Many students choose to live in university housing their first year. However, once you’re used to your daily routine, you can move off-campus and get a student apartment. One of the benefits of moving off-campus, is that you’ll get more space for the same price or less. Usually, on-campus housing is much more cramped. Unless you’re willing to pay more, you will have to share with a roommate whose habits you may or may not like. There is usually a good selection of one-bedroom apartments available for student who want to avoid potential roommate conflicts.
Renting a student apartment is also a great way to grow up. You learn to be responsible for paying your monthly rent and utilities. You might also learn to cook a bit and maintain your apartment so that it’s pleasant to live in. Here are a few things you might want to look for in off-campus housing:
- Space. It’s probably a good idea to look for a decent-sized apartment when you move off-campus. Take stock of how much stuff you have and how much space you think will be needed to keep it. It’s also a good idea to look around a bit and see what kind of space is available in the budget you have in mind. However, if you fall in love with the first apartment you see, and it’s within your budget, trust your gut and go for it.
- Roommates. You’re usually going to have to share your apartment with roommates, unless you have enough money to get a place all to yourself. If you already have someone in mind, like a best friend, that’s great. If not, then make sure you choose your roommates with care because you will be stuck with them for the next year. This article from USA Today suggests, “Right at the beginning, have a discussion about what your expectations are for your living situation.” While you’re talking things over, you can try to find out if your potential roommate has habits similar to yours. For example, if you’re an early-to-bed and early-to-rise person, you probably won’t like living with someone who stays up late and plays loud music.
- Budget. It’s important to have a budget in mind when you go apartment-shopping. This article from Huffington Post quotes Amy Bohutinsky, CMO of the real estate website Zillow, as saying, “A good rule of thumb is to have three month’s rent to cover costs such as the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, security deposits and broker fees.” Bohutinsky also suggests that you should know your credit score, because a landlord is likely to check it before deciding to lease the apartment to you.
- Location. Given that you’re going to have more responsibilities when you move off-campus, it’s probably a good idea to get something close to your school. If it’s within walking distance, that’s ideal. If not, check for university shuttles or buses that go by frequently. Keep in mind that if you have to take some form of transportation to get to school, your movements might become a bit restricted. For example, if you have one class early in the morning and one late in the evening, what are you going to do the remainder of the day? You probably won’t feel like taking a bus back to your apartment, but hanging out in the library may not appeal to you either. This article from About Education also suggests that you could get involved in some school clubs or organizations so that you don’t start to feel isolated in an apartment that’s far from campus.
- Grocery Stores, Laundromats etc. If you move off-campus, chances are you’re going to have to start cooking a bit. So make sure that any apartment you lease is located close to a grocery store. If there is a laundry room in your apartment building, that’s great. If not, make sure that there’s a laundromat close by. You might also want to look around and see if there are any restaurants you can go to or order from. Is there any shopping located close by?
Although these things may not be absolute necessities for you, they will help to make life a lot more pleasant and convenient.
What tips do you have for finding the best off-campus student apartments? Let us know about them in the comment section below.
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My off-campus apartment is practically on-campus, but it is a hike to the grocery store. Fortunately my apartment is on a good bus line, so my roommates and just hop the bus to the store.
I am currently looking for some housing near campus, and this can be a hard thing to do! Roommates, location, and price are all important aspects to consider. I hadn’t thought about looking for nearby grocery stores, but that too will be an important deciding factor. Thanks for sharing! This definitely helped me to see what I really need to focus on while finding an apartment.