Finding an Apartment Project

For this project, you will need to decide what features are important to you for finding your first
apartment. Imagine yourself ready to move out of your parents house or away at college and
needing a place to live. Where would you want to be? What things do you need and want in an
apartment? How much can you afford?
Background Answer these questions in complete sentences. Change your answers to
bold or another color
1. Where do you want to live and why? (City/country, what state/area?)
I want to live in New York City because I would like to pursue performance as a career.
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
Preferably, I would like to live with one roommate because I cannot afford an apartment on
my own, but I do not know if I can live with more than one other person because, being an
only child, I am used to living on my own.
3. What are the 5 most important features or amenities of an apartment for you? Use the PDF
Apartment Checklist for ideas and write 1 sentence for each to explain why it is important.
Free laundry would be amazing because I tend to wash my clothes too often. Large, open
windows would be amazing because I really like my living space to be bright and open. I
would like a balcony so that I can sit outside when it gets warmer and do things such as drink
tea and get work done in a pleasant environment. More than one bathroom would be ideal
because I like having my own shower and sink space. Finally, a guest bedroom would be nice
because my family would be able to come visit me.
4. Find TWO apartments that meet many (or all) of your qualifications and fill out the information
you can on this table.
apartments.com, forrent.com
zillow.com or trulia.com just set filters to RENT
NOT rent.com (you need to make an account)
Search your college newspapers classifieds section too!
http://www.trulia.com/rental-community/9000050423/Columbus-Square-808-ColumbusAve-New-York-NY-10025/#photo-3
Qualification

Apartment #1 AVA High Line

Apartments

Apartment #2 - The Preston Miracle

Mile

Location

525 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001

Number of
Bedrooms
Number of
Bathrooms
Square
Footage
Rent amount
Length of
lease
(month/year)

630 S Masselin Ave, Los Angeles,

90036
1

589

742

$4048 - $4315 /mo

2 year

$2,528 - $3,453/mo
No visible terms

List
apartment
features

Balcony, Gym, Storage, courtyard,

in the middle of high energy area

Security
deposit
Layout of the
apartment

500

Vaulted Ceiling, Pet Care, Garage,

Outdoor pool, balcony, walk-in
closet
200

Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom,

lounge room, balcony

Bedroom, bathroom, living room,

kitchen, balcony

Utilities
included
(water,
garbage,
electric,
heat, etc.)

Storage and Fitness Center

Parking
Pet policies
Other costs
Other
interesting
information

None
No pets
None
It is in the center of New York
nightlife and has a hangout area on
the roof
Alone

Air Conditioning, Cable Ready,

Fireplace, Heating, Sprinkler
System, Dishwasher, Disposal,
Freezer, Ice Maker, Microwave,
Oven, Range, Refrigerator, Stainless
Steel Appliances
Garage
2 pets allowed
None
Outdoor pool access

Pictures

Roommate(s)
or Alone

Alone

5. Now compare your two options. Which one would you prefer to live in? Why did you decide on
this apartment?
I would prefer to live in the New York City apartment simply because of its location. I am
familiar with New York but I am not familiar with LA, so I would be completely lost in that
apartment. I would also have more job opportunities in the first apartment.
6. Will you be able to afford this apartment?
a) Assume you earn the median salary for high school graduates working full time $29,950 per year.
i. First, find your net income by multiplying your salary by 0.75 = _22462.5______
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = __1871.88___
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
_561.56_______

iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above? NO
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? I would need
many roommates to be able to afford this apartment.
b) Assume you have the average income of a full-time college student, which is $14,400
according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
i. First, find your net income by multiplying your income by 0.75 = _10,800______
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = _900______
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
_270_______
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above? NO
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? NO, I would
not be able to afford it with a roommate.
c) Assume you make the median salary of a person in the career field youre interested in.
Look up the salary on https://www.bls.gov/ooh 52,579
i. First, find your net income by multiplying your salary by 0.75 = _39,434.25_____
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = __3286.19___
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
__985.86______
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above? NO
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? No, this rent
would still be way too much.