the insane feline.
> 
> In my experience, it helps to have a referral. Actually this is true
> for Japanes and foriegners alike, but we got our place through a
> realtor a friend had used with much success.
> 
> John W.

I don`t know - my company had made the arrangements with the realtors.
 The lease was signed by my company.  All the bills and rent are being
paid directly by them.  This was made very clear to the real estate
agents we worked with (I was suprised there is no central listing
service) and should have been made clear to the landlords.  You`d
think we`d be a landlords dream...