Category: Blog

Are you considering an off-campus apartment? You aren’t alone. According to the New York Times, 87% of college students live off-campus. One of the major benefits of these student rentals is that they can be made into your own space. With the right decorations, it can be your place of rest in a hectic college world. It may even seem like a home away from home. Here are some design ideas for your off-campus housing.

Cotton Bending

Your bed is one of the most crucial elements of your space. You will likely spend between 7-and 9 hours a day sleeping. A little investment can go a long way with your bed. Consider investing in some high-quality cotton bedding. Better sleep means that you will have more energy and productivity. You can use pillows to add some color to your space as well.

Paint

According to The Yellow Brick Road, painting student rentals can add another element of personalization and expression. However, make sure to check with your landlord first. Also, consider using non-VOC paint for a healthier option. Better Homes and Garden says that VOCs cause headaches, skin irritation, and respiratory irritation for as long as several years after painting. This is plenty of reason to choose non-VOC paint.

Art

Art pieces are a great way to express yourself and spruce up your rental. They liven up walls and are perfect if you have empty wall space. Make sure to ask your landlord before nailing anything to the wall. Instead, consider using command hooks to hang your art. They will not cause damage to the walls and are easy to remove once you are ready to move out.

Lighting

Lighting can be used to create a cozy space for late-night studying. According to Wharton Rentals, desk or floor lamps are great for smaller spaces such as student rentals. However, there are other options if you want to get more creative. Consider twinkle or fairy lights for a mystical vibe. You could also use color-changing LEDs for another fun option to complement your traditional lights.

DIY Decorations

DIY handcrafted decorations are a cost-efficient way to give your space a personalized touch. Sometimes, it can be hard to find the decoration that you are looking for. This allows you to make exactly what you have in mind.

Plants

Plants can be used to make a space look natural and more welcoming. The green of the plants also acts as an accent color for the rest of your room. According to Wharton Rentals, succulents are a good choice because of their resilience. Other plants to consider are ZZ plants, Pothos plants, snake plants, and ferns. For more information, contact us today!

Living in an apartment off-campus is such a bold step that requires one to have all the necessary information regarding rental units for students around the area. According to BestColleges.com and other financial experts, your monthly rent and utility bills should represent no more than 30% of your monthly net (after-tax) income. Rental units for students require that you have a provable and steady income to enjoy this kind of off-campus living.

Here are a few ways in which a student could afford an apartment.

Getting a Roommate

Living with a friend, or a schoolmate can impact positively your monthly rental expenses, which is a good thing. Utilities such as electricity, gas, water bills, and even the internet will be reduced by half the amount you would pay while living alone. This makes renting quite affordable. The key importance here is building some level of trust with your roommate.

Find a Cosigner

Rental units for students require one to have a steady amount of income, which at times may not be the case for college students. Therefore, one may opt to get a cosigner, a third party who is in a better financial position to cosign the lease with you. This can be a parent or any other person.

Keep Track of Other Utilities

Rent is simply a small portion of the total cost of living in an apartment. Water, gas, electricity, and internet usage all need to be accounted for to avoid waste and big bills.

Prioritize the Living Location

Living closer to college, or to amenities such as a hospital, grocery stores, and shopping centers eases the burden of commuting and saves you money. Rental units for students should come alongside ease of convenience for facilities, so as to minimize costs and save on time.

College is exciting and a great time to make memories with friends. Lang development group offers a variety of rental units for students in Delaware, based on their budget and specification.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

There are several reasons why renting is more feasible for Americans right now than buying. For one thing, many millennials are younger and not quite sure about where they want to live for the long term. People are taking longer to find their permanent careers. Real estate prices are also rising, meaning that many people are priced out of the areas they would want to buy in, even in the best of circumstances. But the biggest issue is that many Americans are dealing with student loans, whether they’re still studying or out of school.

Student loans can be financially crippling; but if you play your cards right, renting can still be an option for you. As of 2016, about 65% of households led by people under 35 rented, compared to 57% in 2006. Most of the real estate for students is made up of rentals, a few current students or students fresh out of college can afford to buy. With that being said, let’s look into how you can balance that rent with paying off your student loans.

1. Get A Roommate

In some cases, you may be better off looking at real estate for students with multiple bedrooms, rather than one. A single-bedroom apartment may be difficult for you to afford. But if you rent one with multiple bedrooms and split it with a roommate, the rent may be more affordable. Some landlords offer rental apartments by the bedroom outright. In other cases, you may want to sublet an apartment.

