Buying or renting furniture can either be really fun or really stressful. If you already have furniture, you're set, but what if you don't? Consider getting rental furniture.
While apartment noise issues are certainly something you want to watch out for when you're looking to rent, sometimes it's worth dealing with noise when the place is just plain
Maybe you should be the manager at your apartment complex. Apartment managers enjoy working with people, are organized and have a basic knowledge of home improvement.