Jun/100
Apartment Living – Is It For You?
Apartment living has been an option for thousands of years. Ancient apartment complexes have been unearthed in early Roman archeological digs as well as in ancient Egypt. Today, they are still ideal choices for many people - recent grads on their own for the first time, or senior citizens who are tired of caring for a large home and yard.
Fast forward a few hundred centuries and people still clamor for this type of living arrangement. Young kids just out of school can't wait to get their first apartment where they will learn how to get along with roommates and pay their own bills. Hopefully! Older people and even retirees frequently choose apartments over the expense of keeping up a large home. People whose jobs tend to bring them to different cities frequently just find that apartment living is much easier than house hunting almost every year or so.
There are many styles and options to think about. One of the most popular is the high rise in the middle of a big city. Many kids dream of moving to places like New York or Chicago and being able to walk everywhere. No matter what they want or need to do can be just a few blocks away, or just across the street. Theater, restaurants, banks, and even dog parks are usually close by.
These high rise buildings are inviting for a number of reasons including onsite laundry, security, and even beautiful views. Many have stores and coffee shops in their lobbies, and the more high end buildings offer concierge services that include errands and room service.
Of course, this kind of convenience comes with a steep price. Even though your apartment may not be spacious and beautiful, you'll be paying twice as much as something comparable in the suburbs. You may think living in a big city is fun for a while, but spending all your money on a tiny cramped apartment can quickly lose its luster.
Many people believe that apartment living is the only way to go. Entire families have grown up in apartments all over. Many have three and four bedrooms, multiple baths, and even a patio. Some complexes even have playgrounds, pools, and tennis courts. In reality, if this is how you enjoy living, the only way many families could have all this would be to rent vs. Buying a home.
There is also the age old question of apartment vs. Condo. Some people believe that if you enjoy that type of lifestyle, you might as well own your unit. However, in a condo situation you are faced with all the problems of real home ownership (property taxes, insurance, upkeep, etc.) in addition to monthly maintenance fees that can increase dramatically overnight. An affordable condo with a $150 a month maintenance fee might suddenly become a financial burden if those fees go to $500 a month - and this is a frequent complaint of many condo owners.
Before committing to anything, ask if they have a move in special, free rent, or reduced deposits. Rental managers know they need to compete just homeowners who are trying to sell. It's a renter's market out there!
Searching online for apartments to rent in Toronto? Then make it a priority to browse through Torontorentals.com in order to find the best apartments for rent in Toronto that suits your needs.