| Off campus housing means you either live at home with mom and dad or find a place of your own. Simply by being a registered student at your university you will still enjoy many of the same campus amenities that on campus students enjoy. You will want to do a cost comparison to see if off campus housing is something you can afford, but it is a very real alternative to living on campus.Check out our apartment finder to see what is available in your area.Finding a place to live off campus may be easy, but finding the right place to live off campus will take some time. Asking alot of questions to either your leasing agent or students who already live in the area will help you gather the information you need to make a solid decision. Here’s a list of questions you may want to consider: |
What are the costs? Monthly rent, deposit, utilities, cable, internet?- How long is the lease?
- Is there a penalty for breaking the lease early?
- Can you sublet if needed?
- What type of service for apartment maintenance is there?
- Is there a security system?
- Does the apartment include laundry services?
- What about parking?
- What is the pet policy?
- Are there specials for college students?
There 
are other questions you will want to investigate for yourself:
- How close to the campus is the apartment? What is the commute?
- What is the demographic of the neighborhood?
- What type of noise is in the neighborhood?
- How close are local grocery, dollar stores, or Wal-Mart?
- Where is the closest church?
Be smart and remember you get what you pay for. If you get the cheapest place in town expect things like noise, dents in your car door, broken beer bottles, and a very poor response time to your maintenance needs. Be careful not to get in a situation with a slumlord. Check out the landlord’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau. If you get in a bad situation, you are NOT necessarily stuck. Sometimes it is much better to get out of a bad living situation so you can focus on your primary reason for being there. Your academic career should drive your decision-making regarding where you live. Do a litte leg work to find out everything you need to know about your living situation so it is ideal!
