How do I choose my first apartment?
What should I know and take into account when choosing my first apartment?
This is a big question for first-time renters. After all, this is an important moment in many people's lives, and it can even represent a huge step towards independence for many. This is because, most of the time, it happens when people are starting to stabilize financially and looking for their own place.
Choosing your first apartment should be done with great caution, as a series of factors such as the location of the neighborhood, common areas of the building , security and even neighbors can influence your choice.
And let's not forget that everything has a cost. Each type of apartment has a specific price that should be within your budget so that you don't suffer any financial loss.
But don't worry, because this is our mission: to help our citizens find the perfect apartment, in a good location , and to take care of and offer a better quality of life for their day-to-day lives even after signing the rental contract.
Therefore, in this text, we will explain everything you need to know to find your first apartment, what the law says on this subject, how much a property costs, and the best tips for choosing your perfect property .
Before we begin, we have separated the topics for you. See:
● What are the types of apartments?
● How much does an apartment cost?
● Property rental: what does the law say?
● Tips on how to choose your first apartment.
Let's go!
What are the types of apartments?
In short, there are eight types of properties available on the real estate market: standard apartments; studio apartments; flats; penthouses; lofts; studios; garden; duplex/triplex.
Each of them is recommended for a specific lifestyle and has different decorating strategies. Knowing this information and the differences between these properties is the first step in choosing your first property, so we will explain the main characteristics of each one below. Check it out!
Standard apartment
Standard apartments are the most common and sought-after on the market. These models basically function as a housing unit that occupies part of the building, with well-defined divisions of its internal spaces by means of walls.
These divisions form the famous rooms of living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, for example. In this way, in addition to providing greater privacy to the resident, these properties are much easier to decorate.
In fact, many properties are already built with furnished spaces ready to move in. At Citas, you can find several options of apartments with this proposal at affordable prices and, most importantly, strategically located in the heart of the city of SP.
Studio Apartment or Studio Apartment
Studio apartments are small apartments with just one room without internal divisions, whose size varies between 20 and 30m². In other words, all the rooms, such as the living room, kitchen and bedroom, are integrated in the same place, without any walls separating them.
The lack of privacy in these properties may seem strange and even a deciding factor for many, but these apartments are usually chosen mainly for their economy, since they are usually rented more than purchased.
Flats
Also known as an aparthotel, a flat is a type of apartment that is part of a building that provides hotel services. This means that they have all the facilities offered by hotels, such as meals, daily cleaning and laundry, for example.
With furnished rooms, they are highly sought after for their practicality, as they have convenient hotel services that save tenants time and guarantee a quality of life.
Coverages
Often considered the most expensive properties in a condominium, penthouses are apartments located on the top floor of the building.
They usually have some luxury facilities that set them apart from other apartments, such as a private pool and a larger area than the building's standard.
Additionally, coverage can be found in two categories:
● Duplex penthouse: has two floors divided by a staircase or private elevator;
● Penthouse: single floor, occupying the entire space of the building.
Lofts
Lofts are a type of apartment inspired by old American industrial warehouses from the 1960s, which were completely renovated to become residential.
Its main feature is that there are no divisions between its rooms, providing a feeling of spaciousness in the apartment. But be careful, do not confuse these apartments with studio apartments.
In addition to being more spacious, lofts usually have high ceilings and tall windows.
Garden
Also known as a giardino, a garden is a housing unit located on the ground floor of a multi-family building, which makes its main advantage its easy accessibility.
In addition, these apartments have several benefits, such as:
● Have a larger area than the other units in the building;
● Exclusive access to the external area of the building;
● Enable the creation of a garden, a small backyard or a vegetable garden;
Duplex / Triplex
Finally, duplexes and triplexes, as their names suggest, are apartments that have the same characteristics as the standard apartments, but that occupy two or three floors of the building, respectively, all connected by stairs.
Typically, these apartments are sought after by families due to their large space and convenience, as the tenant can invest in private leisure areas, such as a gym or a small spa, for example.
How much does it cost to rent my first apartment?
With so many real estate options available on the market, another common question when looking for an apartment is how much they cost. But I must say that there is no single answer to this question.
