“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

Coworkers are a good first place to start, since they are familiar with both the location and price range of suitable apartments in the area.’22

If a place seems interesting but doesn't have great photos, reach out to the listing agent.  t'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

Never pay a broker's fee in NYC. '17

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, etc.) in the city as they will have a better 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

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 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

Craigslist! It did take quite a while to find the right place, but since I was moving across the country I found it was easiest to find someone who was already living in LA who was looking for a new roommate. That way, they could show me the place via FaceTime/photos before I moved out. '17

Invest young. '22

Saving up to buy my first home is another reason why I like having two savings accounts. Having separate savings accounts for vacations and other considerable expenses (new computer, TV, etc.) allows me to set aside money to be spent on a short-term schedule, while also having a savings account that is set to build for the long term. '18

Have a high-yield savings account dedicated for 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

Don't overdo it on your first place because it is likely you will move. Keep in mind the amount you are spending on moving in and eventually the cost of moving out. '18

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

Saving for a first house is extremely depressing right now, especially if you live in an expensive coastal city. You either need to be a very diligent budgeter over many years or have rich parents. If you have student loans like I do you can basically tack an extra four years on top of your home ownership timeline. '17

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