“After Dorm” Life

The pictures you find on the websites can be so misleading. If you can, visit beforehand so you can see the place with your own eyes before putting any money down. ’18

In Boston the apartment market moves quickly! Be sure to be ready to sign a lease when you visit apartments ’21

Take tours if you can. While price is important, I think an apartment is something worth spending money on to get right. Try to find somewhere that will feel good to live in. ’21

I did research on what kinds of places were available, the difference in lifestyle between living in different areas, how far places were from work, and how prices varied based on those factors. I thought a lot about what kind of environment I’d want to live in and how I could achieve that. I talked to my coworkers to learn more about areas I wasn’t familiar with. ’21

Research your commute to work extensively and do an on-the-ground investigation, if possible, to understand traffic patterns. Figure out what is important to you, such as a gym or nearby park, or nearby restaurants, and narrow your search based on that as well. ’17

Ask people who know the area! If moving to a city like Dallas or Denver use smart city. ‘21

Visit the city and shotgun one apartment after the other. ‘20

If a place seems interesting but doesn’t have great photos, reach out to the listing agent. It’s probably getting less interest than other places and may end up being a hidden gem. ’20

I looked at location, amenities, what was included, and the price. You’ll have to prioritize since all factors have some sort of trade-off. Definitely find a place you’re OK with living in and isn’t out of your budget. ’19

Definitely see the place in person first and ask a resident how they like living there if you see one while on a tour. ’19

Facebook groups and apartment listing sites can be great, but get in touch with people (VU alumni, friends) in the city, they will have an idea of which neighborhoods are worth it. ’18

Determine budget range for apartment rent + utilities + fees. Then rank features in terms of importance (e.g., location from job, in -unit laundry, floor plan layout). Also list anything that would be a hard no. Find apartments that meet your requirements (or at least aren’t a hard no). Find available units close to expected move-in date (call the apartment if there aren’t any). Go on tours. ’20

I connected with my future co-workers to rent out a 3-bedroom house. It is the best possible place for us. It is 5 minutes from the office and very close to the mall. Also, living together helps us combat loneliness (which was a big concern for me before graduating). ‘24

NYC: StreetEasy + look for the subways. ’22

If you're moving to a new city, visit and get to know the neighborhoods before settling on a spot if you're able to. I was moving to the same city as two of my college friends, so we coordinated a visit for apartment tours between the end of classes and finals which helped us find the right spot.’18

NYC apartment hunting is tough. The key is to find roommates and work together to find the right place. ‘23

I stayed with my parents for a couple of months because I was working. Living with them allowed me to look for an apartment in my price range without stress. My parents also helped me move when I found a place. ‘22

The best source is to ask people you know that are older than you and are in the same place you're moving to. Other than that, try to get to know an area first by living with roommates or finding apartments near established areas like universities or nightlife.  ‘24

Read reviews online or go in-person and talk to someone living there. See if the company is helpful with requests, maintenance, etc. Otherwise, focus on work vs. fun in terms of location. Don't splurge if you have debt to pay. It's better to be in a studio to start and pay off debt faster than to carry that debt for longer because you wanted a little more space. ‘15

Make sure you tour the apartment before signing the lease! Especially if there is no way to break the lease. ’23

Look for:

1. Safety – area, crime rate, locked community
2. Budget – have three times your rent in savings
3. Proximity to job
4. Accessible to grocery and other areas of interest
5. Pets allowed.

’21

Ask co-workers and look for factors important to you—walkability, public transportation, restaurants, safety, etc. Make sure to do in-person tours. ’20

Just like looking for a job, finding the perfect apartment is a marathon, not a sprint. See/tour as many places as you can and write down the things you absolutely can’t live without. For me, that was a private outdoor space like our patio. In NYC, working from home can start feeling a bit claustrophobic. It was nice having my own section of open air and sky directly attached to my apartment. ’18

Honestly, it’s a tricky business. Sometimes reviews are misleading and things that look like gold when you sign a lease really are just glitter. That said, make sure it’s in your budget and make a list of things that you prioritize (e.g., gym, location, personal bathroom, parking, concierge, etc.), and then just do your best to get what you want within budget. ’20

