These poor deluded people....

[Jester]

So I still haven't rented out the third bedroom in our apartment, which is very unamusing to both Mr. Anti-Social and myself, as the last two months, we have had to pay 50% more in rent each to cover the vacant room. (The rent for the apartment is the same no matter how many people we have living here.)

So I am trolling craigslist, looking at ads of people looking for places to live, and two amused me greatly.

One was from a guy down here to go to school who was looking for a room to rent somewhere in the lower Keys for $300/month. Now, while rents are less the more you get away from Key West, even up the Keys where he is talking about that is a rather unrealistic rent. Sure, it might happen, but I would not want to stay in the place it could happen at.

And then there was the cheery ad from a "simple, artistic couple" that wanted a place, preferably in Old Town Key West (where rents are high and places are small) seeking a place for $400/month or less. They say they are "ready to begin island living!"

I gotta tell ya, folks, for the amount you want to pay in the are you want to live, the only rentals you are going to find are going to be shitholes, and probably in the less savory neighborhoods of this fair island, where bike theft and crack sales are both prominent. Good luck with your "island living."

Sorry, but shit like this just cracks me up. Key West isn't cheap, and I love the people who move here with no clue, no job, and are shocked (SHOCKED!) to find out the reality of Key West living. My basic apartment, which is NOT in Old Town Key West, goes for $1,800 for a 3br/2ba. This is somewhat of a deal. It's not a great deal, and utitilities run high, especially electric since we live on the second floor and run the AC constantly, but ya know what? It's also not a shithole.

$400 a month. Downtown. Good fucking luck. :lol:

[Whiskey]

In a decent side of town, a 3/2 is 1300ish here. And I live in a podunk town. Go california rent rates >.>

\/ just gonna slowly back away. you win, kia. Hands down.

[KiaKat]

Pardon me while I laugh.

I'm in a 2/1, in part of Brooklyn that is nice, but definitely out of the way (I have to have a car to get to work, otherwise I spend 75 minutes on the train EACH WAY with two line transfers and a 15 minute walk), and I pay $1400 + electric (gas & water are on the landlord's dime).

And we're not even a Tourist Area. And although we're technically an island, we're not an Island.

Oh the delusion.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'm in the middle of New Jersey and we pay almost 1200 for a 2-bedroom with a tiny kitchen. We are right on the bus line to NYC, though (there's a bus stop right behind the complex), so it's a good spot if you commute...don't have to worry about parking if you live here. I see a few people in the morning walking to the stop when I'm leaving for work.

I loved Key West but I would never expect to be able to afford to live there ;)

[Jester]

Kia, obviously everything is relative. NYC is going to be more expensive than KW, so the normal rents here would be low for you. But then again, there are 2/2's here for $1600, so it's not that much different.

Either way, $400 is unrealistic.

[AdminAssistant]

Hell, $400/month would be unrealistic for an apartment here, and I live in college town in the Midwest. Okay, there are apartments for $400, but you don't want to live there. My 2/1 for $530 was a steal...I got very, very lucky to find something that cheap in a nice, quiet part of town.

[blas]

I'll quit complaining about my rent, then.

I just love how my friends and my bf call my place a "dump", when it's not really that horrible of a place to live or even in a bad area of town. It's simply a place where you get what you pay for. This is damn near one of the only places you will find where everything (including 70 channels of cable!) is included. It helps alot in the winter and summer, to know I don't have to worry about what temperature I keep the place at.

The neighbors suck and the maintenance people are drooling stalking idiots, but it's really not as bad as where I used to live.

[Whiskey]

^ I lived in OP for 515 for a 1/1. I dont think I ever paid more than 530 for my own apartment in a nice neighborhood.

edit: talking to adminassist

[KiaKat]

Kia, obviously everything is relative. NYC is going to be more expensive than KW, so the normal rents here would be low for you. But then again, there are 2/2's here for $1600, so it's not that much different.

Either way, $400 is unrealistic.

I was actually laughing at the people. I'm not making my points well, pre-coffee.

It's ridiculous to think you can live in a Place Everyone Wants To Live and pay such small amounts. You can live in Buffalo, NY and pay that, or in North Country, NH. Not Key West, not Washington, DC, not Seattle Washington, and definitely not Miami, FL or New York, NY.

[Jester]

Hell, $400/month would be unrealistic for an apartment here, and I live in college town in the Midwest. Okay, there are apartments for $400, but you don't want to live there. My 2/1 for $530 was a steal...I got very, very lucky to find something that cheap in a nice, quiet part of town.

Perhaps I didn't make it clear that they were merely looking for a ROOM for $400. I don't think they were so unrealistic as to expect an entire apartment for that.

[Whiskey]

You would be surprised. I know people here who think they can get an apartment on a nicer side of town for 500$ a month.

You can an apartment with no bedroom, bars on the windows, and bullet holes in the glass for that.