2. Stream, Rather Than Paying for Cable

It’s understandable if you want entertainment in your apartment. You don’t necessarily have to give this up just because you’re managing student loans. Essentially everyone today has to purchase internet packages, especially if you work from home. It may be less expensive for you to pay for streaming services on top of that, compared to paying for cable.

3. Take Public Transportation

Rather than buying a car and making payments on it (along with the cost of gas and insurance, as well as parking permits), you could take public transportation. You can typically buy passes for public transportation, and take buses or metros depending on where you live.

Cutting costs takes an effort. But if you’re careful, you can pay for an apartment while balancing student loans.

There are two different options you can take when attending college. You can either live on campus, in a student dormitory; or you can live off-campus, either at home with your family (commuting) or in one of the apartments near college. While in the past it was more common for university students to live on campus, there are many downsides that have forced them to rethink this in recent years. For one thing, student dorms are often small and uncomfortable, while costing as much or more than fully-fledged apartments near college. For another, they come with restrictions that you won’t have to observe in your own apartments, like dry campuses or curfews.

For many college students, their college apartment is their first rental. According to Trulia, the share of households that rent jumped from 36.1% in 2006 to 41.1% in 2014, with 71.6% of millennials renting that year. If you’ve never rented before, however, you may be uncertain about how to save money during your apartment hunt. With that being said, let’s look into how you can do so.

1. Choose An Apartment Near Campus

There are pros and cons to choosing an apartment near your campus. But while apartments near college will come with certain price expectations, you’ll also be able to save money that you would spend on commuting. You may find that there isn’t a big difference between an apartment near college and an apartment a twenty-minute drive from the college. But if you’re able to walk to school, you can save money on gas. Additionally, if you can use public transportation and otherwise walk to grocery stores, you don’t even have to pay for a car.

2. Eat At Home

This may seem simple, but one of the biggest mistakes college students make is eating out too much. While you may not be used to cooking for yourself, doing so will ensure that you save a good amount of money each month.

3. Find A Good Landlord

Ask questions of other students, and look online for advice about the best landlords. A good landlord will offer reasonable rent prices, often bundling in utilities for tenants. Additionally, they’ll be less likely to raise prices an extreme amount.

Tread carefully. Many apartments aren’t as good as they may seem, but there are hidden gems out there! Contact us today with any questions.

One dilemma that most students aren’t often prepared to face is whether they should stay in the dorm or look for an off-campus apartment. Most students now understand that off campus housing has many perks. According to a New York Times article, approximately 87% of students have lived off-campus since 2016. Here are the top three reasons why you might want to consider renting an apartment off-campus, too.

1. You Get to Choose Your Roommate

Your roommate plays a significant role in the quality of your school experience. Living off-campus in your room makes it possible for you to choose your preferred roommate. If you want to stay with your partner, colleagues, or friends, you can do that at off-campus apartments. You’ll have independent control over your living situation. One, two, or three roommates? It’s up to you. If you desire to live alone, that’s your choice, too.

2. Amenities Make Your Campus Life Easier

Renting your apartment comes with amenities like a full-size kitchen and a full-sized fridge, which isn’t comparable to a dorm-sized mini-refrigerator that barely holds a gallon of milk. An off-campus room has a spacious cabinet shelf. It also has private luxuries like an oven, microwave, dishwasher, bathroom, and Wi-Fi.

There are other amenities designed for your convenience and comfort. These include:

• Pool areas with BBQs and spas
• Study labs with Wi-Fi, printers, and computers to get your assignments finished and ready
• Exercise rooms with modern equipment
• Study rooms with tables equipped with USB hookups to charge your devices

3. Living Near the Goods And Services You Want

If your university or college is located within a major metropolitan city, you’ll want to take advantage of that area’s offerings. Living in off campus housing makes it easy to access amenities like bars, shops, restaurants, and mass transit. Be sure to find a rental near your school, but not so close that you’re surrounded by faculty and students. It’s fun to take in the local experiences. If you prefer specific goods and services, then off campus housing will fit you.

Living outside of the campus gives you the freedom to choose your roommate and access near goods and services. It also provides you with better amenities to make your campus life easier. Save the dorm fantasies for Hollywood movies and choose off-campus living.

