Comments on: Am I Crazy? http://thomaslitchford.com/blog/2009/09/18/am-i-crazy/ Writing.Life Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: NanMel http://thomaslitchford.com/blog/2009/09/18/am-i-crazy/comment-page-1/#comment-13440 NanMel Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:41:43 +0000 http://thomaslitchford.com/blog/?p=674#comment-13440 That's only about 5 blocks from our favorite Starbucks. I would do it just based on that! That’s only about 5 blocks from our favorite Starbucks. I would do it just based on that!

]]> By: Andrew http://thomaslitchford.com/blog/2009/09/18/am-i-crazy/comment-page-1/#comment-13437 Andrew Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:22:00 +0000 http://thomaslitchford.com/blog/?p=674#comment-13437 While I have to vouch for living in the heart of the action (walking to work for me and one block to a direct bus for my wife is awesome - plus everyone always wants to meet at your house), I'm always leery of complexes run by big management companies. While they're typically newer, there's the inevitable mystery rent increase at the end of the lease. This generally has no correlation to the state of the market - I think it's just trying to find the most pain you'll endure before you'll actually rent the U-Haul and move. With smaller landlords laziness rules, and the initial price is usually the price you pay until you leave because they don't want to be bothered finding a new tenant. Before we were married my wife and I both had apartments in similar complexes. After both of us got a particularly heinous increase, we both decided we were done with the big complexes for good. Since then we've scoured neighborhoods and found one-off apartments and small complexes in areas where we want to live - and been a lot happier. The units tend to be funkier, and don't have the flashy amenities, but they aren't cookie cutter either. You can definitely score some deals on a cool spot if you're willing to look - my wife had a converted garage studio w/loft that had its own fenced yard - for $650. Our current townhouse is a claustrophobic 650 sq.ft., but it's got mountain views and a two car garage (and it's a block from the local brewpub). All for less than $1000/month including cable! While I have to vouch for living in the heart of the action (walking to work for me and one block to a direct bus for my wife is awesome – plus everyone always wants to meet at your house), I’m always leery of complexes run by big management companies. While they’re typically newer, there’s the inevitable mystery rent increase at the end of the lease. This generally has no correlation to the state of the market – I think it’s just trying to find the most pain you’ll endure before you’ll actually rent the U-Haul and move. With smaller landlords laziness rules, and the initial price is usually the price you pay until you leave because they don’t want to be bothered finding a new tenant.

Before we were married my wife and I both had apartments in similar complexes. After both of us got a particularly heinous increase, we both decided we were done with the big complexes for good. Since then we’ve scoured neighborhoods and found one-off apartments and small complexes in areas where we want to live – and been a lot happier. The units tend to be funkier, and don’t have the flashy amenities, but they aren’t cookie cutter either. You can definitely score some deals on a cool spot if you’re willing to look – my wife had a converted garage studio w/loft that had its own fenced yard – for $650. Our current townhouse is a claustrophobic 650 sq.ft., but it’s got mountain views and a two car garage (and it’s a block from the local brewpub). All for less than $1000/month including cable!

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