Apartment Rental Compared to Buying a Condominium

There are good reasons for renting an apartment. There are some good reasons for buying as opposed to renting. Based on my experience doing both over the years here is a comparison.

Roommates
If you are still young and single it's easier to have roommates when you rent an apartment. It also maximizes the money you can save by sharing all expenses with your roommates. Some condominium do not allow more than one family to occupy one condominium unit.  

Rules and Regulations
There are things you must do and rules you must follow in both apartments and condominium but with an apartment if the rules and regulations change into something unexpected you can always move. It is not always as easy to pick up and move when you are the owner of a condominium.

Subletting as opposed to selling
If you get transferred in your job, it is much easier to pick up and move quickly with an apartment. If you have a lease or rental term to fulfill that is easier with an apartment. It is usually easy to sublet and apartment.

Lifestyle Considerations
With an apartment you can move into a complex with people generally your own age and lifestyle. With condominium often it is a wide mix of ages. This has implications as to the rules and regulations you will have to adhere to.

Utilities
With an apartment if you rent with utilities included you are protected against energy cost increases until your next lease or rental contract term is up for renewal.
Long Term
It is much easier to have extra cash to spend or invest, hopefully you won't just party it all away. The more you save when renting the less the first condo or home you buy will cost you because you will have more to put as down payment.

Fluctuations in Housing Values
With an apartment you are insulated against changes in property values. Also as long as you are a good tenant you will find apartment owners reluctant to raise rents on you as they prefer to have good paying tenants that to be changing all the time.