5 Affordable Student Housing Options

You are fresh off your freshman year of college and you are excited to move on to your sophomore year, and into housing that is not the dorms!  While the experience was great and you met a lot of amazing people, you would love to have your own space and share a bathroom with a few less people… Okay, like 20 less people.  The good news is that when you are looking to move out of the dorms, there are several options.

1. Move-in with friends

By the end of your freshman year, you will not be the only one looking for housing.  Chances are you made some friends that are also looking to rent a house or apartment, and it is always fun to live with someone you already know, rather than going and finding a random roommate.  Keep in mind that if you do decide to move in with friends, you will need to have clearly defined expectations not only as far as rent and utilities, but also your social lives. You may be more of a homebody, and you may have a friend that loves to invite other people over and throw loud parties.  Consider living with someone who is on the same wavelength with you as far as sharing responsibilities and being dependable and respectful.

2. Contact your school

If your friends have already found houses or apartments to rent, or maybe you and a friend are looking for a place, but have been unsuccessful, a great option is to contact your school.  A lot of times, people who are renting their homes or landlords will give your school first priority, knowing that they are likely to end up renting to students anyways. Your school will have information on all sorts of housing accommodations, and some more unique options such as large houses with several rooms so that you can invite all of your friends to live in one place!

3. Check message boards

If you are on social media, there will typically be message boards or pages dedicated to students looking for affordable housing or roommates.  This is also a great opportunity to vet a potential roommate, because you will be able to see who they are, some of their interests, or even if you may have mutual friends that you can ask for references.  Living with a stranger may not seem ideal, but there are certainly drawbacks to living with friends. If you want to have someone to share the cost of living with, but not necessarily have the drawbacks of uncomfortable conversations that will inevitably need to happen in any roommate situation, that is only made worse by having them with a friend.  You may also be looking for a particular kind of roommate. If you are working your way through college, whether it be full or part-time, you may not want to have a roommate that is up at all hours of the night or inviting people over constantly.

4. Live with a senior

No, we are not talking about seniors in college, but rather senior citizens.  There are many senior citizens who may be high-functioning and do not necessarily need help but rather would like some extra income which they can make by renting out rooms in their homes.  Some seniors may just want to have some company. Whatever the reason, living with a senior can be not only a very affordable option but also a great life experience. If you are the type that likes to party or host friends regularly, this may not be the option for you.  But if you prefer a more laid back and quiet atmosphere, this could be the perfect fit for you!

5. Trade rent for helping out

There are several families that look to trade some sort of workaround their homes in exchange for free room and board.  This could be a single mother who cannot afford childcare and their rent, so they may let you live there in exchange for babysitting.  Another scenario would be someone who needs help tending to their yard or possibly cleaning their homes. The important thing to remember in this sort of situation is that you should have clearly defined expectations that way there are no misunderstandings and so that no one feels taken advantage of down the road.

Whatever option you choose, you will want to do diligent research not only into the people you will be living with but also the area in which you will be moving.  You will also want to make sure you have set realistic expectations for the task of moving itself. If you are looking to hire a local Tucson moving company, we would love to chat with you about your options, or even just some friendly tips to make your move as stress-free and seamless as possible.  And remember, we move locally and nationally, so we can help you with any type of move you are looking to make!