Some people are desperate here. If you can stand living with creepo's you can get a room by the college for 450$ maybe

[cewfa]

I pay $400 a month for rent on a 2br/1 ba. I live in East Tennessee.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I have one roommate and my share of the rent is 640 (I pay more because I have the bigger bedroom).

That's what I paid for a one-bedroom all to myself in PA (Levittown, just over the border from NJ)...9 years ago...

[shankyknitter]

You can live in Buffalo, NY and pay that.

As a native Buffalonian- No you can't. Admittedly our rent is laughable compared to some of what everyone else is paying but for a 3 bedroom 1 bath we're paying $780 a month. That's without any utilities included.

[jnd4rusty]

I live in a 1bdr/1bath, all utilities and cable included for $450 a month..granted it is pretty small but very quiet. I don't want to move until I buy a home plus this is cheap...the same owner of the complex has another complex where he charges $650 for a three bedroom, one bathroom, three story apartment. I live in one of those apartments until my roommates moved out and I had to move to a cheaper place, so he transfered me to this complex. On average apartments can run from $350 to $1400 depending on what part of the city you are renting in. Usually the South and West side are more expensive than the North and East side.

[AdminAssistant]

^ I lived in OP for 515 for a 1/1. I dont think I ever paid more than 530 for my own apartment in a nice neighborhood.

edit: talking to adminassist

Cost of living is actually higher in Lawrence that it is in JoCo or even some parts of KCMO. Plus, you're competing with the college kids which isn't a problem in OP. Besides....all of OP/JoCo is nice it just has no soul. I hate Olathe, everything's beige.

[malmalthekiller]

I live in a historic/college town in PA. My first one person apartment was $600. The 3 bedroom I live in now is $1500, so I'm paying a little less, but I'm in a great location.

[Whiskey]

Cost of living is actually higher in Lawrence that it is in JoCo or even some parts of KCMO. Plus, you're competing with the college kids which isn't a problem in OP. Besides....all of OP/JoCo is nice it just has no soul. I hate Olathe, everything's beige.

Yeah Lawrence is ridiculous. Im one of those "Live in the quiet, drive to party" kind of people. I would never dream of living in Lawrence. Although if I could live across the street from the WA Sushi house, I would consider it. I drove from Olathe to Lawrence once a week for that restaurant.

[AdminAssistant]

Yeah Lawrence is ridiculous. Im one of those "Live in the quiet, drive to party" kind of people. I would never dream of living in Lawrence. Although if I could live across the street from the WA Sushi house, I would consider it. I drove from Olathe to Lawrence once a week for that restaurant.

I love it here, I just chose my apartment very, very carefully. Nice quiet neighborhood, minimal frat boy nonsense. Shit gets crazy on football Saturdays and basketball anythings, but it's such an awesome place to live.

[TreasureChest]

when we lived in maryland and where looking to rent an apartment

this was the typical we found for most of the dc metro area (http://www.apartments.com/summary.aspx?property=102001.49&srank=10&stype=city&city=bethesda&state=md&rent_minimum=0&rent_maximum=99999&am28=0&am39=0&perpg=20&page=summary&prvpg=7&qsearchtype=1&srt1=0.83&srt2=0.48&srt3=0.76)

amazing that the studio is going for $1830 at 531 sq ft

before we moved to europe we paid $1700 for a 3bd 1.5 bath split level house with basement.... decent area only heard shots fired a few times, the drugs kept them selves to about a mile away and there where ONLY 6 registered sex offenders in the immediate area (either pedos or violent)

when we moved here, even with $ vs € we still paid less for a slightly bigger house with garage 700€

the dc metro area is evil, too many people with money willing to pay the hype

[Racket_Man]

Perhaps I didn't make it clear that they were merely looking for a ROOM for $400. I don't think they were so unrealistic as to expect an entire apartment for that.


Even in my small upper Mid-western town what you get for $300 - $400 is like 2 rooms smallish living room/kitchen combo and one smallish bedroom. unless you are willing to live in the trashy area of my twon (YES the ones I deliver to, YES the ones that I fear walking up the front/outside steps to, the ones where the landlord does NO maintenance, yes the building looks like it is in a war zone) rents are still not all that cheap.

[TreasureChest]

Even in my small upper Mid-western town what you get for $300 - $400 is like 2 rooms smallish living room/kitchen combo and one smallish bedroom. unless you are willing to live in the trashy area of my twon (YES the ones I deliver to, YES the ones that I fear walking up the front/outside steps to, the ones where the landlord does NO maintenance, yes the building looks like it is in a war zone) rents are still not all that cheap.


mmmmmmmmmmm delivery

*head desk* some days i hate living in a field of sunflowers
no one delivers to me

[Misanthropical]

Our idiot mayor decided to have a casino built that 99.9% of residence did not want in way shape or form because of the crime and violence we knew it would bring, but once again the arrogant bastard was going to have it built no matter what we said. Now he wants to run for congress but the voters have long memories.

