Cedar Rapids apartments

[CysRage]

Just a couple of thoughts. 1) when do you start vs. when your friend might find out if he's moving to CR as well? 2) Do you have a bunch of stuff (for example, I have 5 bookshelves, a desk, full size bed, dresser, endtables, media center, couch, dinner table, chairs, recliner, and more)? If you do, you might want to consider a thought about getting a two bedroom by yourself and turning one into an office (that's what I did, but I've been living on my own since I was 18 and accumulated a lot of that stuff as I moved around, so I'm not sure what your situation is). It works out fairly nice for me. Sure, I'm paying more than I normally would, but it can be kind of hard to find a good sized 1BR that fits all that **** with space to move around as well. The biggest thing I tend to pay attention to is the amount of space the apartment has, as well as the price. I had a normal sized 1BR in Altoona, and I didn't have nearly enough space. My first out of college apt was a 2 BR, but that's because it was all I could find. Ever since then, I've tended to opt for the 2 BR so I had space, and the price difference has only tended to be about $100 between a 1 BR and a 2.

Just my 2 cents.

1) He probably won't know for a while and I start in June. My goal is to get applications in for apartment complexes I know I would like to live in and get myself first on a waiting list for a specific apartment in the complex I want.
2) I don't have a bunch of stuff right now but I have been told that it can be worth just getting a 2 BR to have more space so that is definitely an option. Wouldn't hurt to throw a futon in the extra room in case I have friends visit.

Thanks for your help!

 

[cloneswereall]

i always did the same thing so that my overflow stuff didnt go into the living room

the problem is $800 can usually get a pretty decent 1br apt but $800 for a 2br doesnt get near as nice of a place

if the op is working downtown he could always look into those apts in the old bus stop or the cedar tower just for convenience sake

edit to add theres a bit of a younger crowd in both those places from my experience visiting friends in both them

Ehhh.... I beg to differ. The first 2 BR I had was $500 in a small town, second was $700 in a different small town. I know live in Cobblestone Circle up in Waterloo in a 2 BR with a garage for $650.

However, I guess it does depend on your definition of nice apartments. I tend to look at it as clean, has safe/friendly tenants and neighborhood, is close to attractions, and at least has a washer/dryer in the complex. If you're looking more for wood floors, new amenities in the actual apartment, and all of that other stuff mentioned above, I can see it rising the price quite a bit.

 

[CysRage]

i always did the same thing so that my overflow stuff didnt go into the living room

the problem is $800 can usually get a pretty decent 1br apt but $800 for a 2br doesnt get near as nice of a place

if the op is working downtown he could always look into those apts in the old bus stop or the cedar tower just for convenience sake

edit to add theres a bit of a younger crowd in both those places from my experience visiting friends in both them

I have really looked into downtown for working and going out convenience but I haven't seen much I liked. I looked at the Cedar tower but I didn't get a very good vibe about it. I'll have to check out the bus stop possibly. I found new apartments in Czech town I really liked but I later found out they are government subsidized and have a salary restriction (of course) so that is off the table. I am considering the new bottleworks but they have limited units for rent (rest for lease) and they are all full.

 

[cloneswereall]

1) He probably won't know for a while and I start in June. My goal is to get applications in for apartment complexes I know I would like to live in and get myself first on a waiting list for a specific apartment in the complex I want.
2) I don't have a bunch of stuff right now but I have been told that it can be worth just getting a 2 BR to have more space so that is definitely an option. Wouldn't hurt to throw a futon in the extra room in case I have friends visit.

Thanks for your help!

It's just my preference, and 8 years of experience, but once you're living on your own, you tend to accumulate furniture and stuff fairly quickly. The real world kind of forces it on you, and space tends to be nice (at least for me). I'm also kind of a sucker for having one large BR, and one smaller one, as well as a large living room. The one I had in Altoona was tiny because it also doubled as a dining room. I'd rather my kitchen table be in the kitchen area and my living room be huge; but like I said, all of this is my preference, and you'll have to figure out your own. Also, the sooner you jump at looking at apartments first hand, and decide on one, the better luck you'll have. I was going to look at a 1BR that only had like 100ft2 less than the 2 BR I have now (and the 2 BR I have now is the biggest I've lived in), but the company didn't have any openings left since I didn't know I was going to be moving until 2 weeks prior to me moving in.

 

[TallKidIsTall]

I have really looked into downtown for working and going out convenience but I haven't seen much I liked. I looked at the Cedar tower but I didn't get a very good vibe about it. I'll have to check out the bus stop possibly. I found new apartments in Czech town I really liked but I later found out they are government subsidized and have a salary restriction (of course) so that is off the table. I am considering the new bottleworks but they have limited units for rent (rest for lease) and they are all full.

thats the problem w/ most of cr's downtown living

the nicer and newer ones are typically low income places or very overpriced like the water tower lofts

theres some complexes south of cr near c street exit on hwy 30 as well that might be worth checking out

its a quick 5-10 min drive to downtown cr from 30-380

 

[erikbj]

If you like dominos and shooting your opponent then cedarwood is your place

 

[jsb]

I've heard the apartment situation in CR has gotten pretty bad since the floods. Not as much to rent and a lot of kind of sketchy people renting.

 

[cyfan92]

I'm moving to Windsor on the River tomorrow. A bunch of Transamerica and Aegon interns are too!

 

[CysRage]

I'm moving to Windsor on the River tomorrow. A bunch of Transamerica and Aegon interns are too!

How are you liking it so far? I am still trying to narrow down my apartments.