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?)
dont care
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
roommate because I would get bored/ lonely living by myself
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.
Will my furniture fit in the apartment? You need space for what you have
Nearby public transportation, churches, schools, supermarkets, pharmacies? Need to be neer places
Fire alarm system? Need to be safe
Can you hear your neighbors? Want to sleep
Will the electrical service handle the load based
on all your appliances? Want to be able to use everything you have

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!

Qualification Apartment #1 NAME Apartment #2 - NAME
Location Hackettstown New york
Number of
Bedrooms
1 1
Number of
Bathrooms
1 1
Square Footage 702 565 - 761
Rent amount 1104 4100
Length of lease
(month/year)
12 months 12 months
List apartment
features
High Speed Internet Available
Pool
Sundeck(s)
Wheelchair Access
Playground
Basketball Court(s)
Tennis Court(s)
On-Site Maintenance


On-Site Management
On-Site Maintenance
Concierge
Controlled Access

Security deposit 1000 2500
Layout of the
apartment










Pictures





Utilities included
(water, garbage,
electric, heat, etc.)
Air Conditioning
Dishwasher
Unfurnished Available

Dishwasher
Washer / Dryer
Unfurnished Available
High Speed Internet Available
Parking Assigned Parking

n/a
Pet policies Cats allowed Dog or cat
Other costs n/a Parking
Other interesting
information
Train: NJ Transit - Less Than 5 Minute
Drive
Bus: NJ Transit (#973)
Highway: I-80 - Less Than 5 Minute Drive

In the city
Roommate(s) or
Alone
yes roomate
5. Now compare your two options. Which one would you prefer to live in? Why did you decide on this apartment?

I would like to live in the second one but I would more likely to live in the first one.

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 = _____22,462.5__
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by 12 =
__________1871.87
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? nope
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate?yes
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 = _____10800__
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? nope
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate?a few then yes
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 88,580
i. First, find your net income by multiplying your salary by 0.75 = ______66435_
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by 12 =
5536__________
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 = ___1606.87_____
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line above? yes
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why? Yes I would have enough money to afford it
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate?