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?)
In New Brunswick New Jersey near Rutgers.
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
I will be living with one or more roommates. This is so we can split the cost of the apartment.
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.
I need an apartment that has a nice shower. Hot and cold water to be able to have nice showers. A decent size
kitchen to make meals. A room that all the roommates can watch TV and hang out. Will the land lord be willing to fix
all problems.
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
34 Guilden St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
1 Richmond St New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Number of
Bedrooms
3 beds 3 beds
Number of
Bathrooms
1 bath 3 baths
Square Footage 1,000 sq ft 1,511 sq ft
Rent amount $1,919 $2,058
Length of lease
(month/year)
monthly 13 months
List apartment
features
shared laundry Air Conditioning, Dishwasher, Washer / Dryer,
Furnished Available, High Speed Internet,
Available, Storage Space(s), Pool, Whirlpool(s),
Sauna(s), Sundeck(s)
Security deposit Varies Varies
Layout of the
apartment
Have two floors with the bedroom each having
their own closet and beds.
Has a sitting area with 3 bedrooms and 3
bathrooms. Also a small kitchen area.
Pictures



Utilities included
(water, garbage,
electric, heat, etc.)
Everything is included Everything is included
Parking On the street Carport
Pet policies Allow cats and dogs Allows cats and dogs
Other costs N/A N/A
Other interesting
information
Not far from Rutgers University. Close to Rutgers University.
Roommate(s) or
Alone
With roommates With roommates
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. This is because even though it may cost more the rent is for 13
months at a time. Also the space is a lot bigger for all of us to live in.


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? No the rent is more
than the number calculated.
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? If I had four roommates I can afford it.
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? This apartment is
way more.
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? I still could not afford it with four
roommates.
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 = ___$22,500____
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by 12 =
____$1,875______
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 = ___$562.50_____
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line above? This is less than the
apartment.
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? I could afford it with four roommates.