Land renting advice for new Residents

== Caveat Emptor ==
Renter beware. Or at least be aware. Learn what you can about renting land, why you want it, and what you can do with it. The advice in this notecard should keep you out of most land trouble, but in the end you are responsible for your decisions. Renting is different from ownership - the landlord makes the rules and each landlord is different. Check what you are committing to before you pay.
== You don't need land for Second Life to be enjoyable ==
To enjoy Second Life you do not need land.
Renting land is best if you want to:
* Have a shop in a popular place.
* Are a basic account holder.
* Want to live in a community with rules (a zoned community).
* Want to pay in Linden$ rather than US$.
* Want to move when you want.
== Renting versus Owning ==
You can "own" SL land directly. If you own SL land, you will need to pay monthly tier fees to Linden Lab. 
OR
You can pay for the use of land from other players on the mainland. You can also "rent" land from other players in island sims (off the mainland) which can be more like ownership; you can have access to land control features. Neither of these two options require you to have land tier, so you will not need to pay tier fees to Linden Lab. The main difference between ownership and renting island sim land is that the owner can at reclaim the land from you at anytime.
== Land or Property ==
You can rent a bare piece of land or land that has been developed in some way. Developed land generally costs more and it may already have a house or apartment on it. If you want to build rent a bare plot of land. If you like the idea of just moving into a house then rent land with a house or apartment on. There are also many suppliers of prefab houses to choose from.
== Mainland or Island ==
You can rent land on the mainland, or on islands with their own rules. Each island has different rules - *find out the rules before you pay*.
Some landlords will deed your land to a group of your choice. This will allow you more control such as terraforming, admit and ban lists. Some landlords may call this ownership and ask for an upfront fee (to "purchase"). Some landlords don't and will deed to group for a normal weekly rent.
If a landlord calls the land owned rather than rented they may expect you to find a replacement.
Many islands are themed and have rules. You may only be able to build a house (not a shop or a club) or it may require you to build in a theme.
Some island rentals are paid in Linden$, some require US$ via paypal.
== (Plot) Size Matters ==
The more land you rent the more stuff you can put on it usually. With each rental you should be told clearly how many prims you have use of. With bare land it will be available in the About Land in the World Menu. Renting a house or a shop in a mall is different - clicking on the rental box will usually tell you the rules. (an empty lot with 512 square meter gives you usually 117 prims). However the property owner may make more prims available to you as an option on your rental.
== Location! Location! Location! ==
Look at the land before you rent it. For a house you may want a quiet area away from clubs and things that cause lag. For a shop you may want the opposite.
If you rent on an island and it has very busy events there is a possibility that you may not be able to access it while the sim is crowded.
Location affects rental prices - the more traffic a commercial area has the more rent you will probably have to pay. PG land is generally cheaper than Mature land.
== Finding Rental Property ==
If your friends rent they may know of places nearby. You can also use the search button to find rental property, land rentals and the location of rental directory options.
== If you have a problem, ask for help ==
The advice in this notecard does not cover everything that can happen in a land deal. If you have a problem ask for help. Ask your friends, Live Help (help menu->Live Help...), on the forums, e-mail support@secondlife.com or if worst come to worst, search for someone online with the last name "Linden". They are employees of Second Life and are there to help you.
== Contributor ==
* StoneSelf Karuna
=== Special Thanks ===
* Roberta Dalek
* Pendari Lorentz
Land Renting Advice for New Residents