How to Find Off-Campus Housing

The competitive nature of the college housing environment can make finding off-campus housing a tough chore. Get a head start and you stand a chance of finding that great pad everyone wants to visit.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Apartment Search Guides
• Local Newspapers

1. Ask around in the spring to see who's moving out of their place and sign a lease before the summer begins.

2. Seek out the places with character. A good college rental will be passed down from year to year to friends and may have a cool nickname like "Fat City" or "The Cheese Palace."

3. Read the local papers and check the real estate rental sections.

4. Visit public places on campus where landlords post rental notices on bulletin boards. Post a "House Wanted" card on the same bulletin board.

5. Place a "House Wanted" advertisement in popular papers with your name and phone number listed.

6. Have your roommates comb the local streets on their bikes to search out "For Rent" signs.

Tips & Warnings

• When you do find a suitable place, give the landlord every reason to accept your application by turning it in complete, neat, and with a security deposit.
• Show the landlord that you are responsible by dressing well, being prompt to meetings and behaving politely.
• Many students complain about feeling out of touch with the goings-on at college when they live off campus.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

on 11/22/2005 Start looking for housing in the late fall, especially in big college towns. Most people know by this time that they will be moving out next year, and you can get better houses and cheaper rents by starting before everyone else.