How Does an Unemployed College Mom Find an Apartment? (Atlanta: apartment complexes, rental) - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum

Ms.MJ · 01-08-2010, 04:52 PM

Hi guys!

I am a student at a great university north of atlanta, and I need some advice. I really need to find my own place, I need an apartment, one in a safe area where me and my daughter can live. I know crime is everywhere, but what can I do to get a place? I am laid off right now receiving unemployment and i get loans and grants from school as well. I am curious about atlanta, downtown, marietta, decatur, lithonia, kennesaw areas. Thanks.

BTW, I commute to school. So it really doesnt matter if I am close to it, it would be nice though. I don't want to spend more than 700 mo on rent.

cbreeze22 · 01-09-2010, 10:44 AM

I'm no expert and don't pretend to be, but here's a little info/advice I can offer.
$700 a month for you and your daughter is too low to feel safe downtown and city of decatur. Probably Marietta too. Lithonia and Kennesaw I don't know anything about.

You may qualify for subsidized housing. Not projects, subsidized apartments. Check the HUD site.

Unemployment may not be the application killer it used to be, depending on where you apply. If you just started receiving it, and are exempt from job searches because you're a full time student, then you can likely prove you're eligible to receive it for 52+ weeks, which is longer than the rental agreement. That's actually more secure than a lot of jobs right now. Not advocating, just saying.

You may need a heftier deposit, and, of course, credit matters. If you really don't care about the difference between a 2 hour commute and 20 minute commute (you must have a ton of reliable help for your child), then think about areas further out (Douglas, Henry, etc.)

Good luck in school.

Ms.MJ · 01-09-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbreeze22

I'm no expert and don't pretend to be, but here's a little info/advice I can offer.
$700 a month for you and your daughter is too low to feel safe downtown and city of decatur. Probably Marietta too. Lithonia and Kennesaw I don't know anything about.

You may qualify for subsidized housing. Not projects, subsidized apartments. Check the HUD site.

Unemployment may not be the application killer it used to be, depending on where you apply. If you just started receiving it, and are exempt from job searches because you're a full time student, then you can likely prove you're eligible to receive it for 52+ weeks, which is longer than the rental agreement. That's actually more secure than a lot of jobs right now. Not advocating, just saying.

You may need a heftier deposit, and, of course, credit matters. If you really don't care about the difference between a 2 hour commute and 20 minute commute (you must have a ton of reliable help for your child), then think about areas further out (Douglas, Henry, etc.)

Good luck in school.

Thank you so much for replying to my question. I agree with you, just by checking out apt sites that 700 or below for 2 bedroom is not usually in great areas. I was thinking about just getting one bedroom in a decent area. I cant really afford 800 and up. I am looking for employment, Im just trying to balance everything and its hard. My commute right now is about 40 mins.

anadyr21 · 01-09-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms.MJ

Thank you so much for replying to my question. I agree with you, just by checking out apt sites that 700 or below for 2 bedroom is not usually in great areas. I was thinking about just getting one bedroom in a decent area. I cant really afford 800 and up. I am looking for employment, Im just trying to balance everything and its hard. My commute right now is about 40 mins.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a law that you MUST have a 2 bedroom if the child is over a certain age (like 2 or 3)?

How old is your child?

Where are you located? There are some 2 bedrooms in the $600-700 range in Norcross. It's not necessarily a "great" area, but it's not a war zone either.

Ms.MJ · 01-10-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anadyr21

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a law that you MUST have a 2 bedroom if the child is over a certain age (like 2 or 3)?

How old is your child?

Where are you located? There are some 2 bedrooms in the $600-700 range in Norcross. It's not necessarily a "great" area, but it's not a war zone either.

My child will be 7 in two months.I go to KSU, I am not too familiar with norcross but I dont want to be too far from campus.

BobKovacs · 01-10-2010, 04:36 PM

You can get a 2-bedroom apartment at Brooke Mill in Woodstock starting just under $700. We stayed there for a few months in 2007 when our house was being built, and it's a pretty decent development. You'd be about 8 miles from Kennesaw State, and the schools in the area are pretty good as well.

Ms.MJ · 01-10-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

You can get a 2-bedroom apartment at Brooke Mill in Woodstock starting just under $700. We stayed there for a few months in 2007 when our house was being built, and it's a pretty decent development. You'd be about 8 miles from Kennesaw State, and the schools in the area are pretty good as well.

Thanks Bob! I guess my only dilemma is that my family is in East Atlanta and I have a class that ends at 6:45 pm so I need my father to pick my kid up. I don't think a day care is open past that. Its just a crazy situation. I will definitely look into the HUD apartments, I found some and I will check it out tomorrow. I will keep you all posted and thank you all for your help. I would so love to live in Woodstock it would be so sweet to be near campus!

Adric · 01-11-2010, 08:57 AM

Check out the Falls at Sope Creek in Marietta. I used to live there and it's in an ok area. A 1br was 505/month so I can't immagine a 2br being over 700. They're on Roswell rd right off of the 120 loop. Also, East Lake apartments (right up the road from Falls) might be under $700 for a 2br but I'm not sure.

You can definitely find decent two bedroom apartments in the suburbs for under $700 if you look. Will they be posh? No, but they won't be in the hood either.

I'm not sure apartment complexes worry so much about proof of employment as they do proof of reliable income, in your case unemployment checks and student loans. If you can provide the stubs to your checks and if they meet the requirements they'll let you sign. Usually the rule of thumb is you need to make 3x your monthly rent to avoid a large deposit and/or a cosigner.

Ms.MJ · 01-11-2010, 09:07 PM

Oh ok, thanks for that info Adric. I went to an apt complex today that is very nice but has the HUD affordable housing thingy. Well, they did not have any of those apts available. I called another and the woman was real nasty but she said they only had 1 bedroom. I guess I will look for others in addition to the affordable housing if they will accept my unemployment/loans as income, cause it is. Is there something special I should say to them? I know I sound dumb but I am clueless as to how to go about this thing.

xavier132487 · 01-11-2010, 10:47 PM

Look on craigslist under "housing." They have many good deals and you can map the proximity to your school. If you're going to KSU, as someone else said, Woodstock would be great because it's a cheaper "exurban" area and apartments would probably go for cheap up there. Commute wouldn't be so bad, either! The whole area around there is safe, too.