Anyway, as soon as the casino was a done deal our rents jump and jumped very high. I was told they raised everyone's rent due to casino and if it wasn't the casino it was the economy. :burnup:

We were told how the casino would bring jobs and lower everyone's property taxes. Yeah, it brought in a lot of low paying jobs and the city has to raise the property tax to cover the school shortage. And, if that isn't enough the casino started laying off a lot people. So much for bringing in jobs. :rolleyes:

Our three bedroom two bathroom two story townhouse with it's own washer and dryer went from $885.00 we paid for two years to almost $2,000.00 now after 4 years (we have lived her for 6 years) and new renters pay more than that. And, even with that we still get low lives moving in and trying to trash the place.

[Seshat]

When we got a windfall, we went from a nice, well painted four bedroom house with good fittings to a sound place that's cosmetically a dump, and is three bedroom - but we own it.
Well, us and the bank.

It's also a little bit further out of town, in a less 'desirable' area, though one that's expanding and becoming desirable. (New schools, refurbished railway station, better services - the whole kit & caboodle. And the people are coming.)

But yeah - it's all in what you're willing to pay, and where you're willing to live. We'd have liked to stay where we were - some great restaurants and such there. But this area will improve.

And so will the house, as we get the money. :)

[protege]

Even in my small upper Mid-western town what you get for $300 - $400 is like 2 rooms smallish living room/kitchen combo and one smallish bedroom. unless you are willing to live in the trashy area of my twon (YES the ones I deliver to, YES the ones that I fear walking up the front/outside steps to, the ones where the landlord does NO maintenance, yes the building looks like it is in a war zone) rents are still not all that cheap.

Sounds like several areas in Pittsburgh ;) Some of those areas are high-crime shitholes, others are simply student ghettos where the landlords do minimal maintenance. Even so, rents aren't cheap. There's no way in hell you'd find a place listed for less than $500.

In fact, I find it *amusing* that people will pay more in *rent* for a tiny apartment...than I do in *mortgage* payments for a house in the 'burbs! A house, that I'm slowly fixing up and working on. Any improvements I make, add value. Not so with an apartment ;)

[telecom_goddess]

Wow...I pay $985 for a 3 bed/2 bath apartment with my own washer and dryer and tons of storage...big kitchen...nice place.

I know rents in New York or anywhere in the surrounding states are just insane...how to do people afford to live there?

[KiaKat]

Cost of living is high here, but salaries tend to be higher as well. If we lived anywhere else, we'd be comfortably middle class. Here, we're considered on the edge of working class. Not quite poor, but definitely living paycheque-to-paycheque.

[Magpie]

University-heavy city here. A room for $400, inclusive is pretty good, but you generally need to be part of a group of five, because they rent the entire upstairs/downstairs/house out at once, and everyone pays X amount (you fight over who gets which room on your own). And it's not a great student house for that price. Apartments aren't bad though: Our two bedroom is $860, my SIL and her husband have a one bedroom about a five minute walk away from the transit terminal for $6XX (of course it's not as ideal a location as it sounds, they're in a rougher neighbourhood).

[agirlfromnowhere]

Yay for costs of living. In the town I used to live in I paid like $400 a month for a one bedroom apartment but it was basically a suburb of a larger city and public transportation wasnt as good as it was in other parts of the city. It wasn't the nicest neighborhood but it wasn't horrible either. In the town I live now my boyfriend pays that much for an apartment that's literally the size of my bedroom.

[taxguykarl]

My last Chicago (yes, the city not a 'burb) was $550. However, I was on my own for ALL utilities: phone, water, heating gas and electricity. The location was great and I didn't have to worry about security: The owner/resident manager was a police officer:D--he was on duty in full uniform when he showed me the unit (his partner went on a donut break:lol:).

[Becks]

East side of Green Bay (across the park from the ghetto!).

2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, dining room, and living room. $470 a month. Pay the gas/electric myself but heat is included in the rent.

Drawback--my kitchen is TINY.

I've mentioned it before.

[SecurityWench]

My boyfriend got an apartment near my house in Austin about a year ago. 1 bed/1 bath, rent is $499 a month, water is a flat rate, and electricity is paid directly to the city. We got a discount because the complex was desperate for tenants (I heard some horror stories online about there being silverfish and crackheads but so far I've seen neither) and the place is great.

ETA: Also, a bit off-topic, but we had a bit of trouble trying to find a one-bedroom apartment. People listing apartments, STOP listing STUDIO apartments as one-bedroom apartments. A studio is NOT a one-bedroom. You sleep in your fucking KITCHEN.

[Becks]

People listing apartments, STOP listing STUDIO apartments as one-bedroom apartments. A studio is NOT a one-bedroom. You sleep in your fucking KITCHEN.

If I saw this on Facebook, I'd like it. :D