What is important when you are looking for a place?

Question:Do you think it's better to live with other people in the house? Is it worth saving money? I have a choice of paying $650 a month to live in a house with group of strangers. Or would it be better to live by yourself for $1250 a month? The convenience of this is that it's only 5 mins away from work. While the one for $650 is 10 miles from work and it's in LA. I am really having a hard time in this decision making. I love my own freedom but is it worth paying that much for it?

Answers:
Location, location, location, and neighbor hood that you would be comfortable living in. Make sure you have a contract in writing, do you have to pay for repairs, paint before moving out, what about utilities. ask questions, interview who you would live with. Make sure you could get along. What are the house rules. I did not like having a boarder at all, I didn't like living with another person that I didn't know. Renting your own place, can you stand your neighbors noise, is there parking? You will be paying your own utilities. I live in Los Angeles as well. I don't think you would be spending $600 in gas each month. In the share situation what about smoking, animals? Kids? ask. My granddaughter got trapped in a bad situation in Culver City, this is where I'm coming from. She had to pait the room before she moved out. Good luck to you, and may you be happy in your new home. Hoyakins