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?)
New Brunswick/United States, New Jersey because I want to go to Rutgers and that
is the city where Rutgers is located.
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
I will probably live with multiple roommates to alleviate the costs 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.
Technology amenities I like to play video games so this will be necessary.
Security I would like to be safe where I am living.
Heating and cooling system I would like to feel comfortable with the temperature
in my apartment.
Appliances I want to be able to perform household tasks easily and efficiently.
Noise I would like to not be bothered by outside noises where I am living.
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 Riverside Towers

Apartment #2 Tov Manor

10 Commercial Ave, New

Brunswick, NJ 08901 - Turnpike
West
2

80 Phelps Ave, New Brunswick, NJ

08901 - Turnpike West

Number of
Bathrooms

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

1058 sq ft

850 sq ft

$1700-1870

$1055

1 year only

N/A

Number of
Bedrooms

List
apartment
features

-employees give prompt

assistance and personalized
attention
-emergency maintenance service
24/7
-newly upgraded

Concierge
Laundry Facilities
Maintenance on site
Property Manager on Site

Security
deposit
Layout of
the
apartment
[Insert
Picture]

N/A

N/A

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

Air Conditioning
Cable Ready
High Speed Internet Access
Free Gas, Water, Heat, Trash
Removal
Garage included

Free Water, Heat, Trash Removal

Pet
Policies

$45 Monthly Pet Rent

$350 Fee
2 Pet Limit

$350 deposit per pet. $25 monthly rent

per pet Weight limit - 25lbs max.

Pictures

1 spot in surface lot

Other
costs

None

$60 application fee

Other
interesting
informatio
n

Built in 1960

Built in 1978

Roommate
(s) or
Alone

One roommate

Alone

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 Riverside Towers. The first apartment choice seems to be the
better choice. The two options have much of the same features, however the Riverside
Towers do have a bit more to offer. For example, the Riverside Towers includes a garage,
which is a slight improvement over the

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?