4 Tips to Help You Find the Right Off-Campus Apartment

You’ve decided that dorm life isn’t for you. You need a quiet place to study and one that lets you come and go as you please. It’s not surprising since 87% of students live off-campus, according to the New York Times. If you’re looking to move off-campus into an apartment, how do you know you have the right one for you?

Looking for apartments near college can be challenging, but if you know where to look, you’ll find the best off-campus student housing that suits you and your budget. So how do you find the best student housing in Newark? The tips below will also help you find the right student housing at the right price without wasting lots of your time searching.

Making a List of Your Must-Haves

Before you start searching for student housing, you need to know what you’re looking for in an apartment. You’ll need to know how much rent you can afford, how many roommates you’ll have, if any, and how much living space you’ll have to share with others. If you have pets, you’ll have to find out if the student apartment you’re interested in allows them. Or, if you don’t have pets, you should know if your potential roommate has them.

Looking for Student Housing Online

With a simple search of “student housing near me,” you’ll find many apartments near the school that could suit your lifestyle. Sure, you can scour sites like Craigslist, but that might take lots of time. Classified ad-type websites exist that focus solely on apartments for students. All you have to do is search for what you’re looking for on these kinds of sites, and you’ll find one that right for you.

Ask Your University

Because so many students live off-campus, your university will be able to help you find a place to call your own. As with all colleges, your university will have resources for students like housing boards and some even have a housing search feature on their websites. You may be able to find a roommate with the help of your university. They’ll be able to help you, but it may take some time to get help with so many students looking for off-campus housing.

Explore Your College Town

One way to find student apartments is to search the neighborhood that’s close to the campus where you want to live. This approach can be exciting and fun to explore your campus town.

When you’re looking for a great place to live off-campus, consider Lang Development Group. We’ll save you from all that searching online, at your university, and around town. We offer residential apartment communities designed for students, and we are sure to have that special off-campus apartment for you to call home.

What Are the Advantages of Living Off-Campus as a Grad Student?

With burdens such as a heavy work-load, the pressure to figure out your life, and a limited budget, being a graduate student can be extremely difficult, which is why the last thing grad students should have to worry about is finding safe and affordable housing. Keep reading to discover some of the biggest advantages of having off campus housing as a grad student.

1. Lower Living Costs

Housing options for college students can seem limited, especially considering financial limitations. Bestcolleges.com, along with other experts in finance, suggests that your monthly post-tax income should be used on no more than 30% of your monthly rent and utilities. This may seem like a difficult task, but luckily, finding apartments near college can help you come closer to this guideline, as many off campus housing options are significantly cheaper than university-based options. Aside from the costs of housing alone, many universities also make students living on campus buy a meal plan, which can add thousands of dollars to your budget. Living in one of the many apartments near college can help you save money on things like food and rent.

2. Greater Independence as an Adult

Another big benefit of living off-campus is the ability to become more independent, responsible, and mature. After all, as an undergrad, you already lived the college life. Graduate school is about going off on your own as an adult and adding to your educational experience. Off campus apartments near college can be a great way to transition from living in a dorm on campus to living in real post-university housing.

3. Meet Your Preferences

Lastly, a notable benefit of off-campus housing as a graduate student is the ability to customize your search to find an apartment that matches your preferences. Whether you value having space, living with friends, or having your own bathroom, there are apartments near college that can meet your needs. Unlike university housing, you usually have more control and can choose things like who to room with or where you want to stay. You may even be able to decide whether or not you want your apartment to be lively and surrounded by fellow students or more relaxed and peaceful. Having a living place that caters to your preferences can make a huge difference, especially depending on how strong of preferences you have.

Choosing a place to live can be an important decision, especially as a graduate student. Make sure to do your research and take all of your needs into consideration before making a decision, as you will spend a significant amount of time at your apartment and will want it to be comfortable and preferable. Off-campus apartments near college are often the best budget-saving, independence-inducing, and personalized option. Happy apartment hunting!