With home prices continuing to decline, sometimes the best thing to do is rent an apartment. The reason for this is that there is a risk of purchasing a home and then becoming upside down in the home a few years later. To be upside down on a home simply means that the borrower owes more on the home then the home is worth. This can make it tremendously difficult to get out from under a house.
The alternative to owning a home, at least until the housing market in the Grand Rapids area stabilizes a little, is to rent an apartment. The good news is there are a lot of highly desirable apartments in Grand Rapids listings so finding one should not be a problem at all. Now finding the right one may be a little tougher since there are so many choices.
What is the Best Location?
So where are some of the more desirable places to live in the Grand Rapids area? There are quite a few, but some of the highlights include Breton Village, East Fulton, Easttown, River Town Crossings, Gaslight Village, and Historic Lowell. There are definitely more places, but these are the most mentioned ones as desirable places to live.
Each location has its own pros and cons. It is always wise to make a list of all the desirable features of a particular area of Grand Rapids. Then rank those features in order of preference. This process will help paint a clearer picture as to where to start when looking at apartments in Grand Rapids.
A few things to consider may be the commute time to work, the schools in the area, closeness to shopping, access to community events and activities, etc. When comparing apartments, the available amenities should also be considered. This can include access to pools, fitness centers, etc. Without a question, there are a lot of things to consider when deciding on an apartment in the Grand Rapids area. Having a few pre-determined parameters in mind will certainly help narrow down the potential suitors.
Duration of Stay
Renting an apartment can be both long term or short term or anywhere in between. A renter should always keep that in mind too when deciding on where to rent. Some apartment landlords or companies may offer additional discounts on the monthly cost of rent for those who make agreements to stay there long term. This is double edged sword if the renter is unsure on how long they wish to stay. The best bet here is to pay more and have the flexibility of getting out of the rental agreement sooner if needed. Regardless of the particular situation there are plenty of options available to suit any desirable length of stay in the Grand Rapids area.
