Should I Move?

[Employee8]

I've talked this over with my family and some of my coworkers and I'm still unsure if I should move to a new apartment from here.  Here are the details:

Currently I pay $600/mo for rent, cable, heat, water, electricity, everything and live in a 4 bedroom duplex home.  I live with 3 other roommates who are OK to get along and do somewhat a decent job of cleaning up after themselves.  We kind of get in each other's way when we cook food for dinner and we all want different temperatures for the whole house.  But otherwise, we have a nice living room and my room is partially furnished.  The rent is month to month and we have a high turnover rate for roommates.  I'm the longest tenured tenant at 13 months.

Now, I guess I'm kinda over living with people and not having to worry if my roommates eat or drink my food (roommate meetings don't solve this) and having to worry what my next roommate is like because my landlord doesn't do a background check whatsoever.  So I looked around for a studio apartment and found one in downtown that is still within biking distance to work.  It is $575/mo for rent and with utilities, it will come out to be about $675/mo (this is without cable...no Celtics I know).  The place has big, nice windows, short carpet, a full bathroom, ample closet space and lies on the second floor but the stairway/hallway smells like smoke.  If I sign a 1 year lease, I get one month rent free.  But I'd have to buy a closet, dining room table, chairs, kitchen stuff, etc.  I'm thinking maybe $300-400 to furnish my place with basic stuff I need to live.

So, should I make the move?  I've looked for months now and have ruled out many potential studios due to bad locations and high costs (don't want to pay more than $100 than what I am currently paying) and this apartment is probably the best combination of good location and decent rent price that I've seen in awhile.  I'd be on my own but at the same time, while my roommates aren't the best to live with, I can deal with them and sometimes have good talks with them.  But two are moving next month and I'm not sure who the next roommates will be (the place is always advertised on craigslist).

The new apartment is on hold for me for the next couple days.  What do you think?

[Mike-Dub]

Will you be able to go to a bar to watch the C's?

[Prof. Clutch]

There's nothing better than a fresh start and moving into your own place.  Living on your own rocks, I say do it!

[Roy H.]

$575 is very reasonable for a studio if you're happy with it.  Assuming that you can stand living on your own (some people can't), then I say go for it.

[Redz]

If you can swing it, go for it.

The rotating door roommates without any input from you would make me nuts.

[Employee8]

Update-

I almsot got that place but then I found a sweet spot down near the ocean and I'm rather close to securing that apartment.  Goes to show you that sometimes what you think you're getting isn't what you're actually going to get at all!  But thanks for your advices, it is GOOD to be on your own!!

[Steve Weinman]

$575 is very reasonable for a studio if you're happy with it. 

!!!

With the disclaimer that I'm in New York, having just moved into a studio of my own five months ago, my eyes nearly popped out of my head at that figure as well.

Here's hoping your soon-to-be spot satisfies your other desires (location, safety, etc.) and maintains that level of affordability for you, Employee8.  I spent much of the late summer-autumn in the headache-inducing search process.  It will be well worth it once you lock up the place that suits your needs.

-sw

[OsirusCeltics]

$575 is very reasonable for a studio if you're happy with it.  

!!!

With the disclaimer that I'm in New York, having just moved into a studio of my own five months ago, my eyes nearly popped out of my head at that figure as well.

Here's hoping your soon-to-be spot satisfies your other desires (location, safety, etc.) and maintains that level of affordability for you, Employee8.  I spent much of the late summer-autumn in the headache-inducing search process.  It will be well worth it once you lock up the place that suits your needs.

-sw

LOL same exact reaction I had, I live in NYC too. If I can get an apartment that price, I'll move in a heartbeat

[celts55]

Not to be rude, but to answer i would need to know, How old are you?
I personally think there comes an age where it's just time to have your own place.

[Yvette]

I used to do apartment hopping. I always look for privacy (bathroom, fridge, food, etc.) and the atmosphere of the place (quiet neighborhood, ample parking space, near malls)... This is very important, and should know the occupants well. The rent cost does not matter as long as it's within my budget...   

[blake]

Whatever you do, make sure you have a social life.  Too many people get stuck in a rut if they live by themselves.  You will make yourself go crazy if you dont have some interaction.  Congrats on the new place.  Sounds like getting out of that situation will be a huge relief.

[Steve Weinman]

$575 is very reasonable for a studio if you're happy with it.  

!!!

With the disclaimer that I'm in New York, having just moved into a studio of my own five months ago, my eyes nearly popped out of my head at that figure as well.

Here's hoping your soon-to-be spot satisfies your other desires (location, safety, etc.) and maintains that level of affordability for you, Employee8.  I spent much of the late summer-autumn in the headache-inducing search process.  It will be well worth it once you lock up the place that suits your needs.

-sw

LOL same exact reaction I had, I live in NYC too. If I can get an apartment that price, I'll move in a heartbeat

As I learned the headache-inducing way, you can find plenty of people advertising such prices on craigslist - people on "overseas safaris" and "foreign missions" who would like you to wire your 12 months of rent immediately and then they'll maybe find a key for you...

-sw