<p>I'm thinking of possibly getting an apartment for next year, but I'm not exactly sure of how the process of getting an apartment works. I know that I have to sign a lease, but that's just about it. How can I search for potential housing candidates? How would this impact my aid? What if something comes up after I sign the lease?</p>
<p>Parent here.</p>
<p>Relatively few Cornell undergraduates live alone, so you start by finding roommates. Once you have a group of people who would like to live together, you will know what size of apartment you are looking for. In most (but not all) student apartments in Ithaca, the number of people equals the number of bedrooms. </p>
<p>Most landlords in Ithaca will allow mixed groups (that is, groups that include people of both sexes) to share apartments. This may make it easier to find roommates. You have more people to choose from.</p>
<p>Once you have your group set up, you identify apartments of appropriate size from Cornell’s off-campus housing listings or landlords’ web sites. You call the property management people and set up an appointment to tour the apartment. If everyone likes it, you all sign a lease and give the landlord a rather large deposit. You might have to have your parents co-sign the lease; you might not. It depends on what the landlord requires. </p>
<p>Most of the good places for the following school year are gone by Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>My daughter graduated from Cornell last May. She lived for two years in an apartment run by this property management company, which I highly recommend. [Apartments</a> in Ithaca, NY: Student Apartments: Novarr-Mackesey](<a href=“http://www.ithacastudentapartments.com/]Apartments”>http://www.ithacastudentapartments.com/) These people are not slumlords. They take care of their buildings, and they handle repairs and financial matters in an honest, professional way. The downside of renting from them, though, is that many of their houses and buildings are not in the most sought-after locations. Some are a little far from campus or in areas other than Collegetown.</p>
<p>First, find out which of your friends would like to rent an apartment with you.
Then scope out apartments from different companies/landlords.
Ask to check out apartments that has the same number of bedrooms as the same number of your friends. (This is why you need to find out how many people want to live with you first. They also have to commit to living in an apartments that you eventually choose.)
Figure out the costs for living there like figuring out which utilities are included or not.
Narrow it down to a few choices.
Then decide on that one place you want to live and sign the lease with your friends.
You will have to pay for the first and/or last month rent plus any misc stuff.</p>
<p>As for finaid, they will always assume that you live on campus in a double and gave your money as though you still live on campus. Since you are not, there maybe credit left over in your NetPay, WHICH is REFUNDED to your bank account for use, like paying rent in the future.</p>
<p>You probably should ask the landlord if there is a penalty for breaking a lease, cause most likely, there is one, like losing the deposit (1-2 month’s rent).
Good apartments are gone before Thanksgiving Break, and usually all Apartments are gone before Spring Break.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions you should probably check here: <a href=“Identity Resources | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University”>Identity Resources | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University;
<p>If you can afford a studio/1 bedroom apartment, and don’t mind living alone, do it. Trust me - living alone has many perks that money simply can’t buy. Having your own kitchen, bathroom, shower, personal space…etc is worth way more than that extra few hundred dollars. Of course, if you find good friends you want to live with, that’s cool as well.</p>
<p>Good apartments to look at are Eddygate, 312, and Plaza.</p>
<p>Like what the others have said before, it’ll be a lot funner if you live together with friends.</p>
<p>Best apartments in Ctown are 312 College Ave, Collegetown Plaza, Eddygate</p>
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<p>Best from the point of view of the landlord’s wallet, but not the student’s. These are among the most expensive apartments available.</p>
<p>But they are the best. 312, for example, has its own gym, movie theater, silent study room, air conditioning…etc.</p>
<p>Is it too early to start calling up landlords, etc.? A friend and I want to share an apartment in Ctown next year…we’re not sure where to start either so this thread has been very helpful :)</p>
<p>Definitely not too early to call them up.</p>
<p>I’m most likely living alone since I’m not close enough with anyone at this place; and I wouldn’t mind finally having a room of my own either. I’ve heard of a few people I knew living at 312, but I’ll have to look into that. Also, with financial aid I’m not sure how I would be getting the actual money for rent. The numbers may get very confusing.</p>
<p>FinAid is based on the price of a double on campus and a certain meal plan…living in an apt you MAY be able to save some on Meals by cooking…but Cornell will not cover the additional costs of your high single rent. </p>
<p>Go to the FinAid section of the Cornell website to find out what the estimaed coverage is…then make a budget for youself based on what you expect to earn from summer/school year jobs and what your costs are for transportation to/from school, entertainment etc…</p>
<p>if you are a first year student please do not give up on the friends issue already - it is far too early to do that. roommates can drive you nuts…they can also be there when you REALLY REALLY need them.</p>
<p>@Islander4: Suppose you have X amount in Finaid and Y is the total cost of college without the cost of living in a double. If X is greater than Y, you will have financial aid leftover which will be Directly Deposited into your Bank Account through NetPay.</p>
<p>I’d be a junior next year, and I’ll definitely have to start looking into apartments very soon.</p>
<p>My daughter lived at 312 junior and senior years, but she did it through subletting. When you rent, lease is usually for a year from June to June. It is your responsibility to sublet your apartment. My daughter was able to sublet apartments for less than the market rate.</p>
<p>Does anyone have a monthly rent estimate for a 2-bedroom at Collegetown Plaza? The website says that prices for 2012-2013 won’t be up until late September…will give them a call anyway, but just wondering if anyone here has lived there/has an idea.</p>
<p>IIRC it’s around $900 a month.</p>
<p>Thanks swuster! I actually called this morning, and while the woman on the line was very friendly, she said she “couldn’t remember” enough to even give me an estimate…</p>
<p>What do you mean by subletting?</p>
<p>When you rent an apartment, it´s for a whole year, whether you are living there or not. A lot of juniors go study abroad, or do co-op for a semester, so they would sublet their apartment out. D1 has always been able to negotiate the price down.</p>