The real estate market varies greatly from city to city, but despite this, there are several research possibilities to help you with this task. We wrote a very complete text about how much it costs to live alone in São Paulo - it's worth checking out if you're looking for something in SP.
As an example, there are indicators such as the FipeZap Index, which monitors property sales and rental prices in the country and publishes free reports with data on residential sales in 16 capitals and their surrounding areas.
In addition, there are the famous real estate agencies, which act as intermediaries, trying to match potential tenants with the perfect apartment.
Here at Citas, we go far beyond just a real estate agency. In addition to setting you up with your dream apartment, we also support your living experience after the “happily ever after” moment. We take responsibility for the day-to-day running of tenants after they sign the rental agreement. In practice, we take care of the management of the building as a whole, from onboarding events to preventive maintenance and repairs in the units, for example - all to ensure the best living experience.
Our units are located in strategic points of the city, with furnished, renovated and sustainable apartments for our citizens . To find out more, just click on this link and check out our apartments!
How do I assess whether the cost of my first apartment is worth it?
As we said above, there is no single price for real estate. It is important to keep in mind that if you are moving out on your own for the first time, it may be better not to buy your first apartment but to rent instead! This way, you can find out what is really important to you on a daily basis before committing to a property that will be yours forever.
With this in mind, there are some criteria that are taken into consideration when establishing the cost, and that should be evaluated when you are visiting the apartment to check if it is really worth it for you. They are:
1. Location
The location of the property is one of the biggest factors that influences not only the price, but also the moment of purchasing the apartment.
This happens for several reasons. The first is the fact that the neighborhood's infrastructure directly affects the comfort that residents will have in their daily lives.
After all, a property becomes sought after when it is close to facilities such as markets, bakeries, schools, shopping malls, hospitals and parks, for example.
In addition, another great attraction is the issue of mobility, if the building is located close to bus and subway stations. This will make the property more sought after and, consequently, its price will increase.
2. Size of the property
The calculation of the square footage of any apartment is directly related to the comfort of the resident. This means that the larger the property, the higher its value.
3. Type of construction
Remember the different types of construction that I explained in the topic above? Each of them will also have a different price, which can also vary depending on other items in the condominium such as parking spaces, swimming pool, party room and other leisure areas.
Furthermore, apartments on higher floors tend to be more expensive as they offer greater privacy and a wider view, as do apartments with large windows facing north, as these aspects contribute to good sunlight.
4. Market situation
The dynamics of supply and demand are extremely influential in determining property prices around the world.
In positive scenarios, when there is a drop in interest rates, there is an appreciation of the market. In these cases, the demand for properties is greater, which causes their prices to increase.
When there is a crisis in the sector, consequently, its values will be lower. It is always worth asking yourself: is it time to buy or rent an apartment?
5. Conservation status
Finally, the property’s condition also directly affects its price.
But don't be fooled into thinking that we're talking about the time the property was built. There are several old buildings that are in perfect condition and have even been renovated.
Problems that can affect the conservation of the property and, consequently, its price, can be several details such as peeling paint, leaks in the wall and cracks in the tiles.
Property rental: what does the law say?
Understanding what our legislation says about certain matters is often not an easy task, but we need to know some important details. When it comes to renting properties, there is a major law that is responsible for dictating all the rules regarding the process: Federal Law No. 8,245/1991 , better known as the Tenant Law.
It is responsible not only for determining all the rules of the rental agreement, the document that establishes the property rental process, but mainly all the rights and duties of both tenants and owners.
That is why it is so important to know everything this law says when choosing your first apartment, as it is a way of ensuring that the tenant will be fulfilling all of their duties and guaranteeing all housing rights to the tenant.
If you want to know more about the rental agreement and its rules, we have a complete text on our blog about this topic. Click and access: Rental agreement: learn how it works!
But after all, do you know what these basic housing rights are? Let's see!
1. Receive the property in perfect condition for use
Any problem that affects its state of conservation, such as those mentioned above, must be repaired and inspected so that the specialist can analyze and confirm the conditions for use of the property.
