https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:16:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233288 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:41:36 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2233288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: my son is from Seoul so he may be made for this life as well ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233280 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:36:14 +0000 gingerbebe 2233280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family is from Seoul, Korea where its pretty common for people to live their whole lives in apartments so I don't really see it as that unusual (although I've lived most of my life in California and love my suburban house). My uncle had 3 kids and raised them all in his 3 bedroom apartment. My other 2 uncles have 2 kids and raised them all in 2-3 bedroom places. Its tight and there's no privacy, but that's just what's normal. Every apartment complex has a park with a playground and people just buy groceries every few days. And you can get just about anything delivered. As long as it works for you, I don't see why not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233277 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:35:28 +0000 sera_87 2233277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never want to buy but I could see myself renting a house if we ever wanted to make the size (and financial) jump.</p> <p>For now a 3 bd apartment condo-style is perfect for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233254 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:09:51 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2233254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SleepyMonkey: my husband works in private school and it's doubtful we'll send LO until at least middle/high school. Unless he starts working at a school where LO would go for free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233237 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:50:50 +0000 Eko 2233237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have been apartment dwellers for a while and probably will be for the foreseeable future because house prices are so high! I would prefer though that I lived in a house instead of an apartment. I need more space, but don't want a huge house for maintenance reasons. I would love to just have more privacy and a yard! DH loves yard work so that's not a negative for us. Plus owning a home is a good investment. Around me mortgage rates and apartment prices are practically equal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233226 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:42:21 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2233226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love apartment living...15 min commute, not a lot of cleaning or maintenance, everything within walking distance. I used to think about moving to the burbs for space but now i am pretty sure we will be in NYC for the foreseeable future. The only thing i worry about is the schools. Paying for Private school from kindergarten thru college is daunting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233203 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:11:13 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2233203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: Okay, now I want to know where you live! A community that walkable sounds wonderful to me--especially with hiking trails and campfire pits! That's really cool! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233202 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:05:03 +0000 Greentea 2233202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: we have literally countless parks within a 5-10 minute walk, and not just parks- extensive hiking trails, several beaches and lakes, community gardens, campfire pits you can reserve at no cost, the zoo, several libraries- all within walking distance! I would like a large yard, but in all honesty, without one I am forced, every single day, to find an outdoor adventure- it forces me to get out of the "house" (or in this case, property), and it is actually really healthy for me. I meet new people, run into acquaintances, it is a different adventure everyday. There is a place on the lake we can walk to where there is live music 4 nights a week, kids everywhere, food, ice cream, beer, and stairs (LOs current obsession). I would totally love to hang out in my backyard and have a drink, but this way I am forced to get exercise and adventure. </p> <p>I love the convenience of an apartment- everything in mine is new, solar heating (I like it at 80 and this supplementation keeps the cost really low!), super low utilities, heated parking a few floors down- quick ride down the elevator... I could go on- but I especially love that I don't have to fix anything should something go wrong. We have looked into houses, and I am not sure I want to have to deal with all of that- the yard work (we spend that time outside together), the oldness of the houses in the areas I would consider (lead and mold and having to update), all of it. The one thing I don't want to give up (though I am negotiable) is 2 bathrooms! The houses in locations I would consider here are either 1950s with one bathroom or they are 2mil. I live in my ideal location (in this city) and the houses here are 1.5-2mil... so it is that or an apartment. </p> <p>I know everything has positives and negatives- like the noise in my specific location. