Ground floor apartment

[Anonymous]

I'm a single mother consisting moving to a garden apartment. I have 2 choices, live on the ground floor or 2nd floor. I've never lived on the ground floor mostly due to security issues, I always hear the ground floor is very unaffected for single women. On another hand, having an active 4 year old, I feel like if I'm on the 2nd floor, the downstairs neighbors will really hate us plus I do all my workout videos at home with lots of jumping jacks, jump ropes, squats ect. Another thing is, it will be easier for me to haul things in and out of the house with a 4 year old if I'm on the first level add opposed to having to go up a few stairs, plus DS can just play on the patio if it's nice outside while I'm watching him instead of the balcony. So what do you think? Is it really safer to be on a higher floor? If you are a single woman have you lived on a ground floor? Would you recommend it? Thanks

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it BUT, if you do, just make sure to get extra locks and security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a single mother consisting moving to a garden apartment. I have 2 choices, live on the ground floor or 2nd floor. I've never lived on the ground floor mostly due to security issues, I always hear the ground floor is very unaffected for single women. On another hand, having an active 4 year old, I feel like if I'm on the 2nd floor, the downstairs neighbors will really hate us plus I do all my workout videos at home with lots of jumping jacks, jump ropes, squats ect. Another thing is, it will be easier for me to haul things in and out of the house with a 4 year old if I'm on the first level add opposed to having to go up a few stairs, plus DS can just play on the patio if it's nice outside while I'm watching him instead of the balcony. So what do you think? Is it really safer to be on a higher floor? If you are a single woman have you lived on a ground floor? Would you recommend it? Thanks

I wouldn't for security reasons. About hauling things, your son won't be 4 year old forever.

[Anonymous]

I lived on the ground floor as a single woman in a garden style apartment for many years. Honestly- it just did not bother me at all. Yes, it would be easier to get in through a window on the ground floor then on the 2nd floor- but there is no difference in the doors. Also, in terms of the window I felt that someone opening a window would probaby be noticed. (And i had locks on my windows).

[Anonymous]

I don't like the ground floor because I feel like people can easily walk by and watch me sleep. Weird, I know.

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of moving in a few months and am leery about the ground floor for reasons you mentioned. The pros are if I bring my treadmill it's less likely to annoy neighbors. If I had a kid I might feel more inclined to want a ground floor so I wouldn't have to lug a stroller up and down, so his running, yelling etc wouldn't bug the neighbors. You'd have to really drive home the no opening doors thing though. And get some dowels for the windows so they can't be opened without breaking the window, which would draw attention.

[Anonymous]

Oh for Pete's sake: if you live in a house you have a ground floor, no? You should be fine, and a four year old should know better

[Anonymous]

There's a big difference between ground floor in a house in the burbs, and ground floor in an apartment building. In a building, you're more likely to have people hovering around outside (maintenance workers, gardening, tenants, walkbys in the city). For privacy reasons, I would not choose a ground floor.

[Anonymous]

I would choose the second floor if it's the top floor. Less noise because you don't have people walking above you.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the neighborhood and risk of flooding. One building I considered I happened to tour on a rainy day -- heavy rain-- tenants were standing in the walkways because their units had started flooding on the ground level.

[Anonymous]

OP, when you look out the window of the ground floor apt, what do you see?

[Anonymous]

Almost all of my pre-homeowner years were spent in first floor apartments. It wasn't by design, just happened that way. I only lived on another floor once. Wow, I never really thought about that before.

It makes coming home simple, no stress at the elevator wait. Moving was easy. I could always just pop down to toss trash or switch over laundry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh for Pete's sake: if you live in a house you have a ground floor, no? You should be fine, and a four year old should know better

Ever been a single mom? Don't be so flippant.
As a single mom in law enforcement I'd pass. So what your neighbors are annoyed at sounds put rugs down.
Or find a place on top of a commercial establishment there's concrete between the apartment and commercial property.
I'll take annoyed neighbors over rape /murder any day.

[Anonymous]

Op back. To answer PPs question, when I look out from the ground floor, I see the parking lo. The patios door is right there too, so I could park and enter my apartment from the patio. The neighborhood is Tysons corner

[Anonymous]

If you can see them, then they can see you. Decide if this is something you're comfortable with.