Most of us, if we plan to move, understand what kind of home we want to live in. For some of us, apartments are much easier, more affordable, and provide just enough space for ourselves or our families. Others are looking to rent or buy their first home, a major milestone. However, if you need to move and aren’t sure whether an apartment or single-family house are right for your situation, it is time to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each before you start a serious search through home or apartment listings.

Starting with apartments, an easy choice for many, there are several advantages to this choice. Apartments are smaller, easier to manage, and do not have nearly as much necessary maintenance as a house. Apartments are more convenient, maintenance is located on site (i.e., your landlord should take care of these tasks), and you can take advantage of more amenities in the apartment itself and the complex. Common apartment amenities include washers and dryers, gyms, swimming pools and spas, and playgrounds. A few disadvantages include limited privacy, pet restrictions, and noisy neighbors. 

Single-family houses are a little more out of reach for most people these days because of housing market prices and a general upset in the economy. However, if you have budgeted for a home and are looking for one in your area, there are several advantages. These include more space, more privacy, no pet restrictions, and rent-to-own potential, depending on your future plans. However, aside from being generally more expensive than apartments, you have to take care of all of your home’s maintenance, from caring for the lawn to taking care of plumbing or electrical emergencies. 

There are pivotal differences between renting or buying a house and renting an apartment. From choosing how much privacy you want to making room for three dogs, the choice you make is going to depend on your budget, primarily, and your needs. If you are growing your family (furry or human children), you make need to upgrade to a space with more room. Regardless of what you’re looking for, check out popular and trusted sites such as Realtor.com, Zillow Rentals, Apartments.com, Rent.com, and Trulia Rentals to start your searching a positive note.

Whether a one bedroom apartments for rent near Berkeley or a single-family home in the area is right for your situation, search carefully and understand what you need. Don’t fall for any rental scams, and don’t let any landlord bully you into a deal that your gut says is “too good to be true.”