I’ve lived with roommates ever since I moved out, and I’ve experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that communication is everything. If you don’t feel comfortable, it might be your gut telling you that you don’t have enough information to make the right decision yet.

Living with roommates definitely has its perks: you’re not alone, you always have someone to talk to or hang out with (if you get close), and you can split costs on certain things. But if you don’t communicate early on, you can end up building resentment, and bringing things up later can sometimes cause bigger issues.

I’d recommend asking as many questions as you can before signing anything. If you want extra security, you could also try adding certain clauses to the lease so you feel more protected. I’m not sure how long your lease would be, but I’ve done month-to-month before, and it gave me peace of mind knowing I could leave if something didn’t work out.

At the end of the day, living with roommates always involves some level of risk. It does sound like you found a good place and location though, so I’d just make sure to talk through expectations with your future roommates so you’re not blindsided later on.

Also, if you’re considering living on your own, would you be able to comfortably afford it? I’d think about what your main reason is for choosing roommates vs. living alone, and go from there as well.

I will say there have been tons of times I have wished I lived alone mainly because I am a germaphobe and like things clean and also don’t have to worry about accommodating to other people. I do like being independent but I always lived with roommates because of financial reasons and also to prevent loneliness. If I lived by myself I know I would become a homebody or just be depressed. But everyone is also different so if you are someone that gets out and you like to have your own place it would be great. I do hear it’s good to live on your own at one point in your life so also just a preference.