Housing options
HOUSING
FINANCING
TYPES OF
HOUSING
SELECTION
RULES
Humans are different from nature. It’s not just about the outside. We all share different values, and we develop at our own pace. So there is no universal key to becoming independent. Let’s look at what housing options exist and what you can choose from based on your needs.
Housing financing
When looking for housing, you have to consider several fundamental questions. First, it is necessary to evaluate the financial side – how much money you can set aside for housing each month. The sub-site dedicated to financial literacy can help you with this. You will learn how to track your money, manage expenses and create a budget.
However, it would be best not to forget that becoming independent is not only about paying the regular rent or mortgage. You must add energy, internet and the like to the monthly amount you need to pay. Thus, anticipated expenses include more costs than just housing itself. Below you will find lists of everything to consider when considering your budget.
If you want to live on your property, you will probably pay for many of the following:
- electricity, gas, water
- property tax and dog tax
- fee for municipal waste
- concessionaire fees
- entertainment (TV, Netflix)
- the Internet
When renting a property, you are likely to encounter most of these fees:
- electricity, gas, water
- fee for municipal waste
- repair fund
- caretaker fee
- cleaning common areas
- parking fee or parking space
- concessionaire fees
- entertainment (TV, Netflix)
- Internet
- dog tax
You can read more about these fees in energies and services.
Types of housing
Once you know your financial possibilities, it’s time to decide on a specific type of housing. You have several alternatives to choose from, each of which has its pros and cons. Below is the table you can see a summary of the most real pluses and minuses of traditional housing types.
Advantages
- low financial burden
- suitable for socialising
- provides the community (especially within the school collective)
- the opportunity to meet new people
- available services for students in the area
- the possibility of changing housing relatively quickly in case of dissatisfaction
Disadvantages
- lack of privacy
- incomplete or shared social facilities and other common areas
- the necessity of adapting to the needs of roommates
Advantages
- spreading the financial burden among several people
- the possibility of creating a community
- meeting new people or strengthening relationships with old friends
- the option to divide household chores among several people
Disadvantages
- common areas such as the corridor, kitchen or sanitary facilities
- the necessity of creating rules between roommates, adapting to their habits
- the equipment is usually subject to the owner of the apartment
- less privacy
Advantages
- complete privacy
- the possibility of creating your environment, home, background
- unlimited space for your activities
Disadvantages
- greater financial burden
- housework is not divided among several household members
- the equipment is usually subject to the owner of the apartment
- the need to communicate with the landlord
- the landlord can force you to leave if the contract ends
Advantages
- complete privacy
- investment in own property
- security for the future, possibly also for the next generations
- the possibility to easily make alterations or reconstructions whenever you want or need
- equipment according to one’s taste and needs
Disadvantages
- long-term commitment
- the necessity of capital
- additional costs such as taxes, municipal contributions, administrative fees, insurance or mortgage-related fees
- financial burden in the future as part of repairs and reconstruction
Selection rules
What must you have when choosing your home? A clear idea of what you want and need. Downloading can be lengthy and confusing, leaving you with many questions. If you do not answer them, it may happen that you will not like it in your future home. Our Housing Evaluation exercise offers you checklists and tips to help you in the process of finding your ideal home.
When you go through some of the inspections and later move, two essential rules must be followed for each option.
1. GET ADVICE
Choosing a house is a crucial decision. Therefore it is necessary to consider all possible aspects and make the right decision based on them. There are several options. Who can advise you, and in what way?
- First, it’s a good idea to find a person from your neighbourhood who has recently gone through the same process you are planning to go through, whether it’s a friend who lives in a dormitory or a colleague who rents a room in a shared apartment. People with experience looking for accommodation can tell us what to watch out for.
- If you can’t find such a person in your area, you can try, for example, Facebook groups. If you are deciding on a boarding school, one of the largest such groups in Slovakia is the residents of Mlynská dolina. However, there are many similar groups, and almost every city or school has a similar one. It works the same way when renting apartments – search for your destination city. The advantage is direct contact with people, not just summarised information.
- If we’re talking about renting or buying real estate, you can find everything from real estate agencies to specific offers to sample contracts on the byty.sk website. They also provide counselling for particular questions.
- If you do not want to rely on yourself and other people but prefer expert advice, you can use the services of a real estate agency. The advantage of paying a consultant is not only in the experience of real estate agents but also in the completeness of services. They can help with contracts, conditions or other actions when choosing a new home.
2. COMMUNICATION WILL AVOID SURPRISES
When you live in any place, you will meet other people – be it roommates, owners of the apartment you want to rent, or real estate sellers. Open communication from the beginning is paramount. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot, even if some questions seem unnecessary. You can thus prevent misunderstandings and set up a functional operating system. Moreover, such communication and subsequent positive relationships can contribute to greater understanding in unforeseen situations.
The National Association of Real Estate Agents of Slovakia provides more detailed information on this topic in its regular NARKS podcast.
In our podcast, you will learn more directly from a person from practice – real estate expert František Fortuna from FORA reality. You can find us on Spotify, Apple, Google podcast, and many other platforms.
Listen on your favourite podcast platform: