First floor or middle floor for apartment? (apartments, noise, heating)

[jagsfan05]

We are going to be renting an apartment at a complex and the only options available are first floor of a three story structure or third floor of a four story structure (so almost like a middle floor). There are no top floor options available.

The first floor options are at the back of the complex facing woods and a nice rock wall so more secluded but this also might mean not as much security for my new wife.

The third floor option looks at another apartment and not as nice of views plus higher stairs to walk with no elevators and more noise chances (below and above us). But the security would be better in terms of no break in and less pest chances.

So I have no idea which one to pick? Need help! Thanks. The complex itself seems very safe and is only a year old so whichever one we pick will be a brand new apartment that's never been lived in.

[MrRational]

above the streetlights

[Sundaydrive00]

Since you seem to be concerned about security, you should choose the middle floor apartment. I could never live on the first floor, even in the safest of areas, I wouldn't want people to have such easy access to my home or be able to look inside and see every thing.

[cully]

Above the vehicle headlights.

[bookspage]

I would never live anywhere else other than a top floor.

[willow wind]

Me, I'd keep looking until you found a third floor with an elevator. Going to be a pain in the neck carrying a year old child, stroller, lots of groceries, kid's stuff up, etc. and down stairs . Plus having to either carry the little one for another year or so and then having to help them up and down stairs for quite some time.
Non elevator might be OK when a kid is 4-5 or older but until then an annoyance.

I don't see the first floor as being an option. Not safe enough and no privacy.

[Melodica]

Something else to consider is heating/cooling costs depending on your location. The middle unit will likely stay warmer in cold weather, whereas the bottom unit should stay cooler in hot weather.

Personally I won't live below anyone because of the possibility of noise, so I wouldn't choose either one.

[Xelfer]

Originally Posted by willow wind

Me, I'd keep looking until you found a third floor with an elevator. Going to be a pain in the neck carrying a year old child, stroller, lots of groceries, kid's stuff up, etc. and down stairs . Plus having to either carry the little one for another year or so and then having to help them up and down stairs for quite some time.
Non elevator might be OK when a kid is 4-5 or older but until then an annoyance.

I don't see the first floor as being an option. Not safe enough and no privacy.

Exactly. The effort for moving into a top floor apartment is worth it in security, view and not having some butthead stomping over you or dropping thousand-pound weights on the floor at 4am.

[jaynarie]

I've only every lived in top floor apartments, so as others said, I would probably continue looking.

Security is a big factor, but I honestly would probably choose the first floor out of your two choices. During my last tenure in an apartment, I had not one but two noisy neighbors below me. One played music all the time and my floor shook from the bass. The other yelled on his cell phone night and day. He was only below me for 2 months before I moved out and he managed to wake me out of a dead sleep in the middle of the night THREE different times yelling "What the f*ck, Bro" into his phone. That was his favorite phrase. So, my point is, a middle apartment would probably be my last choice due to the noise. You'll get it from above AND below. At least on the first floor you will only get the overhead noise.

[jayguy01]

I'm the complete opposite, I would only live on the first floor. It's just more convenient for me in every way.