Temporary Housing 101

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An Apartment Hotel is a type of accommodation, described as “a serviced apartment complex that uses a hotel style booking system”. It is similar to renting an apartment, but with no fixed contracts and occupants can ‘check-out’ whenever they wish.Apartment hotels are flexible types of accommodation; instead of the rigid format of a hotel room an apartment hotel complex usually offers a complete fully fitted apartment. These complexes are usually custom built, and similar to a hotel complex containing a varied amount of apartments. The length of stay in these apartment hotels is very varied with anywhere from a few days to months or even years. Prices tend to be cheaper than hotels. Apartment hotels were first created in holiday destinations as accommodation for families that needed to ‘live’ in an apartment rather than ‘stay’ as they would in a hotel. The apartments would provide a ‘holiday home’ but generally be serviced. Later on these apartments evolved to be complete homes, allowing occupants to do everything they would at home, such as cleaning, washing and cooking.

The Top 10 Organizers of Apartment Space (Part 1 of 2)

1.Wall shelves great for maximizing vertical space. Use your wall space from the floor to the ceiling.
2.Door storage there is a variety to choose from: whether shelves or racks, don’t hesitate to hook space savers at the back of your doors.
3.Trunks Trunks are big and they’re spacious inside: perfect for storing linen or old books and toys. You don’t have to worry about the space it occupies for it can double as a coffee table or as a mini bench.
4.Ottomans are very much like trunks, only the other way around. They’re initially made for seating or as foot rests but they do have space inside that can hold stuff as well.
5.Under-the-Bed storage go for the clear plastic ones that are especially made to be put beneath the bed. Store bed sheets, seasonal clothing and apparel and even tools that you don’t use often.

to be continued

Many of us are all craving for independent living as well as sufficient privacy. Hence, there is a noticeable number of people purchasing a condominium or apartment unit in many different places. However, there is more to just getting oneself a place to call his own. Is it surprising that there is also such a thing as homeowners association in building residence?

One does not just own a part of the whole – all unit owners are actually co-owners of the whole building and the land it stands on. With this, there is a need to form a board of directors that shall administer and maintain the whole property. This is a given because condominium or apartment living is a cooperative venture which requires a set of rules and conditions that shall motivate each owner to respect the rights of one another and also for all of them to have a hassle-free maintenance. Everyone will be required to cooperate with all of the little things such as prompt payment collection, care for facilities and the like. In short, owning a condo unit or an apartment door is independence under a set of reasonable laws.

(For further reading: http://condolawyers.com/articles/carefree.htm)

Hollywood is seen as one of the richer places in America. However, even in one of the affluent places, there are poor people. That’s why the local government’s doing something about it.

The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency approved a revitalization plan last Thursday to help finance a series of commercial and residential projects adding more low-income housing in the area.

Low-income projects planned over the next five years include the $7-million Villas at Gower, which will offer 70 “very low-income housing units” along with supportive services for homeless families and what the CRA calls “transitional youths.”

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If you’re alone or you’re with your family and you’re looking for temporary housing on the go, then there are three possible options for you:

Regular Hotels: If you’re just going to be out for a week or so, then a hotel would be a good place to go to. They offer a lot of full service amenities like housekeeping, etc. The problem with staying ina hotel is that it’s expensive .

Extended Stay Hotels: If it’s going to be more than a week, then this is probably a better alternative. It has a home-like environment that caters to everyone. It also offers full kitchens and on-site laundry facilities. No lease signing, no utitlites to establish, and the studio is fully furnished.

Rental homes & Apartments:
For those who need to stay out for a month or so, this would be the ultimate option. However, leases needs to be signed, utilities should be arranged, telephone & cable bills need to be paid. Expensive in the long run.

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So you’re far away from home, and living in a company sponsored temp house, what do you do in the meantime? Adjusting to the new town and people will take some time. People are more relaxed if they aren’t pressured to sell their homes or move all their things.

In order to make your temp house a bit more personal, you can try the following:

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The present administration is lobbying for home ownership but according to a study conducted by both the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the National Low Income Housing Coalition it should focus more on rental and affordable properties.

Due to the surging rates of foreclosures, people may choose the apartment or temporary housing options this year. There’s even a figure stating that 1 million people rented apartments last year compared to 139,000 more people looking into buying a house.

“With or without proactive policy, the transition from owner-occupied housing to rental housing is happening,” the report said. “In these bubble markets, policymakers must not only be less committed to sustaining ownership and home values, but also must proactively facilitate the conversion to rental of vacant, foreclosed and delinquent units to limit the pressure on the rental market.”

When a company moves you to another part of town (or state!), you and your family may be offered temporary housing until you find a new permanent house to live in. It’s better to live in temp housing than a hotel because it’s almost like home. Almost everything is there to make life a bit more livable.

Another reason why a company would place you in a temp house than a hotel is because it cost less. Unfortunately the minimum stay is 30 days. The price includes utilities, local phone service, and cable TV. You can add a bit more to get two bedrooms, housekeeping, etc.

Leaving the house? Keep safe! Here are some friendly reminders for those in the go.

Have the cylinders of the door locks changed. It is possible that other people might hold the keys to your house.

Trim shrubs and high hedges so that you could easily see if there are burglars around your home.

Remove things that provide access to second-floor windows like tree branches and trellises.

Lock doors and windows that lead to rooftops, balconies and fire escapes if you’re not at home.

Engrave your Social Security number on your valuables so that they would be harder to be sold.

Don’t record your name, whereabouts or any personal information on your answering machine.

Get a dog.

Ask a neighbor or a friend to visit your house from time to time to do the chores.

Halt the mail and newspaper deliveries.

Considering a condo? Hold it right there! Read these tips before anything else.

Research the neighborhood. Are there any condos around that are more suited to your needs and preferences?

Meet your neighbors. What are they like? What are their likes and dislikes? Would you like living with them, or are they monsters, maniacs, and mystery men? You must know!

Find out about the financial solvency of the condo association. Really, you wouldn’t like to be greeted with financial difficulties and unexpected fees, or do you?

Research about owner-occupied versus rental units.

Learn about the rules and read the bylaws.

Read and review the master deed with your attorney.

After all that finding out, weights the pros and cons. I hope this has PROvided you help in purchasing your CONdo. Good luck.

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