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233140 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 15:07:45 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2233140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. We own and will hopefully be moving to a slightly bigger apartment some time soon. DH and I have no interest in owning a house at this point, especially the upkeep. I would love a brownstone but that would take major changes to our financial situation to even think about that (in other words, pipe dream). Maybe we will change our minds, but we are apartment dwellers for the foreseeable future. You are not a weirdo.:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233130 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 15:02:52 +0000 namaste 2233130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think about this all of the time! We're in a condo and honestly, I don't mind owning a townhouse or a bigger condo. A house in the South just seems like a lot :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233125 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:58:20 +0000 lamariniere 2233125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't lived in a house since I was about 17, so I'm used to apartment life. I've lived in several major cities at this point and all of them have been expensive and out of my price range in terms of buying. Because we live as expats, we have no plans to buy for years, and even if we wanted to buy, I don't know where we would do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233119 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:56:31 +0000 mrsjazz 2233119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's always funny to me when people say you can't raise a family in an apartment. Weird. So, all the families living in apartments throughout the world, what are they doing?</p> <p>Anyway, I'm a native New Yorker and I've always lived in apartments, some in houses, some in buildings. If we won the lottery we'd buy a condo or townhouse. DH grew up in Georgia and lived in houses with a lot of space. He doesn't want to own a house because of the upkeep. If we do buy in NYC it would be a co-op in our price range, so apartment dwelling is definitely in our plan for the long haul. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233113 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:52:48 +0000 Foodnerd81 2233113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: yup, parks! We have a lot near us. Some are better and cleaner than others, and there are definitely times that I wish we just had a backyard to hang out in. But I like that usually there are other kids and moms there to talk to and for c to play with. We have a friend with a condo near us who also has a nice shared backyard and it's awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233102 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:49:28 +0000 hilsy85 2233102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: parks! there are 4 within a 10 minute walk, and a huge city park with sandboxes, playing fields, sprinklers, etc within a 15 minute walk. I LOVE never having to get in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233096 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:47:25 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2233096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: for us, yes there are many nearby parks, and in our current place, we have a rooftop that we hang out on a lot. Plus we walk everywhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233090 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:44:21 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2233090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could never live in an apt, not for space reasons (our home is 1200 sqft) but because I love having a huge yard. In the summer we literally spend ALL DAY in the backyard.</p> <p>What do you do for outdoor play if you live in an apt? I take it there are lots of nearby parks? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233078 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:39:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2233078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Apt living is in the cards for us based on the cities on our short list. I won't miss the maintenance or the extra rooms that require furniture and decor, but are rarely used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233055 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:26:16 +0000 Kimberlybee 2233055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've lived in our 2 bedroom condo for a long time and I love the location! We would never sell our condo because it could easily be our retirement home many years from now. We occupy the 2nd and 3rd level but the building has elevators for those that need it. When we buy a house in the suburbs, we'll just rent it out. My niece and nephew lived with us for almost 5 years and it never seemed small at all. </p> <p>The one downside is we really can't entertain a big group or throw big parties. I wish our condo had a clubhouse for private renting and that would make this place perfect! Amazingly, we did host 2 families at the same time during the Hurricane Rita evacuation a few years ago and it was quite fun. 1 family slept in our spare bedroom ( 2 adults with 1 kid) and the other family slept in the living room area (2 adults with 2 kids).</p> <p>I think apartment living can work out nicely with the right organizational skills. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233054 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:25:28 +0000 JenGirl 2233054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely think it can work! We've always rented because we weren't sure we were going to be in any one place for more than 5 years. We both hate doing yard maintenance, so we've talked about getting a condo if we decide to buy, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Noise could be more of an issue with kids if you have shared walls/floors, but it's not the end of the world. </p> <p>When it comes to renting vs buying I think it depends on a lot of factors. We have rented because we are never confident that we're going to be in one place for 5+ years. While it's nice to "not have to worry about maintenance" that also means that you're relying on someone else to do maintenance and you have to accept that it may not be done when or how you would do it. I'm struggling with this right now, with our rented house, because we've got a long list of repairs that our maintenance guys has been "meaning to get to" for months. And when he does the repairs it's always low quality work with cheap materials, which is starting to bug me more, then longer we live there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233024 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:59:33 +0000 cascademom 2233024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in a 2 bed/2 bath condo with 4 people. We're ready to move to the burbs. In our city, there are a number of factors