Off-Campus Housing Blog

First Steps to Looking for a College Apartment

October 25, 2019

First Steps to Looking for a College Apartment By Brittany Loeffler The first time most people live on their own is in their college apartment. After their freshman year of living in a dormitory, many students will move off campus into an apartment because it can help save them money and gives them more space…

8 Unexpected Decor Ideas to Try in your College Apartment

September 11, 2019

Apartment Gear, Apartment Living, Decorating Tips, Off Campus Housing

Decorating your student apartment is always a highlight to any new school year. You get to make the space truly your home away from home. This is the perfect opportunity to include elements that speak to you! Temporary decor decisions are vital when moving into a new rental. While many non-permanent decorations are sometimes overdone…

Individual vs. Single Leasing your College Apartment

August 19, 2019

Apartment Living, Leasing Information, Manager's Corner, Off Campus Housing, Parent's Corner, Roommates

Landlords and tenants have certain options available to them when signing a student apartment lease agreement. As the landlord, you may either sign a separate lease with each tenant or ask them to cosign a single lease. Of course, there are pros and cons to each. Signing individual leases Landlords commonly use this method…

Crafting a College Roommate Agreement

July 26, 2019

Apartment Living, Leasing Information, Off Campus Housing, Parent's Corner, Roommates, Safety Tips

It’s far easier to afford the cost of college living when you split rent with a roommate. But having one (or two, or three) can come at its own cost. That’s where roommate agreements come in handy! So what exactly is a roommate agreement? It’s not the lease agreement itself and actually doesn’t involve your…

Proximity or Amenities? Modern Trends in Student Housing Development

June 26, 2019

Apartment Living, Industry News, Manager's Corner, Off Campus Housing, Transportation

What do modern students want most from their college apartment? Proximity to campus? Luxury amenities? Privacy? Affordability? This issue was debated during the 11th annual InterFace Student Housing conference held in Austin, Texas this past April. There, developers of student apartments from around the country weighed the pros and cons of various types of…

Cities Like Austin Crack Down on College Apartment Affordability

June 7, 2019

Apartment Living, Budgeting, Industry News, Manager's Corner, Off Campus Housing, Parent's Corner

The Federal Reserve reports that 42% of people who attend college incur student loan debt. Today, this number totals nearly $1.6 trillion dollars in the U.S. alone, and costs are steadily on the rise. Tuition and housing make up the majority of the expense of attending higher education, with student housing costs actually exceeding…

Final Exam Season Tips for the College Student

April 23, 2019

Apartment Living, Off Campus Housing, Study Tips

It’s perfectly normal for college students to feel a little crazy around exam season. But as quickly as it comes, it will soon be gone. Here are some quick tips for managing your sanity this time of year: Start Studying Early Besides avoiding any pre-exam procrastination panic, starting your studies earlier will help…

How Gen Z’s Expectations are Changing Student Housing

April 8, 2019

Apartment Living, Industry News, Manager's Corner, Off Campus Housing

As student populations change, so too must student apartments. Gen Z’s expectations for student apartments have proven considerably different from those of their Millennial counterparts. These changes have not gone unnoticed by student housing property developers, who now focus on modern interior design and curating amenities with modern appeal. Modern Aesthetic What’s so…

Santa Monica College Students Rejoice: City Temporarily Bans Unaffordable Micro-Apartments

March 28, 2019

Apartment Living, Budgeting, Industry News, Off Campus Housing, Parent's Corner

Affordable student apartments? Santa Monica is finally doing something about the sudden spike in market-rate “single room occupancy” (SRO) units. On Tuesday 3/26, the city passed an emergency ordinance temporarily banning apartments under 375 square feet. This ordinance will last for 45 days until the city can devise a permanent solution to the problem.…

Turning Your College Apartment into a Zen Den

March 13, 2019

Apartment Gear, Apartment Living, Decorating Tips, Maintenance Tips, Off Campus Housing, Roommates, Study Tips

You may not be surprised to learn that the chaotic atmosphere of your student apartment could be contributing to heightened stress-levels. We connect with our environments whether we like it or not, so turning your college apartment into a zen den could be just what the doctor ordered! How, you ask? Contemplate your surroundings.…

College Apartment Spotlight: The Bartram in Gainesville, FL

February 25, 2019

Apartment Living, Apartment Reviews, Off Campus Housing, Parent's Corner

Looking for an apartment in a college town like Gainesville might be stressful for people who want both proximity to UF campus/Shands Hospital and sleep at night. College crowds may bring with them certain qualities associated with the trials of youth: noise, messiness, incessant partying, and other shenanigans older adults just shouldn’t have to…

This Valentines Day, Fall in Love With You

February 14, 2019

Apartment Living, Off Campus Housing, Parent's Corner

From now until the rest of your life, the most important relationship you have is the one you have with yourself. Valentine’s Day can be a depressing holiday for single folks, but we say that it is the chance to begin finding your true love: You. According to the law of attraction, the energy…