You are about to start or finish another year of school. Some of you might not get a dorm. But, you are still going to need a place to live. This is where you are going to need to look for an apartment. But you can’t dive into your apartment search blindly. So, keep these five things in mind when looking for your dream apartment.

1. Location, Location, Location

As a college student, you want to be near everything you need. Sure, driving and taking the bus can be easy to do. But please don’t have to go or ride for more than thirty minutes. Sometimes, it is hard to find a lease space close to campus. And if you do find a place close to campus, you will be away from other places you need. So think about how you want to drive anywhere. If the answer is yes, try to go for places that are a short driving distance from where you need to be. If you are not driving, maybe look for something within walking distance.

2. Pricing in Your Budget

College students aren’t the wealthiest people in the world. They have to pay for tuition, books, food, and other expenses. Plus, there is shopping to look into. You will want to find an apartment that is on your budget. You might get something small and not fancy. If you don’t have much money to work with, you might have to make sacrifices. One of the things you can do is look for a space for lease within your budget. That will take you sitting down and looking at how much you have in fiances.

3. Safety is Key

We all want to feel safe on and off-campus. Ideally, everyone wants to live in a safe neighborhood. Sometimes, you have to do the best you can. But, you shouldn’t have to do that when it comes to your health and safety. Try and look for an apartment in the safest part of that town. You can even use reviews about your apartment choices to see what they say about the safety of the building. You can learn so much from reading reviews about a place or product.

Nowadays, approximately thirty-three percent of renters move each year. Some of them get lucky with the right place, others will not. If you follow these five things to look for, everything will go well with your search for a new home.

According to the Rental Protection Agency, somewhere around 2,654 individuals are looking for rental properties to satisfy their need for affordable housing. With statistics like these, it is easy to see why more people are in the market for a rental property, especially apartments. One of the most prolific target groups for apartments is college students, but a surprising niche market is those looking for pet friendly student apartments. Students looking for the companionship of a pet can find it difficult at times to locate an apartment that will allow them to have pets. If this is a situation you are dealing with, here are some things you can do to make the search easier.

Check With Local Realtors

Finding pet-friendly student apartments can be a unique experience, especially in cities that might not be used to this kind of amenity. You can check online to see what local listings you can find to check out before your big move. If you can find a realtor to talk to, they can also provide help and guidance. With their help, you can find the perfect apartment without a lot of extra stress and hassle.

Get Help From Family and Friends

If you have friends or family who live in the area you will be moving to, you could ask them to keep an eye out for available apartments. With their recommendations, you may have an easier time locating pet-friendly student apartments in the area you are moving to. You can also tap into your classmates and friends attending the same college to see what they may have found in their searches.

Drive Around to Check Things Out

If you are moving out of town for school, you will be making a few visits to the campus ahead of your move. Use this time to drive around the local area and see what vacancies you may be able to find. If you find a place that looks promising, you can always swing by to talk to someone about their pet policy and see if it is an option that will be available to you at that particular location.

Find Pet Friendly Student Apartments Today

If you are preparing to move out for college, you know that finding an apartment can be a challenging proposition. Finding a pet-friendly place can make the search even more difficult at times. However, with these tips in mind, you can be better prepared to find the apartment setup that is right for you and your furry companion!

Rental properties are still in high demand in the new year. In fact, according to recent surveys of new college students, in the U.S., a new unit gets rented out every 80 seconds and a new renter moves into their new place every 30 seconds. With statistics like these, it is easy to see why apartment rentals are in such high demand today. But what can a new student do to make the search for a nearby apartment easier and less stressful? Read on to find out!

Talk to Your Fellow Classmates

If you are moving out of town or out of state to attend college and have friends who are going to the same college, it might be worth checking in with them. See if they have found any good spots to look into for yourself. You may also have the option to become roommates with some of your friends, at least initially. It can give yourself more time to look for a more convenient college apartment.

Check Online Listings and Websites

Before you make your big move to your new campus you should check out online listings for that area. Also, consider browsing real estate websites and classifieds to see what might be available for a quick and affordable move-in option. If you are not moving into on-campus dorms this might be a way to find the perfect apartment without a lot of hassle and running around ahead of your big move.

Browse Real Estate Magazines

If online searches are not giving you the results you want, it may help to find some real estate pamphlets and magazines to look through. It can be time-consuming and feel a little outdated, but there can be some good listings in those pamphlets at times. Some real estate agents specialize in rental properties and apartments, so that may be another option worth considering.

