<p>A couple of housing-related questions: </p>
<p>Brief background: I'm a transfer student. I'll be a junior if I accept the offer, and I am an international student, though I am transferring from another US college. Never been to Houston before, most likely will not be able to visit before August. Even if I am, it would have to be over a long weekend. </p>
<p>1) Off-Campus Housing - I have read the guide from Rice, started to familiarize myself with the offers. However, nothing beats first-hand accounts. If you have been through it or know someone who has, could you share some down-to-earth details? Which neighborhoods to look for? What should I aim for if I want to spend, say, $800 on rent a month. $1000? Are those reasonable or too much/little for something simple close to the school? </p>
<p>Also, can the deals be done over-the-phone? Or via some website? As I wrote above, I might not be able to visit. </p>
<p>2) Residential system - if I live off campus, am I still technically a part of some college? I read somewhere on this forum that someone moved off-campus and kept doing things with her house. I'm not sure if she was formally a part of it or if that was done because she knew people in the house already. </p>
<p>Any other thoughts on housing will be most appreciated.</p>
<p>Hey I was wondering, when did you get the off-campus housing guide or are you just reading that off of the website? Are you talking about the separate packet that should come with the housing info and transfer orientation schedule? I only got the fin aid/transfer eval/acceptance letter packet.</p>
<p>Kvasek, </p>
<p>Housing for transfers is limited, although as an international, you would have priority over domestic students (although not athletes or special needs transfers). I would definitely plan for an off campus apartment.</p>
<p>As far as prices go, they really vary depending on if you want to share a bedroom, distance from campus, and the quality of the apartment. For top end studio apartments, very close to campus you should expect to pay close to $1400/month. For low end, shared bedrooms, varying distances you can expect as low as $400 a month. It varies GREATLY depending on what you want. I would budget $800-1000 plus food to be on the safe side. </p>
<p>3 of my friends are moving off next year, each with their own bedrooms in a super swanky apartment a mile from campus for $725/mo each + utilities. However they saved $ by getting a 3 bedroom apartment, which I don’t know if you’ll be able to do or not being a transfer student. </p>
<p>My advice: look around!</p>
<p>Also, to answer your third question, yes you still get placed in a residential college and will go to o-week (not sure if you have to, but I know there were transfers there when I was a freshman) where you will live on-campus for the week. So, this should let you bond with some of the people in your residential college and get excited about being a part of your college.</p>
<p>I have friends that were incoming transfers this year and lived off-campus. One of them lives in a 1 bath 1 bedroom apartment for $1000/month, and they say it is very decent. It is also located on the light rail and about a 10 minute ride from campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. </p>
<p>On a related note, what does ‘efficiency’ apartment mean? Does that stand for studio?</p>
<p>If I accept the offer, I’ll provably get on the waitlist for on-campus housing but I’ll keep looking for an apartment simultaneously. I suppose that the vast majority of dorm rooms are doubles, correct? Should I get a double and not a single I’d probably get an apartment anyway.</p>
<p>There is a very very small chance that you would get a single. In my college, there are a few singles and there is a separate room draw for these rooms where only those with the highest number of points can participate. I don’t think we leave any for transfers. I think it is the same for all the colleges that have singles. Except maybe if you get put in Duncan or McMurtry where most rooms are singles.</p>
<p>I lived by myself for a semester in an apartment 2 miles away for $580/month. My own room, living room, kitchen, dining area, etc - $40/mo for utilities.</p>
<p>Just providing another price point for comparison.</p>
<p>God I wish I still lived in Houston. I am spending way too much for housing.</p>
<p>
Yes, an efficiency is the same thing as a studio. It’s a one-room apartment with living and dining area, bedroom and kitchen all in one large room. Sometimes the kitchen is separate.</p>
<p>Are you using this link to search for apartments? [Rice</a> University Off-Campus Housing and Entertainment](<a href=“http://listings.rice.edu/]Rice”>http://listings.rice.edu/) It’s a good way to find smaller garage apartments and roommates wanted.</p>
<p>My son stayed in a 4 plex on quinby street when he was living off campus. Its about 3 blocks from Rice behind Rice village. We paid for the whole year up front, as it was rather cheap and we got 10% off with pre-pay. The Res College experience is still there, although its a bit more vibrant when you live on campus. My son actually just rode his bike to school everyday and stayed on campus till his day was done. Part of the routine is everyone lives off-campus one year.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the answers. </p>
<p>Yet another question, though. I’ve been looking around to get a sense of what is available and I found several offers like this one: [url=<a href=“Welcome greatlandlords.com - BlueHost.com”>Welcome greatlandlords.com - BlueHost.com]GreatLandlords.com[/url</a>].</p>
<p>Are these prices for the whole house or just a room or, say, upper floor? I live in Boston right now and I’m used to studios going for 1200-1400/month. Houston is obviously different, and Rice is not in city center, but still 1250/month is hard to believe.</p>
<p>Yep - I’d assume that’s the whole thing. Welcome to Texas! Cheap rent, booming economy, and no state sales tax. It’s great.</p>
<p>Not to nitpick, but I think you mean no state income tax. I’m pretty sure I payed sales tax all the time when I lived in Texas.</p>
<p>Yeah, Dorian’s right. Houston has a 8.25% sales tax, but Texas has no income tax. The rest of the things silentsailor said are both awesome and true. ;)</p>
<p>blah blah blah I’m Dorian_Mode and I miss the lack of state income tax in Texas so much that it outshines my beautiful surroundings</p>
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