How to Make Friends and Build Community in Your Apartment Building

At  Mission Lofts  , we are committed to providing our VIPs with the best tools to manage their apartment homes effortlessly. We want to highlight the various ways you can handle your monthly rent, including some exciting benefits that help you build your financial future just by living with us. 1. The AppFolio Resident Portal App The easiest way to manage your living experience is through the AppFolio app. It is a one-stop shop for your most frequent needs: Convenient Payments: Set up one-time or automatic payments using a bank account (e-check), credit card, or debit card. Split Payments with Flex: We have integrated Flex directly into your AppFolio app. This service allows you to split your rent into two payments throughout the month. Flex pays your rent to us in full and on time, while you pay them back on a schedule that fits your cash flow. Full Transparency: View your current balance, previous statements, and full payment history anytime. 2. Build Your Credit for Free with Pinata Your consistent rent payments should work for you. We are proud to offer Free Positive Rent Payment Reporting to major credit bureaus through our partner, Pinata. How it works: You will receive an email invitation from Pinata to sign up for this service. Once you are enrolled, your on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus. The Benefit: This helps you build your credit score over time without any extra cost. It is our way of rewarding your reliability and helping you reach your long-term financial goals. (Please note: we do not utilize any resident reward or marketplace features through Pinata; this service is strictly for your credit reporting benefit.) 3. More Ways the App Helps You Beyond payments, the AppFolio app remains your primary tool for staying connected with our Downtown Riverside community. You can: Submit Maintenance Requests: Easily upload photos and descriptions of any needed repairs. Manage Renter's Insurance: Access your policy or update your provider details. Stay Informed: Contact the office via text or phone, update your contact preferences, and access your lease documents. At  Mission Lofts  , we treat every resident like a VIP. Whether you are looking for more flexibility with Flex or looking to boost your credit score through Pinata, we are here to support your lifestyle.

If you’ve recently moved, chances are you looked at apartments, especially if your new area was especially expensive. With over 43 million renter-occupied units in the country, renting is clearly a popular choice. Home ownership is often seen as the gold standard, but there are plenty of reasons why home ownership might not be your best bet. Here are four reasons why renting might win over buying. Location Because there are so many rental units spread throughout the country, renters can live almost anywhere. But according to Investopedia , “homeowners are restricted to areas where they can afford to buy. Living in an expensive city such as New York may be out of reach for most home buyers, but it is entirely possible for renters.” When you value location over ownership, renting is perfect. There are rarely homes in large cities; most are located in suburbs, which means long commutes into the city. If you value your time, living in an apartment a few blocks from your workplace could save you hundreds of hours a year. And time is money! Even if rent is the same as or even slightly higher than a comparable mortgage, most people never factor in time costs, or even fuel and transportation costs from living farther away from where they work. Before you make a final decision, consider all these variables. Amenities Have you ever bought something you thought you’d use more than you do? Imagine doing that with something as large and involved as a swimming pool. Renting an apartment often comes with access to great amenities that you can use for free! There’s no need to pay for installation, upkeep, or maintenance, and you can use the amenity as often or as little as you’d like! This is often what draws most people to renting. Renting also comes with access to amenities many consider essential, such as a washer and dryer. These large appliances make daily life so much easier, but can be a source of headaches if they stop working or malfunction. If you own your home, you’re on the hook for all maintenance and repair costs, and any damage caused by the appliances. As a renter, you simply contact your landlord or property manager to take care of any issues you have. Benefits without responsibilities is a major draw for many renters, and apartment managers know it! Newer apartments often offer outrageous amenities to attract potential renters. You’ll likely be able to find the exact amenities you’re looking for in an apartment. Flexibility Buying a home is one of the largest commitments of time, energy, and money that we make. Not everyone is ready for such a serious commitment. Renting can help you avoid taking on unwelcome responsibilities. Unlike a temporary contract, buying a home is final. Sure, you can always sell, but selling too early can cost you. You have to live in your home for a minimum of two years to avoid capital gains tax upon selling, and selling any sooner than two years after purchase will usually mean you love money on the sale due to closing costs, and that’s assuming the house has appreciated in those two years. There’s a ton of things you have to consider when buying a home. If you don’t like where you live, you’re stuck until you can sell your home. If you’re renting an apartment, just don’t renew your lease and you’re free to go wherever you want. This is especially nice with the increase of remote work opportunities. If you value flexibility, renting is most likely the best situation for you. A sense of community  Just about everything in life can be done remotely. From paying bills to ordering groceries, there’s no need to go anywhere in person anymore. This can be extremely lonely. If you’re someone who struggles with getting out and meeting people, being a part of an apartment community can help. Apartment complexes often host parties and activities where you can meet your neighbors and others who live nearby. Even if you’re not interested in any social activities, you’ll still rub shoulders with your neighbors now and again as you go about your day. Renting can be better than buying because renting allows you to choose the location where you want to live, offers great amenities, gives you flexibility, and helps you be part of a community. If you’re looking for apartments in Riverside, California, consider Mission Lofts Apartments!