Live within a few miles of the city center since that will likely position you closer to popular hang- out spots, restaurants, and other recent grads. Also, if you live in the Southeast, make sure that your apartment doesn’t have brown recluse spiders. ’20

Make sure your cellular network works in your room/house. ’16

I used my grad school's roommate finding website to find two roommates who attend the same school and had similar apartment preferences as me. Once we became a package deal, we looked for apartments that fit those preferences primarily on Zillow, and a bit on Apartments.com. We'd send them to one another and give feedback on the ones we liked or didn't like. If we all really liked one, we reached out to the broker. One tip is that it can be helpful to verbally express how interested you are in a place. We were so excited about the place we ended up getting that the broker held out a little longer for us, even though another group got their application in first. ‘23

Reach out to those who have connections in the city you are moving to. They will be very helpful in telling you where to look and to help you understand the wide range of options available to you. ’18

Prioritize the few things you definitely want to have, include roommates to lower cost, and be flexible with the negotiable options as best you can. No place is perfect. ’21

I would recommend reaching out to your professional connections—especially if you’re moving somewhere new. Overall, the most important things to look for are good roommates, a good price and a safe community. This is probably just one of your first places after all, don’t go expecting an apartment at the Plaza. ’16

Invest young. ’22

Be patient and wait for the right time. ‘23

Have a high-yield savings account dedicated to savings for a home. Also, talk to a mortgage broker or someone versed in real estate before planning how much you need to save. ’16

Put a portion of your income in a savings account every pay period and make a commitment to not touch your savings unless absolutely necessary. ’17

I have two separate savings accounts: an emergency/major purchase savings and a fun savings. The emergency/major purchase account started out as emergency savings, where I’ve saved up enough money to cover a few months’ expenses or expenses for an emergency. I’ve continued to contribute to that account to also have money for some major milestone purchases, including a home. The fun savings account is where I’ve contributed some extra money in my budget to save up for vacations. ’18

Long road ahead, be mindful of where you want to live long-term. ‘20

Set aside money in a fund to save up. You'll be glad you did.’22

Start saving sooner rather than later. Especially in Nashville, home prices continue to climb quickly. Pick a target number for your home budget and start working to save at least 10 percent of that before you start your search. ’21

Down payments of 20 percent are great but difficult to achieve. Calculate the savings rate you need for a set purchase date. If you can’t do it, set a new date. ’18

It's helpful to have a budget so that you know where your expenses are and how much you can save. From there, save a little each month toward your goal down payment. You'll get to where you want to be before you know it. When you are ready to buy a place, get in touch with a realtor. Be prepared to move quickly once you find a place. It goes fast.’22

Still figuring that part out. ‘24

Buy what you can afford. Just buying the house is not the only expense. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. AC will go out the first week; you may have a leak. Still have an emergency fund. ’20

Have an allotted amount taken from your payroll check every two weeks to go into your savings. Get the necessities for your apartment. Purchase these things over time. Don’t feel like it has to be totally furnished when you move. It takes time. Don’t be hard on yourself. Enjoy the journey! ’21

Budget to put away a certain amount of each paycheck towards buying your first place. Determine what timeline you have for it and plan towards that. A financial planner could help with that. ’18

You may want to wait until prices come down a bit. However, if you can set aside a certain amount of every paycheck/bonus in a separate account that you NEVER touch, getting to at least a 10 percent down payment helps a lot. ’19

Go small and it's okay to buy something that needs some work even if you are not handy (Google is your friend!). Also, set a budget before you look at anything and do not go over it, no matter what. Be sure to account for realtor, taxes, closing fees, etc. (you can google rough ranges for this). Don't follow your realtor blindly. I've had a bad experience with two realtors, so don't be afraid to interview a couple before you pick one. Also, do your research independently and don't be afraid to push back on the pricing your realtor is giving you!  ‘15

Living at home for a few years after college or getting help from family can help you save money while you start a new job.’18