Category: Blog

Contrary to traditional college life, more and more students decide to live away from their University campuses than before. It helps to build independence more than living on campus, and they do not have to abide by University housing rules. For example, students attending a dry campus can have alcohol in their off campus apartments while they would not be able to in on campus dorms. In fact, a New York Times article put the percentage of students living off campus at 87%. Also, 40.6% of renters in the U.S. are from ages 15-34. If you are looking to live off campus at your university, attached is a list of things to look for (Once you know the rent, security deposit, and what you can afford):

1. Parking

It cannot be overstated how important this one is. One of the first things that you should consider is how much parking is available. Is there off-street parking? Is there a garage provided, or does it cost extra? Will you have to park on the street? How secure is the parking lot (If the neighborhood is not the greatest)? Is there a parking garage nearby, and how much does that cost? You should call the property management company ahead of time to get the answers to these questions. The answers to these questions could help eliminate some of your options right away. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with an apartment, save parking questions for last, and end up stuck parking a block away every day. Remember to check parking first before even going into the apartment.

2. Proximity To The School

This might seem like a given, but it is also a give and take. While most student rental units are very close to the University, your budget, parking, and other factors might make finding an apartment adjacent to your University hard to do. If you cannot find an adjacent unit, you should find off campus housing options that have access to an expressway or other highway that will get you to the University.

3. Amenities

This one is not quite as important, but, especially if there are roommates, you may be able to afford student rentals with nice amenities. Is there a pool or hot tub? Do you have a pet? What is the square footage? Is there storage offered? Is there a washer and dryer in the unit, or is it shared (Does it cost money?)? Is there a garbage disposal? These are all questions that you should have answered before signing the lease for any off campus housing options.

4. Utilities

Some apartment complexes cover certain utilities making the rent more affordable. Research these questions: Do I have to pay for water? What about gas, internet, electricity, garbage disposal, snow removal (For rental houses)? These questions can be answered prior to your visit, and you can focus on finding the right space for you and your roommates, if you have them.

These and other questions that are on your mind should be answered before considering signing a lease for off campus housing options, so you can have a more fun and enlightening experience at University.

For many students, senior year sneaks up on you. All of a sudden you’re preparing yourself for ingress into the ‘real world,’ while also trying to balance your thesis, internships, and living your best life. Throw a beloved pet into the mix, and the entire affair may become overwhelming. Just by having a sweet dog, or cat, or bearded dragon, finding a pet friendly apartment becomes a herculean task. With so many factors to consider, your pet becomes the primary point of focus for any landlords or student housing authorities, and you find yourself making a pros and cons list. To save you the trouble, here’s one already built.

The Cons

– It’s an unfortunate reality of student housing: pet friendly apartments are not included in your tuition. If you’re looking to roll out of bed at 8:20 for your 8:30 class, you may only find leniency from the student housing department if your pet is a service animal.

– Chances are, if you’re hunting for a pet friendly student apartment, your animal’s main service is less medical and more communal. In this case, you may go the clandestine route of making your student housing unofficially “pet friendly” student housing. However, a pet friendly student apartment must come with pet friendly students. The bond you share with your roommate or roommates must be a bond sealed in puppy nose kisses. You need to be able to depend on them to cover your secret cat or parakeet if your residence advisor comes busting in, or to keep their mouths shut even if all their shoes get chewed through.

– Often, campus housing is the easiest option to ascertain where you’re going to be spending your college years. Finding a pet friendly apartment on your own can be an expensive and time consuming endeavor, especially if your campus is situated in the Finger Lakes region New York and the closest city is an hour away. Student housing, even if the rooms needed upgrades in the 80s and the showers are reminiscent of prison bathrooms, is usually the safest of your housing options.

The Pros

– Most colleges these days offer off campus housing, which is usually only available to upperclassmen. If you’re a senior with a pet, living off campus may be the best option to both keep the cost in your tuition, keep close proximity to your classes, and make your home a pet friendly apartment without a pesky residence advisor barging in at a moment’s notice.

– The real estate market has never been more saturated by younger generations than it is now. Just three years ago, 65% of real estate belonged to renters aged 35 and younger, and the number has only gone up since then. By 2017 around 43 million housing units were renter-occupied. Since commercial real estate has become an unavoidable aspect of independent living, finding a pet friendly apartment may be a great way to get a jump on the real world. Rental units for students are an overlooked sector of the rental market that may be a good place to start for seniors who want to lower the cost of college and are looking for pet friendly housing options that they won’t have to vacate come summer.

– Finding a pet friendly apartment can be daunting. If you know you’ll need to find pet friendly housing you need to hit the real estate market early, and know exactly what it is you’re looking for. But the pay-off is immeasurable. Student housing tends to be overpriced at universities, and often barely meet the qualifications to be student friendly, let alone pet friendly. By looking into the rental option you set yourself and your pet up for success by making a fiscally sound decision.

As a college student, you may have a lot of housing options in the Newark, DE area. You probably are sick of dorm life, so renting one of the off-campus apartments could be a good choice for your lifestyle and needs as a student. Off-campus housing may be your first venture into the world of rental properties, but we can help you narrow down your housing options.

In 2016, 87% of college students lived off campus, according to the New York Times. Sharing a bathroom with an entire floor and eating cafeteria food can only last for so long, so you might be looking to rent your first apartment.

First and foremost, you must decide on a budget. This could be your first foray into paying bills on your own, which could get confusing, but if you do the right research, you will be able to find your dream apartment and afford it too. According to financial experts, your rent and utility bills should be no more than 30 percent of your monthly income (after tax). Finding your budget and sticking to it will be the most essential part of finding a space for lease.

After the budget, choosing the location of where you want to live is also important. There are many student rental units around the University of Delaware, so you must decide where you want to be close to. Whether it’s closer to the library for late night study sessions or closer to the nightlife for late night drinks is entirely up to you.

In your list of housing options, you’ll also need to consider roommates…and that includes roommates with four legs, too. Pet-friendly apartments are available in this area, but you have to address that in your search from the get-go. Other not so furry roommates will be taken into consideration in the form of how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need.

As a full-service property management company, we can help provide you with the housing options that meet all of your above needs. We have worked with the local Newark area and the University of Delaware and can help you make that next big move in your life.

For more information on off-campus housing options, give us a call or visit us online!

Renting your first off campus apartment during college can be incredibly exciting. You’re finally going to be living in a space that’s truly your own; for many students, this represents a first real taste of freedom. But are you actually ready to be living off campus? Use these five tips to rent your first off campus apartment.

1. Figure out your roommate situation: Before you start actively looking for an off campus apartment, you’ll need to know how many people will be living in the apartment. Whether you’re living by yourself, with your best friend, or a group of students, knowing how many people will be living with you is essential to your search.
2. Know what you can afford: Once you know who will be living with you and what size apartment you need, get your budget set and stick to it. According to financial experts, your monthly rent and utility bills should be no more than 30% of your monthly net income. Make sure you’re taking into account everyone’s incomes when calculating this.
3. Create a shopping list: You need to make sure your off campus housing options have everything you’ll need. Sit down with your roommates and make a list of what everyone needs. Do you need to find pet friendly student apartments? How important is the size of the kitchen? This will make sure you’re organized when you start visiting apartments.
4. Have a timeline: Make sure you start your search early enough to give yourself time before the semester starts. Otherwise, you might end up scrambling to find off campus housing a week before the semester starts. Living off campus takes planning, and planning takes time, so give yourself a bit more time than you think you need just in case.
5. Be willing to walk away: Unless your semester starts tomorrow and you need to secure housing immediately, remember that there’s always going to be another apartment. If the one you’re looking at doesn’t suit your needs or is outside your budget, be willing to walk away and look at other student housing.

Looking for student housing options near the University of Delaware? Contact Lang Development Group for more information on University of Delaware off campus housing.

The Rental Protection Agency estimates that more than 2,600 people enter the rental market every day in search of a place to live. In fact, every 80 seconds, a new unit is rented.

That’s especially true if you’re a college student. A New York Times article from 2016 found that nearly 90% of college students live off campus. What’s more, it’s estimated by the Rental Protection Agency that people aged 15-34 represent more than 40% of renters in the United States.

If you’re a college student, there are plenty of benefits to living off campus and opting to live in apartments for students. Perhaps the biggest among these is the freedom that comes with living in apartments for students. For many college students, going away to school represents the first time he/she is on their own and with no one telling you what to do, you get to take charge of your life.

Other benefits of renting an off-campus apartment include:

• The chance to have real world experience. Again you’re on your own, living on your own and you get to make adult decisions.
• You can develop a rental history, which will help you once you graduate and might be looking to rent a place in a new city.
• Apartments for students are sometimes cheaper to rent than paying to stay in university housing.
• You’ll have more space to study, more peace and quiet and hopefully fewer distractions.
• You get your own bathroom and get to make your own meals.

Of course, there are also some things to be mindful of if you’re leaning toward living off campus and living in apartments for students:

• While it can be cheaper at times, living off-campus can be more expensive too, since you’ve got to pay for utilities, groceries, appliances, etc.
• Living off-campus means you have to do chores, including cleaning the bathroom and shopping for food.
• You’re away from campus, which likely means you’ll need to make sure you have a way to get to classes.
• If you sign a year-long lease, you’re likely going to have to find someone to sublet with you.

Still, if you’re looking into living in apartments for students or other off-campus housing options, it’s important to keep these tips in mind.

• Keep a budget: Many campuses across the country can be off the mark when estimating the cost of living off-campus. If you’re living off-campus, it’s very important to create a budget and stick to it since there’s a lot of new costs for college students living on their own. Not only do they have to pay rent, move-in fees, and utilities, but there’s also the costs of food, Internet/TV, laundry services and perhaps even parking. If a student has a pet and can find pet-friendly apartments, they’ll have to factor in any pet fees they incur when they move in as well as the cost of pet care.
• Do some research: Rental companies offer plenty of options when it comes to apartments for students and off-campus housing. But it’s important for students to wade through all the options and find the perfect living situation for their needs. When looking at apartments for students, consider the size of a place and make sure to do a walkthrough before signing off on anything. The last thing a student needs is surprises after they’ve already agreed to lease terms. Other things to keep in mind include the amenities a complex offers, location relative to campus and how long a lease is for.
• BYO: If you’re renting an apartment, it’s very beneficial to bring your own items from home. If you can bring appliances, furniture, and other apartment essentials, it’ll make things easier in the long run. Keep in mind the size of the apartment and if you live with roommates, try to avoid having duplicate items, especially appliances.
• Keep things fair If you’re living with roommates, keep things fair. Split bills, share the apartment space and be respectful. It’s going to be a nightmare if you don’t.

Renting an off-campus apartment comes with plenty of benefits, but you want to be sure to take time to create a budget and consider your options. For University of Delaware students, Lang Development Group can help you find the perfect off-campus housing opportunity.

Owning a house with a white picket fence is a dream for many, but a new study by Freddie Mac claims that nearly 80% of renters find that renting is a more affordable option. This sentiment is shared by renters spanning every generation, but this opinion has only increased in the last six months.

Among renters, seniors have become the fastest growing members in the market, but renters from each generation, from Millennials to Gen Xers, have begun to think that renting is more affordable than buying a home. In fact, nearly 72% of renters in 2014 were Millennials. This is in spite of rising rental costs that would lead people to think otherwise.

But why would people choose to rent than buy?

Flexibility

One popular reason people choose to rent instead of buy is the need for flexibility. Some people can’t imagine staying in one place longer than a year while others have to move constantly for work. Buying a house in a single location is an investment that many people simply don’t have time for.

But the need for flexibility is not limited to working professionals. Many parents prefer to downsize after their children leave the nest and older folks may prefer temporary living when they travel in their retirement. The need for flexible housing has become a desirable trait in an ever-fluctuating market.

The costs

Owning a home comes with a lot of extra costs that simply aren’t associated with renting. Owning a home results in the need for home insurance, fluctuating utility bills, home maintenance and upkeep, and a potential decrease in your property’s value.

By comparison, countless renters prefer to have a fixed rate for their utilities. On top of that, they won’t lose out on an investment by suffering from decreasing property values. And when something is broken in their home, they can rely on their landlord to get a maintenance technician to fix the problem promptly. Paired with lower insurance costs, renting has become a more affordable option despite the recent surge in rental prices. This is particularly popular among students.

There are countless reasons to choose to rent a home. When you want to check out pet-friendly student housing options in Delaware, contact the development group you can trust. At Lang Development Group, we offer the best Newark student housing available. Contact us today for a tour of our Newark student housing options.

Living in off campus apartments often seems like temporary housing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t craft the perfectly cozy college apartment of your dreams! Make the most of your time living off campus — follow these tips and tricks to make living off campus all the more enjoyable.

 

Get a coffee table

 

For some reason, college students never seem to get a coffee table. This is a simple addition that many college students seem to overlook. When it comes to relaxing on the couch or playing a game of cards with your friends, nothing beats the convenience and simplicity of a great coffee table.

 

By an affordable new coffee table or see what you can find at your local second-hand shop. You’d be surprised what a new layer of paint can do for an old piece of furniture.

 

Light it up with lamps

 

Delaware student housing options will usually provide a ceiling light in each room, but buying the lamps is up to you. An easy way to craft a cozy room is with strategic lighting.

 

If you’re not a fan of overhead lighting, using table lamps or standing lamps can add dimension and ambiance. After all, even the best student housing in Delaware doesn’t suit every mood. Lamps and other forms of lighting are often less harsh than the overhead light and make the room seem cozier since the light is concentrated in one area. Try accenting doorways with fun string lights or turning on a floor lamp when you’re watching your favorite movie.

 

Craft a color scheme

 

One of the worst parts of owning your own place is filling it with all the goods you’ve accumulated over the years. Oftentimes, you chose what looked cute or functional instead of opting for a cohesive design.

 

When you want to make the most of your student housing, think about choosing a simple color scheme consisting of two or three colors that complement each other. This can range from your throw rugs to the decorations on your wall to the colors of your lamp shades. It will create a cohesive space that looks more put-together than your old on campus housing.

 

When in doubt, always choose furniture that matches or — at the very least — get furniture covers that are the same color. This takes up the brunt of your living room and mismatched furniture will always look cheap.

 

Off campus apartments are beautiful, but they’re even better when you seek to add your own personal flair. According to the New York Times, 87% of students choose to live in off campus apartments. Gain ideas from your friends or rely on these tips when you want to make your off campus housing a home.