Which one do y'all think would be better?
Friday, June 29, 2007
Advice on living arrangements
I thought I would ask for y'alls opinion about living situations. I have two options I am considering heavily. One is a 3 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment with a kitchen and living room, and it was just remodeled. Downside is there are no washer/dryer hookups, but they have laundry rooms at the complex. The other option is a house that is 3 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms with a fenced in backyard. The apartment is $550 per month and the house is $700 per month. I can keep my dog at both of them. The house is in a nice area of town and the apartment is in a nice area, but it is getting closer to a bad area of town. The house is about 10 miles from work and the apartment is only about one mile away from work. I am leaning toward the apartment right now because of the financial aspect.
Which one do y'all think would be better?
Which one do y'all think would be better?
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14 comments:
First I will assume that the house is in a rental capacity just like the apartment. Here is my breakdown. Distance from work is wash seeing as how I can not imagine much traffic in Aniston, AL.
The house having a backyard is a huge plus, dont have to walk the dog as much/pick up its shit. Can BBQ and relax outside without worries of a derelict approaching you. And having a W/D would be a nice luxury to have. Now there might be a bit higher utilities and possible upkeep of yard involved as well.
The Apt. is new which is great and cheaper which is great. The neighborhood you have to consider because you would be walking the dog daily. And walking to do your laundry is a minor inconvienince
But I would go HOUSE your a damn working man now and have been living in a trailor the last couple years. Yes it would be great to pocket an extra $1800 but I have lived in a sketch area before and it is not to relaxing.
PS Why on gods green earth are you looking for 3 bedroom places?
I wanted two bedrooms, but all the decent rentals are three bedrooms.
I see, those are good prices either way I think. Will Ashley be living with you?
Alex, I hate you...Your most expensive option is still cheaper than my current place and I am rocking a spacious 440 square foot studio...
No, she is still in Auburn. She's got one more year left.
I break it down like this...
House:
Pros: Own W/D, yard for the puppy, extra 1.5 bath for guests/roomates, better neighborhood
Cons: more upkeep i.e. yardwork, extra $150/month
Apartment:
Pros: cheaper, just remodeled, cheaper
Cons: no W/D (that is going to be a bitch), walking the dog (and like Nick said...picking up shit...but you're used to that:)), worse neighborhood
So the question is...is the extra $150/month worth the Pros of the house? Considering you make $65k/year, and $700 is dirt cheap no matter where you go...I'm saying yes.
Having said that...if you are planning on staying a longer period of time i.e. 2-3 years, and possibly expect Ashley to be joining you in a year...then I would say neither, and BUY a house. It is definately a "buyers" market right now. Just my .02
Yeah dude, I would go with the house. $150/month isn't really all that much and it sounds considerably nicer. If you can't drive to work, then it would be pretty lousy, but if you can, who cares. Also having three people share one bathroom can get difficult. Having an extra 1.5 baths and a backyard to relax in, especially with a dog sounds huge. I think having a backyard to do some yard work in would be a good release from the work day too.
I do, however, side with Lunchbox when he says buy. I just hate to think of essentially throwing money away. Either way both sound decent and have their pros. Glad to hear things are going well.
We were living in a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment WITH W/D and moving to a 3bdrm 2.5 ba house was the best move we ever made.
There's something to be said for having some separation between you and your neighbor. I just couldn't go another night hearing my neighbor get mad at online poker through the paper-thin apartment walls.
I would spring for the extra 150 and get the house. But I am also with everyone else in saying if you are planning on being at your current job longer than 2-3 years, you should look into buying something.
Oh and by the way, we had no w/d at our place in california and it got old reeeaalll fast!
I still have to pay $3 per load in quarters in my basement to do laundry. I can't wait to move.
So, the house seems to be the way to go for y'all. However, I actually make $55 grand a year and I have potential to make more on production. So, the money is a bit of a concern. Buying is not an option at this point because I don't know how long I am going to be here.
Another plus to the apartment is that they are well built, i.e. concrete walls. So I don't think I will be able to hear my neighbors and it should be rather efficient to cool.
The W/D is a pain but the apartment rent includes water, hot water, and garbage pickup. So, it will actually be a bit cheaper than I originally said. The house will require an electric bill and a gas bill, so it will be a bit more expensive. I would have to buy a W/D too.
I guess my big concern is paying for a lot of space that I won't be using, because I will be living alone.
3/2.5 for $700 a month???? we need to move to Alabama!
you can swing $700 a month making 55K I am doing about the same at what I am making, and its is about the same as what you are at. Taking into account putting 10K a year for retirement, utililies,food etc. I am still clearing $500 a month easy just for savings, extra payments toward credit etc.
While I agree that purchasing a house is a good investment I would hold off for a year. My reasoning is that (1) if you have a serious relationship choosing a house without the other present is a mistake. (2) while I agree that it is a buyers market I do not feel that we are at the end of the housing slide. I think in a year the market will correct itself, but until then I think you run the risk of paying too much for a house. I know prices in semi rural areas have dropped 60K in the past 6 months, but the suburbs have not caught up. Sign a lease, but try to work in a release clause with your landlord, that way if you see that the market is stable you can dump the rental and buy.
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