Buying a home/city apartment in Salt Lake City - Is this a good idea?

[Paul Park]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and I was wondering if I could receive any advice from an experienced real estate investor. 

Currently, my situation is as follows:

- moved from CA to UT for work.

- I have 4 months left on my apartment lease.

- I am looking to move closer to Salt Lake City. (currently 15 miles out)

My question is, should I invest in a city apartment? Is that a terrible idea..? Mortgage would be slightly higher than rent, but I would be investing the money rather than losing it. Also, there is a huge HOA fee in city apartments upwards of $300-$400/month.

I am torn between the convenience of living across the street from work with amazing views of the mountains and actually making a smart investment.