would you move next to the rail trail?

[Irulan]

In my advocacy work, it is a given that access to rail trails ALWAYS gives property a higher value. Having lived two blocks from one in CA, I would say that closer is always a good thing.

[Biciclista]

imho, being 1/4 of a mile from a rail trail is awesome!

which is the better apt?

[breezy]

I am a serial renter and have figured out the nickels and dimes of renting. All my research has come to one grand conclusion...you get what you pay for. If it costs more it is probably better.

Garage is worth 2X more than a garage port.
Stackable washer/dryer is cheaper to run than a full size one.

[Fredwina]

Mimi , which apt is better ? I thought you'd tell me!
As I sorta hinted in my previous posts they are plus and minuses to each;
Current place
on busy street -2 lanes each way/ center turn - no bike lanes- only one way in and out - no light. I used to be able to sneak thourgh a school yard to a less busy street- but no mas. Has full size w/d - built -in mircowave on 2 floor
1/2 mile from gorcery store
2 miles from library
Candidate 1
half block away - same sq foot
bit more in rent
2 lanes each way / center turn - has bike lane, but no light
No W/d - no connections
has fitness room
Has additional entrance /exit on side street
Candidate 2 - across the street from #1
Literally next door to trail
smaller - with space for a stackable unit - garage included has w/d connections, but BYO Mircowave
only one way in and out
Both 1 & 2 are about 1/4 from Grocercy strore,drug store, and Library
Candidate 3 and 4 are across the street from each other - both are run by the same management co.
Streets are semi- busy - 2 lanes each way with median and bike lanes They meet in a 4-way stop both have more than one way in and out.
No w/d connections in either
one has built in mike and one has a garage (need to verify if it's extra)
1/2 mile from two different Grocery stores(same chain)
1/2 mile from Drug Store , and a major strip mall (Target, ex-Meryvns, Best Buy , Barnes and Noble, Michaels, Marshalls....)
current apt is about 2-3 miles closer to work
As I said, pluses and minuses to each situation location

[Tuckervill]

I like option #2.

A w/d connection is critical for me. I hate doing my laundry in a public place. And, you can get a stackable set now that is full size, and way more flexible no matter where you live. (Move into a house? Put 'em side by side.)

Decent microwaves are literally 50 bucks, so I'd take that out of the equation. The rail trail right outside my window, though, might concern me for noise and loitering. I don't know what the situ is there, though.

Karen

[bmccasland]

Fredwina - how are the apartments kept up? Things appear to be in good repair? Have you cruised the parking lots - what do the cars of the residents look like?

Back when I was renting, I'd get ideas about where I'd consider living by the condition of the place, and the types of cars in the parking lot. I figured if there were a bunch of Beemers I couldn't afford to live there, and if there were a bunch of rust buckets, I wouldn't ever trust my neighbors.

Loosing 100 sq feet can be a lot of space. There's 200 sq ft difference between the house I live in now and the one I had in NorCal, and I really miss those 200 sq ft! Of course if we're talking the difference between 2000 sq ft and 2100 sq ft maybe it doesn't matter!

[Fredwina]

BMc,
I i've got a couch that The savation army refused to take That should be good for 25
we're talking 600 vs 700 sq ft _ a pretty good cut
Tuckerville,
#2 and my current place are both gated. IMO, that's a scam, as it seems like the gates are broken or there's line of cars waiting to get in. plus number 2 has one way in and out on a busy street - which can be a PITA at certain times. but it has man - man springs babbling by my prospective window (my luck : they flood)
They all appear to be in good shape, (went by another that's close, but didn't appear to be kept up.)but I didn't get to see the garage at number 2. but it's been ten years since I had a shared W/d
The trail's website
http://www.pacificelectrictrail.org/
another website is www.apartmentratings.com only one complex is on there (PM me for the name) That I found from looking at my past places is usually accurate

[Blueberry]

No way, no how would I give up a washer dryer. That's worth a LOT to me. More than the square footage (especially if you're gaining a garage - there's a LOT you can do with that). If there's not a significant maintenance difference, though, I'd be tempted to stay put. With a short-ish term lease. Of course, I hate moving, so I'm not the best one to ask

Good luck!

CA

[OakLeaf]

Most places in the US it's the last thing you're thinking about right now, but the other half of the year you don't care about the dryer, you want to know if your landlord/zoning/POA will permit a clothesline. But the washer you want regardless. And the garage. There's no substitute for a garage. Or a basement.

[GLC1968]

I like the sound of #2. A garage is a HUGE plus in my mind. In our last apartment we had a garage for the first few months and then gave it up when we bought our house. We still lived in that apartment for two months with no garage and boy, did we miss it! It's sooo wonderful for biking in and out and when working on said bikes...

I also agree that a good microwave is really inexpensive these days, so don't let that color your choice.

Also, while 100 sf could be a big difference, it could also end up feeling like you have more room if the space is well designed (or well designed for your needs). We moved from a 2400 sf 'new' house to a 1700 sf 'old' house and it feels MUCH larger because we have so much storage now that our living area is more liveable. A garage could do that for you, too.