As the seniors get closer to the end of the line, it might be time to start looking at housing options. There are a lot of things to know about and look for when buying or renting for the first time.

The first step to moving into your own place is knowing the location and the budget. Prices of apartments or houses can range depending on the location of where you’re buying; prices may vary drastically in different places. It’s also important to look at aspects of the area, like the community, schools, etc.

Mr. Damm, business teacher at LHS, says, “We know that living in Carmel, which is only 30 minutes away from Frankfort, is vastly more expensive than living in Frankfort. So figure out where your ranges are for where you want to live as well as your budget.”

Aside from your budget and location, there are other things to look out for when renting. Some landlords are able to pull some tricks on their tenants. It’s important that you know your rights as a renter, as well as looking thoroughly through your lease and all that it entails.

Mr. Damm said, “With renting, there’s a lot of sketchy things that landlords can do, like entering your home without notice, or not being able to have friends over more than two nights in a row.”

Not only can landlords put odd rules in place, but they can also have some rules that will cost you extra money. It’s vital to look out for these in the leases and agreements before you decide to move in.

Damm says, “There can be hidden fees, like if you have things on your balcony, they might charge you for that. So, there are a lot of things you need to look out for when reading a lease from a landlord.”

Owning a home is different, as it’s your property so you can do more with it in aspects of decorating or changing the layout. Still, owning a property has its limits as well.

“You’re gonna be worried about more things like property tax, insurances, and even homeowners associations as extra prices that you have to pay,” Damm says.

All in all, it’s important to take a lot of things into account when looking for housing after school. While the experience may be scary at first, try to remember that living on your own is a new and exciting journey, and if you have questions there are teachers at LHS to help answer them.