After months of searching for an apartment in San Juan, Valentina Valdejuli and her partner, Rafael, cycle from searching local real estate sites to browsing Facebook Marketplace.
Valldejuli was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has lived her entire life in San Juan.
29 years old”Modo de Vida“, the art director, told CNBC Make It that finding a two-bedroom apartment in the city to be close to family was essential.
“I love that wherever you are on the island, you have the beach nearby. I live in the center of an area, but I can only drive ten minutes and get to the beach here in Grand Park. ocean in San Juan,” she said.
Hato Rey is a financial district in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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In October 2020, the couple found a Facebook Marketplace listing for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, for $1,000 a month.
Valldejuli said that because Hurricane season in Puerto Rico is only getting worse As the years went by, what was most important to them was that the apartment had what they called “tormenteras,” or storm shutters, and that the building also had a backup generator.
“The moment we saw this apartment, we fell in love,” Valldejuli said.
She added that although the rent for the apartment is only $1,000 a month, there is one catch: it doesn’t have a fridge or an oven.
The kitchen is not equipped with an oven or refrigerator, but the couple is willing to compromise and buy the appliances themselves.
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Once approved to buy the apartment, the couple paid a $1,000 deposit, the first month’s rent, and about $1,200 for a refrigerator and $600 for an oven.
“We’re willing to compromise to get those devices because we love this space so much. We’ve seen four different locations, and it’s hard to get a big place and [in that] price range,” said Valldejuli.
The couple made good use of the three bedrooms by turning one of their master bedrooms, turning the second bedroom into Rafael’s office and recording studio, and using the third as Valldejuli’s home office.
Valldejuli describes their décor as a blend of boho with a mid-century feel and a touch of eclecticism.
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“I am a photographer and a graphic designer, and I wanted to explore what interior design would look like from the perspective of a photographer and a graphic designer,” says Valldejuli.
The art director describes their apartment decor as a mix of boho style with a mid-century feel and a touch of eclecticism.
The couple has no plans to move out anytime soon