Drive Around and Check the Area Personally

You can help make the search for the perfect college apartment easier by doing some leg work yourself. When you go to visit the campus take time to drive around the local area. Look for apartments that are listing vacancies and talk to a few places if possible. Some places will offer discounts and specials to new college students moving in the area, so it is worth checking out those options as well.

Get the Apartment That is Right For You

While the debate over the merits of renting vs owning a home continues, for college students the best option almost always is finding a college apartment to rent. With these tips in mind, you will be better prepared to take this task head-on and find the apartment that is right for you!

It seems like every year, apartments near college areas are in high demand. With the cost of rent skyrocketing in many areas, it’s hard to find a place that is both affordable and close enough to campus. This is why it’s important to ask the right questions when choosing a roommate. By doing so, you can make sure that you are compatible with one another and avoid any potential conflicts down the road. Below are five important questions to ask a potential roommate.

1. What Are Your Living Habits?

This is a question that can help you determine whether or not you are compatible with your potential roommate. Do they like to keep the place clean and tidy, or do they prefer to live in a mess? Do they like to party all night long, or are they more of a homebody? It’s important to know these things before moving in together.

2. What Are Your Sleeping Habits?

This question is important to ask if you’re a light sleeper. Some people like to keep the house quiet and dark when they sleep, while others are fine with a little noise and light. It’s important to know what your potential roommate’s sleeping habits are so that you can both compromise on what is the best living situation for you.

3. What Are Your Pet Peeves?

It’s important to know what your potential roommate’s pet peeves are before moving in together. This way, you can avoid doing anything that may irritate them. For example, if they hate it when people leave their clothes lying around, make sure to put your clothes away after changing.

4. How Do You Feel About Sharing?

Some people are okay with sharing everything, while others prefer to keep certain things private. It’s important to find out how your potential roommate feels about sharing these items so that there are no disagreements down the road. For example, if one person is okay with splitting food expenses evenly, but the other prefers to pay for the bulk of the food, there could be a potential conflict.

5. How Do You Deal With Conflicts?

Conflicts are bound to arise. But it is important to find out how your potential roommate plans on dealing with these conflicts before moving in together. If one person prefers to communicate and work through the conflict while the other likes to ignore and avoid it, there could be a problem. Be sure that you and your potential roommate are on the same page when it comes to dealing with conflicts.

About one-third of all renters move each year. If you’re one of the thousands of college students out there who will be looking for apartments near college areas this year, be sure to ask your potential roommates these important questions. By doing so, you can avoid any potential conflicts and make sure that you are compatible with one another. If you are looking for apartments near college areas, call us today, and we will help you find the perfect place!

If you plan to live in an off campus apartment, you will have to put down a security deposit. It is unlikely that you can avoid it. Therefore, you want to do everything you can while living there to ensure you will get your money back once the lease ends. Review these tips to place yourself in an excellent position to get your security deposit back when living in an off campus apartment.

#1 — Review the Lease

This may seem silly to you, but most people do not read the lease before signing it. In 2016, roughly 27% of Americans rented their home and a portion of them did not read the lease. The lease provides you with the rules for living in your rented apartment. In addition, it tells you what you are responsible for upon leaving.

#2 — Document

Before you move in, walk around the apartment and look at everything. If there is any damage, document it in writing and take pictures. Often, the landlord gives you a document on which to do this. If not, create your own. You should give a copy to your landlord and keep one for yourself.

#3 — Understand the Rules

When living in an off campus apartment, follow the rules. This includes how long you are staying in the apartment. If you try to leave early and break the lease, you might give up your right to your security deposit. Also, there are rules about how many people can live in the space. For example, you want to be careful not to let your best friend move in if that is not allowed.

#4 — Know Your Landlord

If you can, establish a rapport with your landlord. Maintaining a pleasant relationship can help you substantially while living in the off campus apartment and when it is time to move out. For example, you could ask your landlord to do a walkthrough with you to ensure you fixed everything that might prevent you from getting your deposit back.

#5 — Clean

When you are ready to leave and remove your possessions, give the apartment a deep and thorough cleaning. You want it to look like it has not been lived in. Remove any stains on the carpet, wall scuffs, clean the windows and baseboards.

With these five tips, you will be much more likely to get back your security deposit. In addition, you’ll have a much better experience both as you live in the apartment and when it comes time to move out.