Yet another question about renting...

Those who rent- do you rent a apt/condo in a complex- or out of someones house (or do you just rent a whole house)

As Ive said before I LOVE where we live now- but we do need a little more space- and its getting $$$...

We have been discussing renting an upper level (no basements or anything) 2 or 3bdrm apt/house- in someones home... We figure with utilites being included it will help us save $$$ and hopefully next year we will be able to purchase something....

I always get so nervous about who we'd be living above-

What do you think about renting a house/apt w/in someone house???

A few people I had called over the weekend- were landlords who have convereted their houses into a few apt.s and they rent them out, but live somewhere else... I personally would perfer it to be just the 1 apartment, above the landlord themself...

Re: Yet another question about renting...

We lived on the second floor of a 2-family house for 3 1/2 years. (2 bedrooms) We really liked it, but knew it was time to buy our own place.

The landlords were an older couple who lived downstairs. They treated us very well (didn't raise the rent the entire time we lived there) and we didn't bother them unless necessary.

The only downside was that we heard their TV because they were hard of hearing and the volume was turned WAY up!!

Re: Yet another question about renting...

Honestly, I hated renting in someone's home, especially when the landlord lives there. I rented 3 different places on LI in a house's apartment.

They don't fix anything, they act like they are doing you a favor, they have no respect whatsoever for their tenant. They let their kids run around at anytime of the day. On top of the " you need to move out", my mom/sister/etc... is now going to live with us.

My last rented apartment was in a complex. WOW, so much better.

Now we own a house.

Re: Yet another question about renting...

I've lived in both and MUCH prefer a complex setting. In my case the apartments in houses were illegal too, so there was always a chance of the town finding out and then I would have gotten kicked out, so if you're going to live in one I would recommend that you make sure it's a legal apartment. The apartments in houses were definitely cheaper. I felt like I lost some privacy though. My last apt. in a house did not have a seperate entrance (shared the front entrance with the landlord & family who lived downstairs) and that was very annoying.

Re: Yet another question about renting...

I've rented in someone's house the entire time I've rented...

1st experience - HORRIBLE. I moved out within 9 mths.

2nd experience - WONDERFUL!!! The family I lived with became my family. They had food waiting for me when I came home, took care of my fish when I went away, you name it...they did it. I lived there 3 years - only moved out because DH & I were moving in together.

3rd experience - ugh! A total nightmare. It was a one family home that the greedy young landlord made into 3 apts! We lived there 2 miserable years. During those 2 years he had 3 tenants move in and out upstairs and 3 tenants move in and out downstairs...miserable situation. Also ILLEGAL, which we knew, but because the landlord was so greedy the neighbors were not happy. Needless to say 4 mths before our wedding the town ever so nicely evicted all of us....

4th experience - great. LEGAL - I learned my lesson! 2 bedroom apt in a 2 family home. deck, attic, walk-in closet, EIK, FDR, huge rooms all around. Quiet landlords too. BUT....all good things come to an end. You realize quickly that no matter how much rent you pay...the home is NEVER yours.... they have the right to say and do what they want because it is their home.

Re: Yet another question about renting...

I live on the 2nd floor of a two familly home above the landlord.
This is the 2nd tme I've lived in this situation and the 3rd time I've lived in an apartment where the owner is present.
I like having the owner present has repairs get made quickly and the property is well maintained.
We've really been able to save a good amount of money doing this- our rent is way below what it would cost to be in a "luxury rental" but it is still nice and big enough for us.

Re: Yet another question about renting...

I prefer to live in a building/complex

I only lived in someones home once years ago- and they were always yelling at their daughter who was my age- it was terrible

my last 3 apartments have been buildings- I feel like you get more- we have a gym, pool, doorman

Re: Yet another question about renting...

So much of it depends on the individual place. I rented a basement in a house and while I didn't have the most privacy, it was a great experience. The landlords were friends, though, and I loved that I could go away without worrying about my mail or my car.

A while ago, I lived in a building with 4 apartments. Overall, it was OK, but I shared a wall with a very loud neighbor.

I live in a very large complex now, and while I have a bit more privacy, the experience in general is not so good. Their maintenance people suck, I have too many neighbors I can hear, and the parking situation is not so great.

I think you have to look at each possible location individually and see how it works for you. The one thing I would recommend is living on the top level if you can. I would much rather have neighbors below me than above me.

Message edited 2/6/2007 10:10:50 AM.

Re: Yet another question about renting...

We live in a 2 bedroom that is the upstairs of a house. The landlords are a retired couple that live downstairs. They let us use the yard and even gave us a picnic table to use while we live there.

We found the apartment by using a broker. Although they charge $, we found the best LEGAL apartments going this route. We feel that we get more for our $ by living in a house as opposed to a complex.

They will not raise the rent (we pay only $1100 for a HUGE 2 bedroom with cathedral ceilings), they fix things right away b/c they are downstairs, we have use of the yard, etc. We are lucky though, not all landlords are that good. We will stay here another year or two until we have enough money saved for a house.