<p>Which places are the best and which places should be avoided? Are places like evanston place or park evanston overpriced or worth the cost?</p>
<p>All, or nearly all, off campus housing near south campus is overpriced. You get better deals west of north campus, probably Noyes and Ridge, or Colfax and Sherman, and the area directly southeast of that. THere are houses for rent up that way for reasonable amounts. Apartments will be $800-$1300 a month per person in downtown evanston, while the houses will probably be $400-$600 a person if you’re a bit farther away from campus.</p>
<p>Are there any places that should be avoided? I thought 800-900 per person is normal for evanston</p>
<p>Like most cities it’s location, location, location. The closer to campus and downtown Evanston the more expensive it is. My daughter lived in Evanston Place for two years after living further away (forget exactly where) and she was so much happier even though there were 5 girls sharing a 3 bedroom. They all loved to entertain and have company over so it worked well for their friends who lived up by North campus and Ridge. Evanston Place also has some amenities that are nice to have including a pool (outdoor but heated) which was a favorite gathering place. So there you have it - you can spend as much or as little as you like depending on your priorities. </p>
<p>Not too many places that should be avoided. Remember that renting a house requires responsibilities that renting an apartment does not. (Clearing snow and ice for one!)</p>
<p>My son and 2 friends rented a small 3-bedroom house this past year for $725 a month each, plus utilities (around $80/month). Sounds pricey, but even adding in the cost of groceries, it’s cheaper than an NU dorm and about the same cost as his fraternity room & board.
The place they rented was within a 10-minute walk to campus. They signed the lease in December, over 6 months before they moved in. Apparently the best places go quickly. They found it on Craigslist.</p>
<p>My son rented a studio at Clark St apts (right across from MAB) for $825 two years back. It was extremely convenient since he was a music major. We also had good experience dealing with the rental agency. When he left a quarter early they were very helpful in finding a sub-letter for the rest of his lease term.</p>