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?)
It honestly depends where it is I end up going to college. Ideally, I would like to go
to a college in Atlanta, Georgia and hopefully live somewhere nearby
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
I would like to live alone for the most part, which is highly unrealistic, so I would
probably room with one or two other people to be able to afford the apartment
that close to the city.
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.
Some amenities/ features that I would like included in the apartment would be a
washer and dryer, central heating and air, and microwave; the basic appliances. A
dishwasher would be nice, but not necessary.
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 Centennial Place

Location

1125 Hammond Drive, Atlanta, GA

100 Grayson Pl, Decatur, GA 30030

- Decatur/North Druid Hills

Number of
Bedrooms

2 bedrooms

2 bedrooms

Number of
Bathrooms

2 bathrooms

2 bathrooms

Square
Footage
Rent amount

1,045 Sq Ft

1,266 Sq Ft

$1,730 - $1,745

$1,466 - $1,606

6-13 months

3-13 months

Length of
lease
(month/year)

List
apartment
features

Air condition
Ceiling fans
Tub/shower
Fridge/ freezer
Hardwood flooring

Security
deposit
Layout of the
apartment
[Insert
Picture]

$300

Air Conditioning
Ceiling Fans
Fireplace
Heating
Washer/Dryer Hookup
Balcony
Fitness center
$100

N/A

N/A

Included in rent

$30

Dogs:
100lbs weight limit
2 pet limit
Cats:
100lbs weight limit
2 pet limit

Cats and Dogs welcome

Pictures

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

Pet Policies

100> combined weights

Other costs

N/A

$20 Admin Fee

$75 Application Fee

Other
interesting
information

Pet care
Clubhouse
Community gas grill/BBQ area

Additional storage available

Pool
BBQ & picnic area

Roommate(s)
or Alone

roommate

roommate

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 second apartment, mainly because it is the cheaper one,
and rent could be split efficiently with a couple of roommates. Although it requires
more fees, it doesnt add up to be more than the competing apartment. Not only that,
but it offers more square feet of space, for a less amount of money

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 = _______
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = __________
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
________
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above?
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate?
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 = _______
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = __________
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
________
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above?
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment 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
i. First, find your net income by multiplying your salary by 0.75 = _______
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = __________
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
________
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above?
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate?