What are some key factors that you should look for went looking for an apartment?

1. Rent


2. Facilities (Water, Electricity, Gas, Internet ...)


3. Transportation (How far, Parking, Public Transportation ...)


4. Furniture and amenities (Is it furnished?, Does it come with a stove and a fridge? ...)

Hi Thomas,

It's very wise to think ahead about living off campus before actually making that move. Dorm life can be cramped and a little crazy at times but there are often benefits there that you may want to take advantage of for as long as possible. I remember when I lived on campus and I would come home to a little apartment that I shared with four other girls and the lights would be on in every room along with the tv and at least 2 different radios and not a single person was to be found actually at home. As obnoxious as I found the waste of electricity it was also a relief to know that we had a controlled bill that was included in our monthly rent check. I always knew exactly what to expect for rent and utilities when living on campus. Most housing situations off campus will not be that predictable. I always know what my rent will look like but my electric bill looks different every month.

I said all of that to say this, know your budget. How much do you have to spend on rent? Remember that in most cases utilities are separate, ie water/ sewage, trash, and electricity. Do you plan on or need to get internet? What about cable? Even the basic channels will require a cable package. It can be difficult to find a pre-furnished apartment so odds are you will need to buy furniture. To save money there you can check out local garage sales or look online for good deals. Just be careful if you find a free couch online. I'm sure it goes without saying but take a friend with you and let people know where you are going to be.

I suggest you sit down and realistically work out and then rework a serious budget. Once you know what you can spend you can more easily determine what apartment you can afford to live in. Check out these great online budgeting tools to help you get started.
Also let me officially welcome you to adulthood! It doesn't come with an instruction manual but when you ask for help you can usually find people who are willing to lend a hand. :)

http://financialplan.about.com/od/moneyandcollegestudents/l/blcollbudget.htm

http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/res/cc_tips/BudgetGrad05.pdf

https://www.cicmoney101.org/Calculators/Budget-Worksheets/Traditional-College-Student.aspx

Hi Thomas!

Here are two sites that will help you with the selection of an apartment and some of the things that go along with it - which you might not have considered yet:
http://apartments.about.com/od/apartmenthunting/a/findapartment.htm
http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-apartment/

You really need to look at all these factors to decide - is this the right step for me to take?