Few apartment communities favor students
Patricia Moore
With MCC not offering on campus housing, students who do not wish to continue residing with their parents are faced with the challenge of finding and paying for their own living space.The most obvious solution is to rent an apartment but this can prove to be more difficult than it might seem.
“A lot of owners don’t want to deal with students,” explained Gretchen Goodwin, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Goodwin, who helped two of her college-aged nephews find housing, said that because student renters have a reputation for being irresponsible, property owners can be reluctant to accept them as tenants.
One apartment community that is enthusiastic about student renters, however, is Sendero Ridge on Broadway.
The apartment complex is within minutes of the Southern and Dobson campus and actively markets to MCC students.
Sendero Ridge’s rental criteria will even allow students to rely on their school history in place of work history on their application.
Another housing choice is to rent a room in someone’s home.
This often provides a more comfortable living situation for significantly less money but can become complicated if careful consideration isn’t given to the personal compatibility of the housemates.
Web sites such as Craig’s List and Roommate Locator can help students find rooms for rent based on criteria such as location, price and smoking preference.
Living independently for the first time can be both exciting and intimidating so it is important for students to research housing options and carefully screen potential roommates.
Students who are considering renting a room or apartment can find many useful resources online.
Move.com provides a list of available properties and Roommates.com offers picture profiles, a roommate search and allows you to contact potential roommates through their free membership program.
Other apartment search engines such as Apartments.com include articles and information on everything from lease agreements to housekeeping to finding a decent parking spot.
There are many ways to find a place to live but make sure to take the necessary precautions that will make it affordable and comfortable.