This detailed analysis must be expressed in a verification report and attached to the rental agreement. This also serves as a guarantee to the tenant that the property was delivered in perfect condition and that the tenant undertakes to maintain it in that condition.
2. Exemption from payment of additional condominium expenses
Related to the item above, every owner is obliged to pay all extraordinary expenses of a property that is part of a condominium.
In other words, tenants are exempt from paying extra expenses, but are responsible for routine maintenance costs such as paying salaries, janitorial services, painting facades and cleaning, for example.
3. Purchase preference
Finally, and perhaps one of the most important rights, every tenant has the right of first refusal if the owner decides to sell his property.
This is provided for in Article 27 of the Tenancy Law, which states that the landlord must inform the tenant of the intention to sell and, from the moment of notification, the tenant has 30 days to state whether or not he wishes to purchase the property.
Now that we understand these rules, we have put together some special tips that will help you choose your first apartment! Check them out:
Other tips on how to choose my first apartment
Choosing your first apartment requires a series of important decisions.
What is the ideal size of apartment for me? And what is the model? Are they strategically located for where I need to get around?
These are important questions that should be taken into consideration when making this choice. But don’t worry, we’ve put together some tips below that will help you answer them and make that final decision! Let’s get to it!
Evaluate the location of the apartment
The location of the property is one of the first points to be observed when choosing.
We all have a routine and needs such as work or studies, and living close to these places or public transport stations is something that will make your commute easier. Sometimes paying a little more in rent to live close to work is a good investment - because you can save on transport costs, for example!
But beyond that, the location of the property also involves the neighborhood in which it is located. Each region of the city has its own characteristics, peculiarities and facilities, which must also be taken into consideration when making this choice.
So, ask yourself questions like: Is the building close to where I commute every day? Is it easily accessible by public transportation? Is it in a neighborhood that offers services and leisure options that meet my needs?
Evaluate the size of the apartment
Another item that should not be overlooked in this choice is the size of the property.
There are several types of apartments available on the market (standard, flat, studio, loft, studio), each with very different sizes. Therefore, it is important to consider how many people will live in the place and, from there, define the ideal size of the apartment to ensure comfort for everyone.
For example, for young people who are moving alone and for the first time , choosing a penthouse may not be ideal, since the size of the apartment is large for just one person and its value will also be high.
Respect your budget
This tip is essential for first-time tenants: don't choose apartments that are out of your budget!
In addition to rent, there are other costs that must be taken into consideration, such as condominium fees, property tax, water, electricity, internet and furniture maintenance, as well as moving , if the apartment is not furnished.
This way, both the tenant and the owner are protected and more relaxed about paying their bills.
Therefore, make a financial plan to know exactly how much you can afford to pay for the property. This will help you a lot when choosing the type of apartment that is ideal for you to start with, as well as all the costs involved.
Don't forget the basic parameter (which will also be used in the credit analysis) of not committing more than 1/3 of your gross salary. This way you can avoid any difficulties or negative surprises at the last minute.
In Citas units, for example, prices already include rent, condominium fees and various on-demand services in the same bill, all to make living easier for our citizens.
Get to know the neighborhood
Even during visits, it will not always be possible to know who your next-door neighbors will be, and who will live next to you.
Therefore, always try to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors, maintaining boundaries to ensure good coexistence with everyone.
Consult experts
Finally, to help you throughout this process, there is nothing better than having the help of experts in the field. And that is our role!
Citas offers a unique housing proposal: renovated and furnished apartments ready for you to move into. But beyond that, we value an environment where you get to know your neighbors and create an integrated community with diverse cultures.
We know that choosing your first apartment can be a difficult task, and that's why we provide all the necessary support throughout this process, with different units that really fit your budget!
Come and learn more about our community, click here to get in touch!
Conclusion
This is a big decision, and should not be made in haste.
There are several factors that must be carefully analyzed and defined, such as the location of the building, the desired size of the apartment, and how much you can afford to pay for the property.
So, remember all the tips we gave in this text that will certainly help you find your perfect apartment.
If you liked this text, take a look at our blog and check out our articles! We talk a lot about renting there.