Choosing between a house and apartment is never easy. If you’re planning on moving to Houston TX or Dallas TX, there are various factors that you must consider before taking the plunge.
When moving to a city, apartments often have greater benefits, mainly due to price, location and accessibility.
Price
No doubt price is at the forefront of your decision. If you have budgetary constraints, then a house may not be feasible. Apartments are generally cheaper, especially if you’re moving to a central location or developing area.
Aside from rental fees, there are also other price factors that you must take into account. For example, an apartment will often require a smaller deposit, making it easier for you to save money or acquire loans. In addition, developers often strive to build apartments in areas that have good transport connections. This can significantly reduce commuting costs.
Availability
When houses go on the market for a good price people will jump at the chance to make an offer. This significantly increases the competition, which often results in higher rental fees.
The difference in availability between houses and apartments is huge. While apartments are often available in abundance, houses are more difficult to come by, especially in popular Houston TX or Dallas TX hotspots. If you want to rent a house you may have venture further to the outskirts of the city to find somewhere financially viable.
Outdoor Living
One of the primary benefits of living in a house is that they usually have a garden. While apartments often come with a shared garden, they don’t offer privacy. If you enjoy gardening, lounging in the sun or simply knowing that you have a nice outdoor area to relax and unwind, an apartment may not be suitable.
Some apartments will have balconies with views of the city. While they don’t provide the size and flexibility of a full garden, they can certainly compensate if you treasure the outdoors.
Spaciousness
Houses will more than likely have a larger square footage than apartments; however, this comes at a cost. While its human nature to crave spaciousness, if you don’t make the most out of that space, you’ll simply be throwing money down the drain.
If you don’t crave space and spend a lot of time in the city, then you won’t need excessive space requirements. Always assess your lifestyle and think about how much time you plan on spending in your new home before you decide whether an apartment or house is right for your needs.
Maintenance
When you rent an apartment you almost certainly won’t pay over-the-odds for maintenance. Landlords will maintain shared facilities such as laundry rooms, hallways, gardens, and any other amenities. If you move into a house, you’ll probably have to cover the maintenance fees yourself.
Before you start searching for new accommodation, take a little time to weigh up the pros and cons. By thoroughly assessing your needs before you sign a contract you could significantly cut down your costs.
If you’re planning on moving to Houston TX or Dallas TX, and need some more help deciding whether you need an apartment or house, get in touch with us at Apartment Agents.
Image: RKRichardson
