For many young adults, the decision to leave home is a big milestone that comes with more responsibilities and often brings about new challenges and opportunities for personal growth.
A reason why young people leave home is because they want to be independent and live closer to their places of work or school. This allows them to save time and energy on commuting, enabling them to focus more on their personal growth and career development. At this age, they value autonomy and seek to establish their own identity, which is why they are driven to leave the comfort of their childhood homes because then they have complete freedom to choose the perfect apartments, furniture, and interior decor that reflect their unique personalities.
Every young adult looking for an apartment has a different set of preferences. For lovers of nature, the cool breeze and touch of nature from just the right amount of greenery will suffice, while avid readers will prefer relatively quiet neighbourhoods. Generally, they seek some level of comfort in their new homes and anticipate having the following in their own apartments and neighbourhoods:

Apartments With Good Lighting

Many young people have been attracted to the content creation industry that has blossomed over the last few years, with some turning it into a profession. The quality of visuals in the creation of good content usually highly improved by good lighting which has the added advantage of brightening and warming the living environment of the apartment.

Being largely a generation given to spontaneously creating and publishing a lot of video and other digital media content, young people, therefore, give a great deal of weight to residential spaces that have a lot of natural light streaming through when they are looking for an apartment.

A number of YouTubers of this generation have previously shared that they have rejected an apartment in the past simply because the rooms were not bright enough. Good lighting is also said to relieve headaches and eye fatigue, reducing the harmful effect of all the hours young people spend in front of cameras and screens.

Neighbourhoods With Good Roads and Amenities

Most young people prioritise comfort, so they can easily get frustrated if they find themselves unable to find a commercial vehicle or a ride-hailing service just in time for an appointment.

For young individuals in Ghana who are predominantly university students, Legon, Kinbu, Kumasi (Tech Junction), Tamale (Sagnarigu-Dungu), and locations in close proximity to where higher institutions are found are ideal.

Getting an apartment in an area with access to public transport or car-hailing services is the best way to lessen the stress of waiting for minutes or trekking to find public transport.

Gen Zs preference for such neighbourhoods adds to their love of efficiency as such areas usually come with fairly good roads as well as proximity of such indispensable amenities as supermarkets, restaurants and eateries; recreational facilities, etc. which makes them attractive to young people when they are house hunting.

Areas with Nightlife

It is clear that some neighbourhoods—like East Legon, Osu, Cantonments, and Airport Residential—are overrun with the lounges, pubs, and nightclubs that characterise contemporary nightlife culture. As a result, young people look for apartments that are reasonably close to these places. This is a testament to one of the reasons why such areas are generally preferred by young adults to other neighbourhoods like Oyibi, Ayi Mensah, and Afienya. This preference is mainly premised on the notion that going out at night is supposed to be relaxing, but if you live outside of town and have to drive a long distance at night to get there or back, it’s not enjoyable. There are however, those young adults who are more reclusive and have their preferences directly opposed to this as a result. For these, some distance between them and the activity-concentrated city centres is much preferred.

Many Young People Appreciate Spacious Apartments for Sharing

Moving out is a big deal as it comes with many financial obligations as well. Young adults, generally, do not earn much and a good number of them still depend on support from parents. For this reason, they take the practical option of cohabiting with their colleagues to save costs on rent bills, groceries and maintenance. Not only that, they also find it more socially engaging and comforting to live with others their age. Living in a shared space allows for the opportunity to build friendships, share experiences, and create a sense of community. The space also allows Gen Zs their own personal areas they can return to in situations where they are not in the mood for social interactions.

Opportunities for Customisation

Who wouldn’t want a large bed in a spacious room? Many Gen Zs or young adults definitely would! If you have more space, you can keep all of your belongings, including extra furniture, clothes, books, and office supplies, in one place. Young adults, generally, like to share apartments (as previously mentioned), especially for company, security reasons, and to split financial responsibilities like bills, groceries, and maintenance. The idea of relocating to a new space where they can redesign their bedroom is also highly appealing to Gen Zs. They can decorate their rooms with attractive wall décor to give them a unique appearance.
In general, young adults work hard to realise their dreams of an easy life. They, therefore, make an effort to make themselves as comfortable as possible in their new homes while they put in the work required to bring the positive impact upon the world they so crave.

In conclusion, a careful consideration of a number of aspects, including security, utilities, and proximity to social amenities, is necessary to ensure that their new home meets their needs and desires. Additionally, young people often prioritise affordability when choosing a place to live, as they may still be establishing their careers and managing financial responsibilities. By carefully evaluating these factors, young individuals can create a living environment that supports their aspirations and provides them with the ease and comfort they seek in their daily lives.