Apartment choice assistance, please? (Dark Horse appears on Page 5)

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?


I would go with No. 2 and not wash your clothes.

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

Cheaper is always the way to go these days. Unless safety is an issue, I'd go with the cheaper place.

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

EStreetJoe makes a good last point (well, the others are good, too) about move-in deals. If you're planning to stay more than a year, make sure that you can afford the jump in rent for the second year. If they're giving you some great incentive in that first year, be sure you can afford what the regular rent will be, plus allow for an increase. There can be real sticker shock if you've gotten a sweet deal for year one, with a few hundred dollars off per month, only to get slapped with a $500/month increase for year two.

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

I'd go for 2) for this: "Closer to small shops/delis/parks/etc. Sunroom with a ton of windows to enjoy the view/nice days"

In my opinion living a one minute walk from a big box shopping centre is a reason NOT to chose 1).

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

I would strike out the "closer to nightlife" or "close to box stores" considerations. If they're both 5 minutes from the office, then they're 10 minutes apart, yes?

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

Right, JR. But I'm not asking where YOU'D live. And my affinity for Walmart is well known.

It's not a discounted rent as the move-in deal, it's a month free. So with prorated rent for April, plus deposit and pet fee, I'm in the door for less than $800 at No. 1. With May free. So $780 or so gets me 5.5 weeks of living.

At No. 2, It's the rent plus a month's deposit, then I owe again like a week and a half later.


And jlee, no. They're not opposite directions.

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

So the farthest walk from work is 5 minutes, and one is closer than the other? Then location really shouldn't be a factor, imo.

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

Walk?

No.

Also, location is a big deal. One place I'm removed from nightlife, but my daily needs shopping is nearby. The other, I'm closer to cute delis/restaurants/cafes/etc., but have to drive to the store.

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

#1. That balcony is like having an extra room....that and the laundry and the bigger bath/kitchen would do it for me. You'll use the bathroom and kitchen more than you'll use the cute delis and shops.

It's your home, you have to be comfortable there.

And when someone tells me 'everyone knows everyone here,' I run the other way.

Also, you might pay a little less for #2 but would you actually save the money or just spend it anyway?

 

Re: Apartment choice assistance, please?

Moddy, if nothing else, we're all discovering why Ace can't get on at the Plain Dealer.

IJAG, if debt paydown and continuing to work toward that goal is still primary, go with the cheaper place as long as the cheaper place won't leave you with buyer's remorse. Keep working toward that goal, but don't get too sucked in by the bars, restaurants, et al, or the money you aspire to save will be spent before your checkbook realizes it.