The Apartment
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I haven't lived in an apartment since the mid-90s. I really dislike everything about apartment life.
I own two homes...one in WA... one in AZ. Renting a house in CA. I love older homes....and I've added nothing useful to the thread! Lol
OH WOW, GOOD FOR YOU!!! :happy:0 -
I was watching the People court the other day (true story) and this lady on there was saying how she paid $200/month rent. The judge asked how her rent was so low in Manhattan, she has had rent lock at $200/month for 30 years!!! How on earth does the landlord keep that place running?? I asked some people around work that have lived in NY and they said when people die their kids move in and pretend to be the dead person to keep this rent lock!
That is crazy!!!0 -
I get too claustrophobic in apartments, always having to share laundry with other people and they're always leaving their stuff in the dryer. So you either have to wait for them to finish or fold it for them. You also have to smell whatever they're cooking for dinner, you can hear them walking on the floor above you, or you feel bad for the people below you. You can't always find a good spot to park, you have no room for anything, and you sometimes have to carry things up many flights of stairs. Apartments were fun when I was in college and we knew all of our neighbors, but after that it's just not for me.0
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I was watching the People court the other day (true story) and this lady on there was saying how she paid $200/month rent. The judge asked how her rent was so low in Manhattan, she has had rent lock at $200/month for 30 years!!! How on earth does the landlord keep that place running?? I asked some people around work that have lived in NY and they said when people die their kids move in and pretend to be the dead person to keep this rent lock!
My mom has a friend in New York City who has been living in a rent controlled apartment since the 1970s. I really admire that. She is probably paying well below market forces.
From a market oriented viewpoint, this is a major disruption. Dbrightwell should comment here.I guess I am the total opposite of most everyone on here. I would prefer the small apartment in a large city over a large house in the suburbs or country. Really 800 square feet would suit me just fine. Also if you are buying in the nyc area you can use SONYM as a first time home buyer and get every cheaper interest that what is going right now. I actually think owning a house is a waste of money. What I pay in PITIA is similar to what I would pay for rent with out the maintanance costs of my house which was new when I bought it 7 years ago.
Have you ever lived in a small apartment in a large city? I have.. it's not as great as it sounds.
I'm an apartment guy. I like to keep things simple.
The small apartment in a large city route differs city to city. In the Western half of the US, the cities are less dense than Boston, New York and Philadelphia. So a small apartment in Dallas, Denver or Phoenix might have a different feel than a small apartment in the Northeastern cities.The best part of my current apartment is LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION it is about 3/4 of a mile from work so I walk to and from work and at lunch. This has been very beneficial to my weight loss not only do I walk alot but I can control what I eat by eating at home daily.
This is a big one for me. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment west of Seattle in suburban town setting. Very peaceful, no city noise or traffic. I'm a 10 min drive from work. It's close to everything like the gym, and shopping. Plenty of trails for going on hikes and/or runs. My upstair neighbors are great. They are EMT's that work the graveyard shift like I do. Very quiet during the day and evening. If I wanted to do the night club scene, I would have to travel to Seattle or neighboring cities, about 1hr away, but it's not my thing to begin with so no loss for me there.
Living in the suburbs is not I would feel comfortable with at this stage of my life. I don't recommend living in a suburb as a single person. With the way Dallas is structured, it wouldn't work. The suburbs are segregated to be family oriented. A single in the 'burbs is misplaced, because all the things that would attract single populations are centered within city limits, and within a distinct area within Dallas city limits. Dallas has notoriously bad traffic problems, so managing the distance between two people is vital.
I'm also a big believer in short commutes.0 -
I get too claustrophobic in apartments, always having to share laundry with other people and they're always leaving their stuff in the dryer. So you either have to wait for them to finish or fold it for them. You also have to smell whatever they're cooking for dinner, you can hear them walking on the floor above you, or you feel bad for the people below you. You can't always find a good spot to park, you have no room for anything, and you sometimes have to carry things up many flights of stairs. Apartments were fun when I was in college and we knew all of our neighbors, but after that it's just not for me.
1. Most apartments feature the communal laundry room setup, though there are apartments with individual washers/dryers. The ones where you do your laundry in unit are typically more expensive.
2. Food smells have upside. One neighbor I had in the past was Asian. You'd get a whiff of some delicious Asian delicacies walking by.
3. Parking varies complex to complex. Carrying groceries a long way is never fun.
4. A bad story involved one apartment I was in while I was in college. My sink stopped up, and my sink stoppage was caused by the next door neighbors stopping up their sink. The sink piping was interconnected. It is not fun when your sink stops up because of someone else.0 -
Could someone please tell me what the difference between an apartment and a condominium is?0
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Could someone please tell me what the difference between an apartment and a condominium is?
From my (very basic) understanding - Condo's tend to be individually owned by a person, vs apartments complexes being owned by a whole company. Condo's also tend to be a little larger and can be multiple stories for one household. They also have stricter building requirements (walls are thicker between buildings so you can't hear your neighbors as well).
I currently live in a condo conversion - which used to be apartment buildings but then they sold off the individual apartments to people who now either live in them or rent them out. They had to do some renovations to make them considered condo's (adding soundproofing to shared walls for example), but they look like an apartment complex and are generally one "condo" to a floor vs. having multiple floors.0 -
Could someone please tell me what the difference between an apartment and a condominium is?
You rent an apartment, usually has cheaper appliances and such, all renters in the building. Condo, you own... or rent from an owner that only owns that unit. Typically higher end... at least compaired to most apartments.0 -
Thank you both for the info! It's not a distinction we make in the UK - they're all just 'flats'!0
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Do you prefer upstairs or downstairs units? What about in multi story buildings? Have you had both upstairs and downstairs neighbors simultaneously?0
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Do you prefer upstairs or downstairs units? What about in multi story buildings? Have you both upstairs and downstairs neighbors simultaneously?
I've had several apartments - 1st & 2nd were 2nd floor, third was 3rd floor, last 2 were 1st. Each have their benefits, but at this point I prefer 1st floor. It's nice not having to lug grocery bags up stairs - and in Columbus, OH typically all the apartments are outside corridors and in the winter stairs can get unsafe. In the last 2 I haven't heard but the occasional stomping from the upstairs neighbors and I've NEVER had music problems (other than in the 3rd floor place where all the Latinos in the area blasted music while working on their cars, but the cooking smells made up for it
) I'm not a big "open the windows" kind of person and typically have the blinds drawn so the privacy issue on the first floor has never been a concern. 0 -
Do you prefer upstairs or downstairs units? What about in multi story buildings? Have you both upstairs and downstairs neighbors simultaneously?
If I have to live in an apartment, I definitely prefer a high rise. Boston apartment was a 4 story walk-up (I was on the 3rd floor). Miami Beach place was a high rise (I was on the 15th floor).
Higher the better, you get better views and hear less street noise.
What floor are you on in your place?0 -
Do you prefer upstairs or downstairs units? What about in multi story buildings? Have you both upstairs and downstairs neighbors simultaneously?
I've had both and prefer downstairs. I feel I don't need to be as quiet with the ground floor dampening the foot traffic noise. Street noise isn't a issue, since I am not in the city, though I do think being higher up does lead to better views. In my case it's trees. Lots and lots of trees.0 -
Do you prefer upstairs or downstairs units? What about in multi story buildings? Have you both upstairs and downstairs neighbors simultaneously?
I prefer at least one level above the ground (not that many high-rise blocks of flats here, except social housing and the odd building in the Square Mile in London (financial district) - most building are three-four storeys). Ground floor is convenient for moving day (and groceries), but I've always felt marginally safer, and I prefer the views, in flats higher up the building. Basement flats I don't like, because they are often very dark, though I might consider it if the garden access was fantastic, and there were ways to make the living areas sufficiently light for me. I've been very lucky with my neighbours, upstairs and down, really - except for the people above me who had a massive leak and my bathroom ceiling collapsed! Not really their fault, though :laugh:0 -
Do you prefer upstairs or downstairs units? What about in multi story buildings? Have you both upstairs and downstairs neighbors simultaneously?
If I have to live in an apartment, I definitely prefer a high rise. Boston apartment was a 4 story walk-up (I was on the 3rd floor). Miami Beach place was a high rise (I was on the 15th floor).
Higher the better, you get better views and hear less street noise.
What floor are you on in your place?
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.0 -
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.
I like highrise buildings. I know there aren't as many high rises in Dallas as their are in south Florida, but living in the box in the sky is awesome.
I was in an condo in the Icon building here last year. The condo building place has a bar/club on the 50th floor. Being up high is very cool, though it'd be scary riding out a hurricane in that.0 -
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.
