Mountain Top Apartment Renter's Guide
Mountain Top Apartment Renter's Guide
There's a healthy debate over whether this town in Pennsylvania should be called Mountaintop or Mountain Top. The local newspaper uses Mountaintop as the spelling. We are going to use Mountain Top, because that's what the United States Postal Service prefers.
Mountain Top is a census-designated place in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania with a population of 10,982
There's a healthy debate over whether this town in Pennsylvania should be called Mountaintop or Mountain Top. The local newspaper uses Mountaintop as the spelling. We are going to use Mountain Top, because that's what the United States Postal Service prefers.
Mountain Top is a census-designated place in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania with a population of 10,982. It's located along Pennsylvania Route 309, just south of Wilkes-Barre in Fairview. This is where the saddle pass atop the drainage divide between the Susquehanna and Lehigh River basins so it sits in an important communications corridor, which is great for residents who want to be connected to nearby cities. The Ashley Planes funicular railway is an important regional transportation that connects Allentown and Philadelphia. It's surrounded by acres and acres of state forest, so there's plenty to do here for outdoor-lovers as well!
Moving to Mountain Top
If you're thinking about looking for apartments for rent in Mountain Top, you'll be happy to know that there is quite a high vacancy rate here! The bad news is that there are very few rental units available here -- it's almost all owner-occupied property. But with a little hard work and diligence, you can definitely find a duplex for rent or 2 bedroom apartments. It might be wise to leave a little extra time for your hunt. Up to two months is probably a safe bet.
If you want to reduce the time you spend on your apartment hunt, it's good to be clear with yourself and your landlord about exactly what you want from your next apartment. Do you want to live in a small subdivision or in a more rural area? Do you want to live near a State park or is it more important for you to be near grocery stores and convenience stores? Do you want to live in a small apartment or have a few extra rooms? Once you decide exactly what you're looking for, you can start to contact landlords and realtors to start finding the exact places that you want! It's also a good idea to look all over town for the best possible apartment. You never know when you're going to fall in love with one certain neighborhood over another!
What You'll Need
In order to speed up the application process, you'll want to make sure you always carry a binder with all the necessary rental documents. This includes a copy of your ID, your credit report, bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment and references. Carry that thing around with you in the event you see an apartment you absolutely love! That way, you'll be ready to sign on something the moment you see it. If you're planning to bring pets, make sure you have all their necessary paperwork as well -- this includes any papers from the vet that prove they are healthy and have had all their vaccinations. Besides that, the most important thing you can carry is your checkbook! Nothing says you're interested in those one-bedroom apartments for rent like putting a check down on it right away.
Neighborhoods
Mountain Top has a few distinct areas with different vibes, and each one has its own advantages. Here is a little more info about what you can expect from each one.
State Game Lands: This area is in the northernmost part of Mountain Top and is where you'll find a number of different parks and lakes. I-81 runs directly through this section of town so you can easily hop on and off the highway for commuting. It's a very rural area but many people enjoy it because it's a little off the beaten track.
Lackawanna State Forest: This is a state forest preserve with a bunch of different subdivisions on its west side. It's a great place to live if you want to be in the center of the community here in Mountain Top. A couple of the main road in town connect it to the outer areas and you'll find a lot of shops and restaurants off Route 309, such as Januzzi's Pizza and Komaqi Sushi.
South Mountain Top: This area is near I-80 and is home to just a few restaurants (everyone should try Damenti's Sand Bar!) and the Nescopeck State Park. There are a few very nice neighborhoods on this side of town and it's a little more expensive than the rest of Mountain Top.
Living in Mountain Top
Life on top of the mountain is pretty fantastic! You have all the wonder of the great outdoors, with Crystal Lake and Nescopeck State Park. Both I-80 and I-81 run right around the town so it makes for super easy commuting. And the community here is warm and vibrant, filled mostly with residential areas and a number of local eateries and boutiques. It's an idyllic setting for someone who wants to be within a decent distance of Philadelphia but doesn't care to put up with the prices and chaos of big city living!