Apartment hunting can be a frustrating endeavor for everyone. For college students that have a strict budget, the search can be even more daunting as they have to consider their limited budget, proximity to campus, and whether or not they’ll need roommates (and have the freedom to choose who they live with). If you are in the middle of an apartment search, keep reading for tips on how to find the right apartment for your budget.
Don’t limit yourself to a single area or community
As a college student, you are likely going to be starting your apartment search in the area directly surrounding your college campus. While this may be a great start to your search, your options can be fairly limited. While you may think an abundance of apartments being marketed as college housing or “student apartments” would directly translate to budget-friendly apartments, they may still be out of your budget if the market is competitive.
Do not be afraid to branch out of the areas you were originally looking for. While it may no longer be within walking distance to campus, you can find yourself in an apartment that is well within your budget. If you are branching further out to find an apartment within your budget, it is important to also consider if your transportation costs are going to be out of your budget living further away from campus. Consider factors like campus parking passes, bus passes, gas, and so on.
Refer to your peers
No one understands the woes of a college student budget more than college students themselves. There is no better testament as to whether an apartment is budget-friendly than if your fellow college student can confirm it directly to you.
If you are struggling to find an apartment on your own, start asking around your friend circle, fellow part-time workers, and classmates. Starting these conversations can put new apartment communities on your radar that you never would have given another look at. Or, they can give you a reality check on whether an apartment is really the right one for your budget.
Settle for below your expectations
Unfortunately, you likely are not going to be landing your dream apartment as a college student. With your limited budget, you are not going to be able to afford the luxurious space of your dreams and your search may be limited due to unrealistic expectations. If you find yourself not finding many options with your current search criteria, it’s time to reassess what you are really looking for.
Do you really need an in-unit washer and dryer or can you use the onsite laundry room instead? Can you downsize on total square footage to find a lower-cost apartment?
While you may not want to negotiate with yourself at first, this apartment is likely a short-term living situation for your college years, not a lifetime commitment. You can look for something that is okay for your current college situation (and budget) and look for your dream apartment later down the line when you have a less strict budget to work with.
Consider roommates
Everyone will have different preferences regarding their living situation. Some prefer complete solitude and control over their living space, while others don’t mind sharing an apartment (and bedroom) with a roommate or two. Adding a roommate to your living situation can dramatically expand your apartment options by allowing more room in your budget.
For example, a one-bedroom apartment may be above your budget if you are looking at it from the budget of a single person. If you were to factor in a roommate into the situation to turn the one-bedroom apartment into a shared apartment of two roommates, the costs get split in half and what once didn’t fit in your budget, may fit perfectly into it with a roommate in the situation.
Roommates are not for everyone, but they are something you should definitely consider if you continue to struggle to find the right apartment for your budget. Roommate situations can vary and be negotiated. For example, a two-bedroom apartment may seem a bit costly for you, but if there’s a difference in size between the two bedrooms, you can consider giving your roommate the larger bedroom if they are able to pay a larger share of the total rent. Doing something like this can help make an apartment the right one for your budget.
At the end of the day, finding the right apartment is going to take time and effort. Sure, you can get lucky and find the right apartment without spending hours on the hunt, but in most cases, the search takes a bit of patience and planning. Being patient with your search and giving yourself enough time to weigh your options, or even give time for the right apartment to become available, can help make your search a successful one. With this information in mind, you can guide yourself to find the right apartment for your budget — good luck!
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