I like highrise buildings. I know there aren't as many high rises in Dallas as their are in south Florida, but living in the box in the sky is awesome.
I was in an condo in the Icon building here last year. The condo building place has a bar/club on the 50th floor. Being up high is very cool, though it'd be scary riding out a hurricane in that.
I like aspects of high rise buildings. I like buildings that have swimming pools on a upper level story. Very cool to be up a few stories in a swimming pool.0 -
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.
I like highrise buildings. I know there aren't as many high rises in Dallas as their are in south Florida, but living in the box in the sky is awesome.
I was in an condo in the Icon building here last year. The condo building place has a bar/club on the 50th floor. Being up high is very cool, though it'd be scary riding out a hurricane in that.
What do you if you live in the upper floor of a highrise, you just return home and really have to take a #2... like emergency status??0 -
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.
I like highrise buildings. I know there aren't as many high rises in Dallas as their are in south Florida, but living in the box in the sky is awesome.
I was in an condo in the Icon building here last year. The condo building place has a bar/club on the 50th floor. Being up high is very cool, though it'd be scary riding out a hurricane in that.
I like aspects of high rise buildings. I like buildings that have swimming pools on a upper level story. Very cool to be up a few stories in a swimming pool.
A lot of buildings have infinity pools on the roof. Very sleek and stylish.. especially in a building that's on the ocean.0 -
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.
I like highrise buildings. I know there aren't as many high rises in Dallas as their are in south Florida, but living in the box in the sky is awesome.
I was in an condo in the Icon building here last year. The condo building place has a bar/club on the 50th floor. Being up high is very cool, though it'd be scary riding out a hurricane in that.
What do you if you live in the upper floor of a highrise, you just return home and really have to take a #2... like emergency status??
Hope to god the elevator is working...0 -
What do you if you live in the upper floor of a highrise, you just return home and really have to take a #2... like emergency status??
Hope to god the elevator is working...
You pray that your building has an express elevator for the higher floors.0 -
I'm currently on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building.
I prefer upstairs units and prefer 2 story buildings.
I like highrise buildings. I know there aren't as many high rises in Dallas as their are in south Florida, but living in the box in the sky is awesome.
I was in an condo in the Icon building here last year. The condo building place has a bar/club on the 50th floor. Being up high is very cool, though it'd be scary riding out a hurricane in that.
What do you if you live in the upper floor of a highrise, you just return home and really have to take a #2... like emergency status??
Some buildings have bathrooms on a first floor lobby. All depends on the individual building.0 -
Okay.. I'm interested. What can you buy for 300K in your area?
About 1500 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bath. Two car garage built in 1982 no upgrades other than appliances.0 -
I live in Victoria on Vancouver Island (1.5hr ferry ride from Vancouver). Our housing prices are similar to Vancouver just on a much smaller scale. People enjoy living here and on the lower mainland mainly due to the year round mild weather. It's really the only place in Canada that isn't covered in snow with sub-zero temperatures for 6 months of the year. Summers are also not oppressively hot either. We call it beautiful BC for a reason. We have easy access to some of the most beautiful scenery and national/provincial parks on earth (old-growth rainforests, mountains, rivers, the Pacific Ocean).
Don't mind me, just kickin' it here in San Di-f*cking-ego. Weather? What's weather? A couple years ago I was in Connecticut for a speech tournament. We went out for supper and a waiter (who was being a complete d*ck before he found out we were from CA) asked us how the weather was. I said "70 degrees and sunny. You ever watch a movie? It's that."
/bragging rights
I thought we had high housing costs cause we live in paradise but Vancouver is AWFUL! Ewwww D80 -
I live in Victoria on Vancouver Island (1.5hr ferry ride from Vancouver). Our housing prices are similar to Vancouver just on a much smaller scale. People enjoy living here and on the lower mainland mainly due to the year round mild weather. It's really the only place in Canada that isn't covered in snow with sub-zero temperatures for 6 months of the year. Summers are also not oppressively hot either. We call it beautiful BC for a reason. We have easy access to some of the most beautiful scenery and national/provincial parks on earth (old-growth rainforests, mountains, rivers, the Pacific Ocean).
Don't mind me, just kickin' it here in San Di-f*cking-ego. Weather? What's weather? A couple years ago I was in Connecticut for a speech tournament. We went out for supper and a waiter (who was being a complete d*ck before he found out we were from CA) asked us how the weather was. I said "70 degrees and sunny. You ever watch a movie? It's that."
