Types of Rental Housing

There are many different sizes and types of rental housing available to you.  Now, all you have to do is decide which kind you prefer.

There are many positive and negative aspects associated with each and the type that is right for you depends on your preferences and desires.  To make this process of figuring out what type of building you want to rent, here are some of the benefits and downsides associated with the various rental properties:

Single-Family Houses

Single-family houses are free-standing rental properties that are habited by one person or group of renters. Single-family rental units are very much like owning your own house.

    Positive Aspects:
As you do not share this rental space with any other tenants, single-family homes offer the most amount of privacy.

    Negative Aspects:
Many of the amenities that you may expect from a larger rental unit are not available.

Duplex/Townhouse

    Positive Aspects:
You can expect similar conveniences as with a single-family home when renting a duplex or townhouse.  These rental units offer greater privacy and independence.

    Negative Aspects:
However, like single-family homes, these rental properties may not offer as many amenities as larger rental buildings are able to provide.  Furthermore, you must also consider that you do have neighbors that are closer to you than what would be in a single-family home.

Small Apartment Buildings

    Positive Aspects:
Small apartment buildings offer more amenities (generally) than single family homes or townhouses, while simultaneously providing a living situation that you share with a small number of other tenants.

    Negative Aspects:
You will have more neighbors in a closer proximity than you would if you were renting a single-family home or townhouse.  Furthermore, you may not have access to as many amenities as you would have if you were to rent in a larger rental property.

Medium Apartment Buildings

Positive Aspects:
Medium apartment buildings will often provide many of the amenities expected from large apartment buildings, but shared with fewer people.

    Negative Aspects:
You will have many neighbors that you must consider when living in a medium apartment building. 

Large Apartment Buildings

Large apartment buildings are comprised of numerous rental units and house the largest number of tenants under one roof.

    Positive Aspects:
You can generally expect a greater amount of amenities and luxuries from a larger apartment building than you might from smaller rental properties.  Many have on-site management and 24- hour emergency maintenance, in addition to other amenities like swimming pools, clubhouses, and fitness centers.

    Negative Aspects:
You are surrounded by numerous other tenants and must co-exist with others peacefully.  There will generally be more noise and activity in the building, which occurs naturally with the larger population of tenants.

In general, the smaller the rental unit with the smallest number of tenants the greater privacy and a more independent living situation.  However, many of these smaller units are not able to offer the same variety of amenities provided by the bigger apartment complexes.

Comments

[Jason Ganz]

Great post! I am gonna share it with my own blog readers at jason.landbrokr.com ! Thanks.

[Jonathan]

What about mobile homes? Patio Homes? Villa? Sheds?