All adults and families need somewhere to live, and for this reason, the real estate industry is enormous, spanning everything from suburban homes to town homes, condos, apartments, and duplexes, and in all American cities and towns, there are many options, especially in bigger cities which may offer luxurious condos or vacation homes. No matter how extravagant or modest a living space is, however, it will probably fall under one of the two main categories: rental and personal property. Most often, American adults will either buy their housing or rent it, and there are good reasons to pursue either route, based on a person’s budget or lifestyle. A furnished apartment such as a one bedroom apartment may appeal to a young adult moving out of his or her parents’ house, and a one bedroom apartment is ideal or smaller households of either a lone person or an intimate partner. A one bedroom apartment may be too crowded for a fulls-size family looking for a place to rent, however, so furnished apartments with two or three bedrooms will appeal more than a one bedroom apartment. A short term apartment, meanwhile, may be rented by a college student who needs housing during their college career, while corporate housing may be useful for some laborers. What might a one bedroom apartment or a two bedroom place offer for renters?
Americans and Renting
Not all American adults can or want to deal with mortgages on a purchased house, and instead they will rent their living space, sometimes purely out of personal preference and lifestyle. Unfurnished apartments vary in monthly payments, and a large apartment along the Miami beach will have a different price than a small apartment in the middle of Nebraska. In 2017, though, renters living in unfurnished American apartments paid a median price of $1,492 per month, and this may vary based on location. Why do Americans rent? For some, it is because they cannot yet afford a mortgage, and this may include many young adults such as college students or recent grads who need an intermediate step between living with their parents and purchasing their own home (a major life milestone). Other times, a person’s lifestyle may lead him or her to move often based on a sense of adventure or changing job locations often, and if this is the case, such a person will not want the commitment of purchasing a home and paying a mortgage even if they can afford to. College students, those with lower incomes, or those who change jobs often may be among the most eager space renters. What should they look for in a one bedroom apartment or an apartment big enough for the whole family?
Finding the Place
Not all apartments are the same, and they may vary with many factors such as location, condition, number of rooms, rent, and features and amenities in the whole building. A comprehensive list would be lengthy, but there are some general features or maintenance issues that a potential renter should bear in mind when looking for a place.
This process starts outdoors. A person looking for an apartment for rent will care about local features in their city block or general area, such as schools (essential for families), shopping malls, grocery stores, colleges, or entertainment such as restaurants or movie theaters. College students in particular will want to find a place that is reasonably close to campus, or at least find a place near a bus route that can take them to campus. And the building’s exterior, such as the walls, front lawn, and street may make a good or bad impression of the place and set the tone. There should be no graffiti, trash, or overgrown lawns or flowerbeds.
Inside, a person may prefer a swimming pool, a hot tub, juice bar, lounge, and more, or even none of these (it’s personal preference). Meanwhile, maintenance issues must be checked for in person, such as faulty electric sockets, drafty windows, water damage on the walls, termite damage, worn out carpets, or thin walls that allow a lot of sound in. Apartments can be viewed with photos and videos online, but only an in-person visit completes the evaluation process.