/bragging rights
I thought we had high housing costs cause we live in paradise but Vancouver is AWFUL! Ewwww D8
San Diego is a cool place. One thing that I always noticed about San Diego is how it seemed so less congested than Los Angeles.0 -
What are some of your favorite stories from apartment living that involved late night noise disturbances?
A few weeks ago, early on Saturday morning (the 4 AM hour), some nutcase was screaming in the parking lot. This person probably woke up a lot of people. I saw that two cop cars had to come to diffuse the situation.
Throughout the various apartments I've lived in, I have noticed that Fri night/early Sat morn and Sat night/early Sun morn seem to be times when noise disturbances are most likely.0 -
What are some of your favorite stories from apartment living that involved late night noise disturbances?
A few weeks ago, early on Saturday morning (the 4 AM hour), some nutcase was screaming in the parking lot. This person probably woke up a lot of people. I saw that two cop cars had to come to diffuse the situation.
Throughout the various apartments I've lived in, I have noticed that Fri night/early Sat morn and Sat night/early Sun morn seem to be times when noise disturbances are most likely.
A car lit on fire around 3 am in the parking lot outside my apartment one time - fire trucks, medics, etc there with the sirens on for about 1 hour. JOY!0 -
What are some of your favorite stories from apartment living that involved late night noise disturbances?
A few weeks ago, early on Saturday morning (the 4 AM hour), some nutcase was screaming in the parking lot. This person probably woke up a lot of people. I saw that two cop cars had to come to diffuse the situation.
Throughout the various apartments I've lived in, I have noticed that Fri night/early Sat morn and Sat night/early Sun morn seem to be times when noise disturbances are most likely.
A car lit on fire around 3 am in the parking lot outside my apartment one time - fire trucks, medics, etc there with the sirens on for about 1 hour. JOY!
I don't live in a bad neighborhood myself, but I do between a bad neighborhood and a fire department. Since my apartment faces street side we get a lot of sirens going past at all hours. It's only annoying when I'm skyping on WoWing and people can hear the siren through the mic instead of me. I'm a heavy enough sleeper that it doesn't disturb me at night though.0 -
What are some of your favorite stories from apartment living that involved late night noise disturbances?
A few weeks ago, early on Saturday morning (the 4 AM hour), some nutcase was screaming in the parking lot. This person probably woke up a lot of people. I saw that two cop cars had to come to diffuse the situation.
Throughout the various apartments I've lived in, I have noticed that Fri night/early Sat morn and Sat night/early Sun morn seem to be times when noise disturbances are most likely.
I could write a book on this!
There was two suicides over the course of 3 years in my one place. One guy found out that his girlfriend was cheating on him.. next time I saw him he was on a gurney with a white sheet over him. He hung himself in the bathroom. Another woman was high as a kite and blew her head off with a handgun. I knew the girl as she was a regular at the pool, she was a certified nut-job.
Even though I don't have any proof, I heard rumors that their were low rent porno's being shot at the complex. Sex in the hot tub was a regular occurrence. Therefore, it wasn't recommended that anyone go in their on a regular basis.
I found an unattended child in the hallway on my way to work early the one morning. I had no idea who the kid was, but there was a random toddler walking the halls on a weekday morning @ 6 AM. I called the cops, we went knocking from door to door and eventually found out who's child is was. The parents were emotional when I conveyed to them (language barrier) that I found their child outside in the hallway. The child was likely in the hallway all night. I told them to keep a better eye on their F'in kid. The cop chewed them out too.. en Espanol of course.
Never a boring moment at that place...0 -
What are some of your favorite stories from apartment living that involved late night noise disturbances?
A few weeks ago, early on Saturday morning (the 4 AM hour), some nutcase was screaming in the parking lot. This person probably woke up a lot of people. I saw that two cop cars had to come to diffuse the situation.
Throughout the various apartments I've lived in, I have noticed that Fri night/early Sat morn and Sat night/early Sun morn seem to be times when noise disturbances are most likely.
Well I had a neighbor that turned out to be a drug dealer and had ATF show up at our place asking if we had seen him lol.......
Also I was that horrible neighbor that would throw crazy loud parties in my 2 bedroom apartment lol... I would get over everyone hating me by inviting them all to the parties........I had one neighbor whose entire dating live i knew because she was so damned loud I could here everything... BTw I love having a top floor place I hate hearing people above me0
