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 would like to live in Long branch New Jersey because its close to the beach, my
family lives there, and its the town Monmouth College is in.
2. Will you be living with a roommate, multiple roommates, or alone? Why?
I will most likely be living with a roommate because the cost of living alone will be
too expensive.
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 things in an apartment are parking because I need a place
to park my car. I also need my own bedroom for privacy. I would like my own
bathroom if Im living with one other roommate so we each have our own
bathroom. I would also like a kitchen with a fridge, and a 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!
Qualification

Apartment #1 Pleasure bay

apartments

Apartment #2 Pier Village

Location

Long Branch, NJ

Long Branch, NJ

Number of
Bedrooms

Number of
Bathrooms

Square
Footage
Rent amount

975 sq ft

1005 sq ft

$1,535

$2030

Length of
lease
(month/year)

1 year

1 year

List
apartment
features

Security
deposit
Layout of the
apartment
[Insert
Picture]

Cable Ready
Ceiling Fan
Fitness Center
High Speed Internet Ready
Pool
Porch
Transportation
N/A

Air Conditioning
Balcony CableReady Deck
Oversized Closets
Some Paid Utilities
Vaulted Ceilings
View

Water, garbage, heat, electric,

cable, internet

Some utilities paid

1 spot included

Covered parking garage

N/A

Pictures

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

Pet Policies

Pets welcome

Contact for details (732) 443-1256

Other costs

N/A

N/A

Other
interesting
information

Close to transportation

1 hour commute to NYC

Roommate(s)
or Alone

1 roommate

1 roommate

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 pier village because there are two bathrooms so my
roommate and I would each have our own bathroom and bedroom.

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 = ______22462.50_
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = ___1871.87_______
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
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why? If no could you afford the apartment
with a roommate? I still dont think I could rent these apartments with
a roommate it would not be a good idea
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

v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?

vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? I could not
afford one of these apartments
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 = ___52500____
ii. Then, find how much you will take home per month by dividing that number by
12 = __________4375
iii. Next, find what you should spend for rent by multiplying that number by 0.30 =
___1312.15_____
iv. Is the rent for the apartment less than what you calculated in the line
above? No
v. If yes is this a good idea? Why?
vi. If no could you afford the apartment with a roommate? Yes I could
afford the apartment with a roommate