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 a country area with a college town feel. I want it to have on
campus and off campus housing and have a lot of grass around. Some place like
Morgantown, West Virginia
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
I will be living with multiple roommates because I like to socialize and go out with
people.
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.
The five most important features are to have our own bedrooms, have more than
one bathroom, be furnished, central heat and air, washer and dryer, and
dishwasher.
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!
Qualificati
on
Location

Apartment #1 Campus Park at Ridge

Apartment #2 Beech View

Place

Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown, West Virginia

Number of
Bedrooms

3 bedrooms

3 bedrooms

Number of
Bathrooms

3 bathrooms

3 bathrooms

Square
Footage
Rent
amount
Length of
lease
(month/ye
ar)

1,305 Sq Ft

1,256-1,283 Sq Ft

$1,527

$750

12 month lease

12 month lease

List
apartment
features

Security
deposit
Layout of
the
apartment
[Insert
Picture]

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Air conditioning
Cable ready
Ceiling fans
Heating
High speed internet access
Tub/shower
Washer/dryer
Needed (cost not available)

Air conditioning
Cable ready
Heating
Tub/shower
Washer/dryer
Dishwasher
microwave

Needed (cost no available)

Water
Trash
Free cable TV
Internet

Water
Trash
Free cable TV
Internet

1 spot per person

1 spot per person or ($150.00

per month for assigned for
garage)

Dogs allowed, $200 deposit

Cats allowed $200m deposit

Not allowed

Pictures

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

Pet
Policies

Other
costs

No additional costs

No additional costs

Other
interesting
informatio
n

Carpet
Walk-in closets
Window coverings
Pool
Spa
Volleyball court
Free weights
Fitness center
Basketball court
Sundeck
Furnished
Roommates allowed

Carpet
Dining room
Tile floors
Walk-in closets
Window coverings
Furnished

Roommate
(s) or
Alone

Roommates allowed

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 Campus Park at Ridge because it offers more amenities and a
larger living space. The parking is free and is not on a busy street. It is surrounded with grass,
a pool, and basketball courts. There are more futures available, it is fully furnished and pets
are allowed. It is also close and a walking distance to campus.
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 =
___$22,462.50____
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = _____$1,871.88_____
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? Yes, it is less because split between three people the rent for
one person would be $509.00
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why? This is a good idea because the rent
is less and I will have left over money each month or other necessities.
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 = ____ $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, it is over
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? I would not be
able to afford this apartment with a roommate because the amount of
money I have left for each month is not enough to pay my part.
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 =
___$40,192.50____
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = ___$3,349.38_______
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
___$1,004.81_____
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?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? I could afford
this apartment with a roommate because I make enough money to pay
my part.