I actually feel very blessed to have my apartment. It's 900 square feet and, while my upstairs neighbors are far too loud at times, it is a great building. There is a pool, a gym, sauna, it's gated, and I have covered parking. Plus, I have friends in Hollywood who pay the same for a place 1/2 my size with none of the above listed amenities. Oh, and I have an excellent manager. I practically moved here just because she seemed so great. After my last roommate/landlord nightmare I was only going to move somewhere with someone qualified to manage.
Bottom line, find a great apartment. Be picky. Don't just take what you can get. Look around. Find a manager who will get things done. Oh, and I'll tell the nightmare story of my past landlord at another time, but trust me it's a good one.