pushing us that direction. Big one is that our current place just can't hold all of us anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233015 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:53:35 +0000 dc yoga bee 2233015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have been apt dwellers for ten years, and are in the process of buying. Not having maintenance in our apt is the best part. We are in a high rise apt now, but it definitely has its downsides- broken elevators and we don't have access to the stairwell unless it's an emergency! Our HOA fees in the house include a flat fee for water, sewage, trash, and yard maintenance. We still have to pay water, sewage, and trash as apt renters anyways and it varies monthly. The fact that yard maintenance is included in our HOA fees means we won't be wasting our weekends on yard work at least! We also just really need our own space for the dogs as they're getting older. It's getting harder dealing with broken elevators, busy streets, etc.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233012 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:51:51 +0000 hilsy85 2233012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: it is large, but has a lot of wasted space (like a super and narrow entry hallway). But yes we can definitely fit 2 kids in here (and will be doing that) for at least a few years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233010 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:50:31 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2233010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: 2 bedroom, 1250 square feet is unbelievable. I feel like I can run laps in my 900 sq ft 2 bedroom lol! And we could definitely fit two kids here if we felt like staying ;)</p> <p>@bluestriped bee: I definitely love not having to worry about unexpected costs or taxes or anything. If something breaks, not my problem!!</p> <p>@leighleigh we spent so long in like 400-600 square foot places that this apartment almost seems TOO big sometimes lol. We moved to make room for my son but we were just saying the other day, we would have been fine in our old place! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233006 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:49:02 +0000 leighleigh 2233006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: as long as everyone can have their personal space and everyone is happy in the apartment, I see nothing wrong with it! I'm a city girl myself. In an apartment now, but moving to a larger one before our LO is born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233005 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:47:23 +0000 BSB 2233005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I can ever comment on people living in NYC. I think it's so different (from what I hear) and I don't think I'll be able to relate. I do love hearing about the NYC life, though. </p> <p>As for other cities, I've lived in an apartment for 5 years but love renting a house. More space and having yard for our two dogs is so worth it. </p> <p>As for the renting aspect of it, it's nice that we have a landlord and not having to pay for taxes, HOA fees and other maintenance costs. </p> <p>I definitely see the appeal but I think I will want something that we can call our own and can make permanent changes to it, if we have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233004 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:45:46 +0000 Foodnerd81 2233004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: yeah it worked out well for us- he offered us a fair price, slightly below market since we wouldn't have to pay realtors, and we already knew we liked the building and neighborhood. But we never planned to own a two bedroom since we knew we'd want the 3rd bedroom soon, and now the kids will have to share for a little while before we move again. But at least we didn't have to move! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2233000 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:44:39 +0000 hilsy85 2233000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are NYC lifers (I hope!) and so will likely always live in an apartment (unless we win the lottery and can buy a brownstone :silly: ). I LOVE not having to maintain a whole house on a daily basis, or worry about security, or deal with landscaping stuff--we have all those concerns in our weekend home, and it would be exhausting to have to deal with it every day!</p> <p>I do hope, however, we eventually move to a bigger apt--we're currently in a 1250sq ft 2 bedroom and we would really love a 3 bedroom duplex of some sort one day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2232994 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:40:25 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2232994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: our landlord has been talking about selling our current apartment and we toyed with the idea. Personally I think it's wayyy overpriced. But that's a great opportunity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2232989 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:38:15 +0000 looch 2232989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tell everyone that I want to sell my house and move into a two bedroom apartment in Manhattan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-else-plan-on-apartment-living-for-the-foreseeable-future#post-2232988 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:38:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 2232988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do plan on eventually buying a house, but for now the benefits of a condo in the city outweighs the benefits of a house in the suburbs for us. We planned to rent for a few more years before moving further out, but we ended up buying the condo we were renting when our landlord decided to sell. The biggest downside to renting, for us, was that we couldn't control when we would have to move. So we like that we own our condo and move when we want now. We don't like that now we are responsible for maintenance, but so far we've been pretty lucky. </p> <p>I see nothing wrong with staying in an apartment/ condo for the long haul! We would need to be a lot better about organization and streamlining though. </p>