Why apartment living is the right move for you?

Are you considering apartment living? When you're debating about where to move next, consider moving into an apartment. You won't need to worry about handling maintenance issues — and you could end up saving money.

Curious to learn more? Read on to learn why apartment living is the right move for you!

You Won't Have to Deal with Maintenance

A big perk of apartment living is that you won't be forced to take on maintenance responsibilities. The apartment complex manager or landlord will provide those services for you. In fact, your landlord is required by law to ensure that your living space is habitable.

Issues like malfunctioning air conditioning units, mold, or busted pipes are not your responsibility to fix. You'll need to notify your landlord that the problems exist and give permission for them to enter your apartment unit.

Regulations may vary by state, so be clear on what your state allows. For instance, in Washington, a landlord must provide at least 48-hours notice before entering an apartment to make repairs.

Your landlord will need to address the issues within the window of time indicated in your lease agreement. They may complete the repairs themself or contract out that responsibility. In either case, you won't be stuck paying the bill to hire someone to unclog your sink or fix a bad door handle.

Saving Money Comes with Apartment Living

Living in an apartment means that you'll pay a fixed cost for rent during the time of your lease period. The rent may increase when you sign a new contract, but generally, this is in keeping with the cost of living increases. In other words, you can expect a predictable monthly payment.

Buying a home is a different story. You'll need to save up a significant amount of money for a down payment before making monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage payments are similar to rent payments, but interest rates and other fees can notch those payments higher.

When you buy a home, you'll need to make a down payment to secure the house. And unfortunately, if you put down less than 20% of the home's price, you'll be stuck paying private mortgage insurance (PMI).

PMI gives the lender protection since you're making a lower down payment. But for you, it translates to another cost — sometimes $100 or more — tacked onto your monthly payments. When you add property taxes and home insurance, you'll end up with a higher monthly fee.

It's easy for your monthly paycheck to be drained due to house payments. If you're trying to save money for a retirement nest egg, this can't happen as easily. The better choice is to go with a lease agreement and apartment living.

You'll Love Apartment Amenities

A single-family home may offer a level of pride, but does it offer amenities? Chances are, it doesn't. An apartment complex, however, will provide plenty of amenities to keep you happy.

Look for apartment amenities that align with your interests. For example, if you love swimming, make a pool a priority. And for a bonus, check to see if there is a hot tub or sauna!

Are you a gym rat? In some cities, you may pay over $100 per month for a gym membership. Think how much money you can save if you rent from an apartment complex with a good gym.

If you're moving to an area with four distinct seasons, you'll appreciate having access to a treadmill when the snow starts falling. When you're touring an apartment, take the time to wander around the gym. And ask about gym hours and upkeep.

Most larger complexes offer community spaces, too. This could be a room that you can reserve to host parties. In urban settings, it could be a rooftop space with fire pits and grills.

Know Your Neighbors

Are you new to the area? When you've just moved to a new place and want to build your social circle, apartments offer an entry point. If you've just relocated to Dallas, for instance, choose a larger apartment complex with lots of community spaces.

Some apartments are very intentional about organizing community events. When you're new to a city, this a great way to meet your neighbors and forge new friendships. It's also convenient that you'll have a retreat where you can relax without needing to go anywhere.

Do you have young kids? Look for apartment complexes with playgrounds. You can meet other people with kids and find some instant playmates to keep your kids happy.

Do you love to garden? Many new apartment complexes are designating spaces for community gardens. Raised beds and garden plots are attractive to younger renters who want more control over their dietary choices.

Gardens also happen to be great meeting points. Strike up a conversation with a fellow gardener to learn how to nurture a struggling tomato plant back to health. You'll share information and build the foundation for great friendships.

Managers Will Enforce the Rules

When you're sharing walls with people, the occasional issue may come up. Fortunately, you won't have to be the one to probe a problem with a neighbor. Besides collecting rent and handling maintenance, your manager should be the one to intervene.

It's wise to ask about an apartment's policy regarding quiet hours. Especially if you enjoy listening to music or staying up late, you'll need to know this so you can comply with guidelines. Similarly, if you need to be up early for work, you'll want to know that you can fall asleep without issues.

Good apartment managers should be willing to intervene if you have a noisy or distracting neighbor. Ask about past incidents and how they were handled. If a manager is evasive, you might want to check out another apartment.

It's also fair to ask about insulation, windows, and other structural elements that can affect noise. And if possible, request to meet a current resident when you're on a tour. A current resident can give you info about the sense of community in the complex.

Security Measures Provide Peace of Mind

One of the other benefits of an apartment is the sense of security you'll feel. Most apartments have security measures or surveillance in place. Plus you'll always have neighbors nearby to keep watch over things.

Many complexes have video surveillance of entrances and hallways throughout the day. Particularly in urban areas, apartment complexes may have security guards in place — or entrances accessible only by key. On an apartment tour, your guide should be able to tell you what the apartment does to ensure that its residents are safe.

With apartment living, you'll be surrounded by other people. This simple fact may deter thieves from attempting to break into your apartment. Chances are strong that someone would see them trying to do it!

A stand-alone house is more vulnerable to predators. With bushes, trees, and vegetation, it may be easier for an intruder to get in without anyone noticing. With apartment living, by contrast, you can trust that everyone around you will be vigilant.

Location Offers Convenience

Apartments are built with convenience in mind. You'll find complexes near urban centers, shopping districts, and universities. For a renter of any age, you'll be able to enjoy this level of convenience. In fact, you may even be able to walk to places like the grocery store or local coffee roastery.

Moving to a place like Washington, DC, you might want to prioritize walkability. Or perhaps you want to be close to one of the many universities there to take advantage of cultural events.

Best of all, you'll have the time to take advantage of these opportunities. When you come home from a long day of work, you can walk to happy hour at a local bar. You won't need to squeeze in a lawn mowing session before the sun goes down.

You won't need to trim the hedges or replace warped siding, either. The cosmetic updates inherent in homeownership can add up to a lot of extra costs each year. Ditch those expenses in favor of apartment living.

And if you have any looming repairs in your apartment, those aren't your responsibility. You just need to make the space available to the work crew. Otherwise, you can be out enjoying a weekday afternoon with your loved ones.

Know the Benefits of an Apartment

Apartment living offers several key benefits that make it a great choice, regardless of your age. You won't need to chew up your weekends mowing the lawn or cleaning the gutters. And you'll have amenities at your disposal — as well as a new community of residents!

Ready to get moving? Check with us for the latest listings!

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