Places to Live

Finding a new home can be an exciting time and the opportunity can be presented in a number of different types of homes, including apartments, studio apartments, condos, mobile homes and the purchase of a house. By learning more about each of these types of homes, you will be able to make an informed decision as there are a number of factors that should be considered.

In addition to reviewing what you might want, it is also important to take the time to consider what you are able to afford. Not only might thereby an initial upfront cost but depending on the type of home you choose, maintenance efforts and fees could also arise. On the other hand, you want to ensure that you select a home where you will have enough space to be comfortable without breaking your budget.

Each type of home will come with its advantages and drawbacks and by learning about these pros and cons, you will have a better idea of what you may be getting yourself into. Other than the more obvious financial and appropriate amount of space considerations, you may also consider commuting options, schools and the neighborhood that you are considering.

Yet before you can answer many of those types of considerations and review what you would ideally want, you must first decide on the most basic. What type of home would you like to live in?

Condos vs. Apartments

Both condos and apartments offer a variety of pros and cons for renters. However, it is first important to understand the difference between an apartment and a condominium as these two types of homes are often seen as very similar at first glance. Some of these similarities are rather obvious. For example, both condos and apartments are generally a unit that exists within larger buildings of units. Both condos and apartments may offer a variety of amenities to tenants, such as an on-site gym, a common area or an on-site laundry area.

While these similarities between condos and apartments do exist, there are a number of differences between these types of homes as well. Monthly costs associated with condos and apartments can vary greatly with condominiums typically being more expensive. There are generally several types of rules and regulations that are associated with living in a condo as well. In most cases, you typically purchase a condo and become its “owner”, but you must still live by the rules and regulations within a particular condominium community, such as the inability to have pets, the type of internet or cable that you are permitted to have, and so on. These rules will typically differ from one community to the next.

You can find more information about condos vs. apartments in our in-depth section. This can help you to make an informed decision on your housing needs.

Studio Apartments

A studio apartment can go by several different names, including a studio flat or an efficiency apartment, but all of these names refer to the same type of home. A studio apartment is typically a very small unit in comparison to a regular apartment, but it is often cheaper or it may be located within a popular area to live in. While the square footage is far smaller in an efficiency apartment, it often contains many of the amenities that apartment living provides, such as an onsite laundry facility, an onsite gym or common areas.

A studio apartment’s layout is typically about the same. Generally, there is one large room, an attached kitchen and one small full bathroom. Some studio apartments may offer a closet for additional storage space or other small add on areas. If this size of a home would not be a good match for you, a studio apartment is not recommended.

Find out more about what studio apartments offer as well as the advantages and drawbacks of living in a studio apartment in our in-depth section. This section can provide you with more information regarding efficiency apartments and what to expect in order to give you the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Manufactured and Mobile Homes

Manufactured and mobile homes offer a variety of benefits and are often cheaper to purchase than a traditional home, but it is important to learn more about these types of homes before jumping right into it as there are several pros and cons to consider. For example, these types of homes can often offer a great amount of space, but they do not include basements, attics or second stories. Generally, these do not include a garage either. These types of homes are most commonly found on community lots, which means that owners of manufactured and mobile homes will be required to follow the rules of the community that they live in. Getting loans for a manufactured or mobile home can also be difficult at times as there are a number of financial institutions that do not provide these types of loans.

It is also important to understand the differences between a mobile home and a manufactured home in order to make an informed decision. These two types of homes are so similar, that even an abundance of bankers and financial lenders that may help you with a loan for the home may not completely understand the differences.

You can find all the details on manufactured and mobile homes, including the differences between them, from our comprehensive section on manufactured and mobile homes.

Buying a Home

If you would prefer to purchase a traditional home, it is important to know that there may be a variety of options for you, depending on your budget. However, becoming a homeowner is a large investment, and, when factoring your budget, it is important to also consider the costs of maintenance and potential repairs to existing or future problems that the home may present.

The price of a home that is for sale is extremely important as you will need to determine whether or not the home is within your budget range. However, there are a number of other factors that may need to be considered, depending on what is important to you. Are you looking for a yard? Would you rather have a larger home? How does the home feel for you? Does it have any problems that could result in costly repairs? Is it in a good location? The list goes on.

Therefore, it is important that you do your research and review your options when considering such a large investment. Purchasing a home is never something that should be done on a whim. If you are interested in purchasing a home, be sure to check out our in-depth section in order to review the options that may be available to you.