Yes. Safety is my biggest concern. I always hear about crimes coming from the apartments near campus and the ones off of Fletcher - vandalism, car robberies, theft. All things I would like to distance myself from. </p>
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I’ll be commuting via my car. The parking pass cost is not a concern. Although, the parking cost at my apartment complex is something to consider. </p>
<p>I’ll take this year to tour some of these apartment complexes. I found two more worth looking at that are fairly close - no more than twenty minutes. </p>
<p>When it comes to paying rent for an apartment, is taking out a loan to pay for rent unheard of? Do students do this? I know there’s sometime an income requirement in order to get a lease? What are those like? Or how is it generally handled?</p>
<p>Unless things are drastically different from NYC and Boston, most landlords will insist on a credit check and unless you’ve established a sufficient credit history which is unlikely for most undergrads, will insist on a co-signer with good credit(Usually a parent) to guarantee on-time rental payments and coverages for possible damages. </p>
<p>My first 2 years at USF-Tampa I lived on campus; my last 2 undergraduate years I lived with roommates in an off-campus private apartment complex on 50th St. across street from east side of campus by the athletic complex…paid under $600/mo. including utilities. Worked for me, never even had a car at USF the 4 years. Many USF graduate students like quieter places away from undergrad students and end up renting north of campus toward pricier Tampa Palms area. </p>
<p>I didn’t get co-signer on my leases…instead, prepaid a couple of months rent that was held in escrow and applied to my rent last couple of months of lease term…parents didn’t have to get names on lease or co-sign as guarantor.</p>
<p>DS lived off-campus during his gap year. I believe the rent for his studio costs him $875 a month. But he had income in that year.</p>
<p>He chooses to live in a dorm room (without roommate) now. He said it is cheaper to live on-campus. He has not had a car yet (will have our used car soon.)</p>
<p>He once raised a issue about being more “isolated” if he chooses to live off-campus, unless he moved out around the time most of his friends/classmates moved out. (Most of his classmates moved off-campus at the end of the first year or the beginning of the second year of grad school. The quality of the off-campus apartment tends to be better, e.g., have AC.)</p>
<p>In the event a cosigner is needed, I have one. And coming up with a couple months of rent shouldn’t be a problem. I’m just happy to learn to that I won’t be automatically turned away for not having a monthly income that can cover the rent, and that there are ways to show I can afford the place. </p>
<p>Yes, isolation is one concern; although, I do believe I will enjoy the added freedom. There are things I’ll miss from living on campus, but there isn’t a large upperclassmen presence within the dorms from what I have seen. Many people move off campus after their first year. I’ll add this to the list of things I’ll look out for this upcoming year.</p>
<p>Ugh, so much to think about and so much to weigh. I enjoy the conveniences that living on campus brings, but I feel like I can get more for my money off campus than what I’d be paying for on campus. For $900 a month, I could be getting a place that doesn’t require me to move in and out twice in the year, gives me free reign on who and what I can bring into my apartment, allows me to customize my area within reason…Hmm…</p>
<p>S1 just moved back home after two years of apartment living. His junior year apartment was shared with three other people - four bedrooms and two baths. It was $419 a month, all-inclusive, but a fairly long walk from campus (most of his classes were on the extreme other end.) His senior year he shared a three bedroom with two other guys - one room had a private bath and that kid paid a little more, but S1’s share was $340 a month plus utilities, and it was much closer to campus. Both were nice apartments in fairly new buildings, but the cost of living is notoriously low here and shouldn’t be used as a comparison to apartments in a big flagship town. </p>
<p>Most landlords I’ve dealt with and those of most people I know would be reluctant to agree the arrangement you had with your landlord if the renter is an undergrad, no/inadequate source of income, and/or has no/poor credit history. </p>
<p>Too risky for the landlord if the renter suddenly has rent issues and/or causes serious damage to the apartment unit. This is especially in rental markets with high demand and areas with strong tenant right laws as is the case in two NE urban areas I know of. </p>
<p>Anything is negotiable. I leased in Tampa by USF from a big national student housing property management company and they were willing to do more money up front instead of requiring my parents signing a guarantor addendum for my lease. My parents liked this arrangement because they weren’t on hook for several thousand dollars if things went sour with me and lease. My sister tried doing this in Tallahassee for apts. by FSU…no go, parents had to sign a guarantor addendum there with a different company.</p>
<p>This may be dependent on how hot the local rental market happens to be, how hard/easy it is to evict tenants for cause under local housing laws, and the prevalence of creditworthy renters who are competing to rent the same given apartment units. </p>
