Four Housing Options for College Grads: Pros and Cons
Choosing what type of housing to look for can be a difficult decision for someone starting their first job or finding their first place to live. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Live With Your Parents
- Pros:
- Free or inexpensive
- Easy to spend time with your family
- Might not have to pay for food or utilities
- No lease (you can leave whenever you want)
- Cons:
- May lack independence or privacy
- Might not learn about taking care of your own place and paying bills
Rent a Room
- Pros:
- Inexpensive compared to most other housing options
- Independence without being alone
- Might become friends with your housemates
- Might be able to learn about the area from your housemates
- Utilities may be included or inexpensive
- May not have a lease or the lease might only be month-to-month
- Cons:
- May lack privacy
- Will have to share common spaces
- May not like your housemates
- May still have to sign a multi-month lease
- Landlord might not get to repairs quickly
Rent an Apartment
- Pros:
- Independence and Privacy
- Can still choose to share the apartment to save money/not live alone
- Apartment complexes provide maintenance and other amentities
- Cons:
- May be more expensive than renting a room
- Likely to have a lease
- Will have to pay utility bills
- Could be expensive
Rent a House
- Pros:
- More space than in an apartment
- Might be quieter than an apartment complex
- Can choose how many housemates you have and who you want to live with
- Cons:
- Will have to pay utilities
- Might have to manage rent and utilities for other housemates
- Could be expensive
- Likely to have a lease
- Landlord may take longer to get to repairs than at an apartment
