College is an exciting time with many rites of passage. One of those is moving out of the dorms and into your own apartment. As you start exploring your student housing development options, here are some factors to consider.

Rent

Rent is mainly determined by location and amenities. Typically, the closer to campus the more expensive the rent, as demand for student housing is higher in these areas. Your rent covers the monthly use of the space but also consider things like accessibility and the neighborhood. Amenities vary for each complex. Some might include washer and dryers in the unit while others have a shared, coin-operated laundry room. Modern locations offer swimming pools, fitness centers, tennis courts, shared party areas, and even computer lounges, and older ones may only offer basic services. You should choose which amenities are most important to you and within your budget. As a student, it might behoove you to forgo luxury amenities for a reduced rent. Most leases signed with a student housing development are for a year; so if you plan on leaving for a semester, you need to know the landlords co-signing policy in advance.

Location

If you are not willing to pay more for a central location, then consider looking slightly further away from campus. There may be several great housing options within a 10-minute drive or bike ride. Just make sure you are looking for units that are not located too far away from your classes. If all of your courses are on the north side of campus, your apartment shouldn’t be on the south. Those morning lectures are already hard to get to on time. Living strategically close to your daily academic commitments could help you get to class on time without feeling rushed. Or if you have a job, keep your eye out for rentals during your daily commute. Living on your beaten path will help ease the stress of your work to school transit.

Utilities

While some housing developments will include utilities, most do not. Utilities cover water, gas, power, cable, internet, and sewage. In some instances, young renters forfeit cable and solely use internet streaming services to save on cable costs. This could make a small dent in bills, but power, water, and gas are typically the most expensive services. Also consider trash and recycling pickup. If they are not included in the rent, the front office will have all the materials needed to set up an account with the city. While budgeting for utilities, think about other expenses, such as food and textbooks, as you will need to pay for those as well.

Roommates

If you choose to live with a roommate, which is usually cheaper, there are two options: signing with someone you know or opting for a random assignment. If you are a social person who is okay with various levels of noise and sometimes a mess, consider living with multiple roommates! Before deciding on a cohabitant, ask them questions that will help tell if you guys are a good fit. Are they a morning person? Are they allergic to your cat? Are they a clean freak? Do they like having lots of people over? Do they smoke or do drugs? All of these will affect how you get along and, in turn, your happiness.

No matter where you live, remember that you are there for school, and your housing needs to be a place where you can study and rest. Take time and look around. Find the options that work best for you. Compare the accommodations. This will help you find the perfect student housing development and give you that home away from home.