<p>This is impossible to answer depending on the location - being from Florida, rents are generally lower but not super low. For example, South Carolina is even lower…is it furnished? does it include utilities? How many bedrooms and roomates? Is it in a big city or a college town? Downtown or in the burbs? My kids need to find places around $500 inclusive, could go a little higher…</p>
<p>To answer one of your questions, about whether people borrow money to pay for an off-campus apartment, I believe that housing expenses are legit education expenses regardless of whether on- or off-campus.</p>
<p>Something that does not seem to have been addressed is meals. This actually was a big deal for one of my kids – she thought she wanted to live off-campus her senior year but after spending the summer after her sophomore year in her college town and living in an off-campus apartment, she changed her mind. Mostly because of the hassles of grocery shopping and preparing meals. Living off-campus does take more time and effort than living on-camous – the “pros” might be worth it to you, but as a parent I was quite happy that my daughter chose to live on campus all four years. </p>
<p>This is really a YMMV. While I missed some of the social aspects of going to the dining hall with friends and classmates or sometimes going to a midnight “4th meal” with same, that was offset by no longer worrying about having to set my mealtimes according to when the dining halls/4th meal area were operating or preparing meals which may not be appealing/gross out friends/dorm mates. </p>
<p>Whether shopping for groceries is a hassle depends on one’s inclination and how the supermarkets/grocery stores are located and their hours. 24/7 in a good nearby convenient location and having a decent selection at reasonable prices is the ideal. </p>
<p>DS is getting a meal plan even though he will be living off-campus this Fall. He didn’t think he would want one but changed his mind after having to cook for himself this summer. He is taking a ribbing from his friends for his this change :)</p>
<p>It sounds like the OP is planning on living off campus in a fairly nice apt, alone. That’s an expensive choice for a junior in college without a job, especially having to borrow the rent. I understand wanting to live alone, and wanting a nice starter apt., but it doesn’t sound like you are ready for it or can afford it. I think you need to set your budget at no more than what room and board would be at the university, and then take out how much you’ll be spending on food. I believe you can spend a lot less on food than with a meal plan (I can feed my family of 3 for six months on the cost of my daughter’s meal plan), so can pay a little more for the room.</p>
<p>The reality is that if you want to live alone, it’s not going to be that nice of a place. If you are willing to have roommates, you can split the cost of the ‘luxury’ kitchen found in 2 bedroom apts. A roommate and I shared a very nice 1 bedroom in college. Only one bedroom but it was huge so that worked for us.</p>
<p>I spent a year living at Lake Carlton Arms near Carrollwood while my house was being built. The apartments were large and inexpensive and I loved it so much I didn’t want to leave at the end of the lease, even for my new house! </p>
<p>They are probably too far from you to be a good option but I believe there is a Carlton Arms community nearby campus, further east on Fletcher (near Lettuce Lake Park). Don’t know what it’s rep is on campus or if it is considered one of the problem spots, but they tend to be well-managed. Even when I was going to USF 30 years ago the apartments right off campus ranged from rat’s nest to hell hole, I wound up commuting all the way from Gunn Highway.</p>
Thank you for weighing in, @MathildaMae. No one was answering that question! I’ll be borrowing either way if I live on or off campus. Just the thought of borrowing for off campus sounds weird. I wasn’t sure if it was done. </p>
<p>My school does have commuter meal plans. They have an array of customizable plans. I will add my meal plan in my estimated expenses. It would be nice to be able to use my dining dollars rather than my actual pocket money for meals. I don’t mind grocery shopping, though, as I already grocery shop during the school year. I love Target! </p>
<p>@twoinanddone </p>
<p>I am looking at one bedroom apartments and two bedroom apartments. If I go for a two bedroom apartment, I have a reliable suitor who is interest in living with me. I have limited myself to the cost of no more than what it would cost to rent on campus - $900 per month. The majority of apartments that I’m looking at most around $600 per month on my end. It’s a hard decision but either way I’m going to be borrowing for my housing. I will have a job, though. I didn’t have a job during my freshman school year. </p>
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I’m starting to feel that I’m not willing to live in a not nice place. “Nice” being a secure place that has non-outdated appliances, washer and dryer optional, one or two bedrooms, and the like. If I can’t find a nice place to live, I’m not going to be living in a run down place. Peace of mind is important. Many students are able to swing it, but I live my life differently and a questionable area is not desired. </p>
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Holy moly! That’s a commute! I don’t think I would have enough sanity for that!</p>
<p>I will take a look at Carlton Arms. I’m unsure if I have already checked them out. Thank you!</p>
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