More students seek off-campus housing earlier

Although Department of Resident Life officials say an increasing number of students are looking for rental homes and apartments near the campus, you'd never know it from the university's Off-Campus Living Fair.

Turnout at the second fair on June 9 — 85 property managers manning tables in the Stamp Student Union's Colony Ballroom, meeting with about 133 students — is consistent with past years' attendance, officials said, but more and more students are seeking out housing before summer.

At the fair, Kimberly James, a Long & Foster real estate agent who has attended the fair for the last four years, also noted the difference in student behavior.

"They've started looking sooner," James said. "I have kids calling me in December for June, July move-in dates. Most of the stuff that's really close to campus is gone by now."

Because freshmen are guaranteed on-campus housing, rooms are made available to other students based on the size of the incoming freshman class. While waiting for the tally of freshmen seeking on-campus housing, officials said, Resident Life must use a rough estimate as it offers space to returning students.

Overestimating the size of the freshman class can result in more students than initially expected getting on-campus housing, whereas underestimating that number means more students will unexpectedly have to find somewhere else to live, and the possibility of being left with no housing has moved many students to sign leases well before the housing fairs begin.

Eager to move off the campus, senior English major Jerin Horton ran just one search on Resident Life's Off-Campus Housing Services' "OCH101" rental-property database before finding housing, acting with a haste she said she soon regretted.

"It was the worst experience I have ever had," Horton said. "It looks nice when you're desperate to get out. I wish I had someone to tell me to keep looking."

According to the fair's organizer Karlena Walker, giving students the opportunity to meet the landlords face-to-face is one of the primary objectives of the events, which are held in April, June and July.

"It's a great way for people to see each other," Walker said. "For people who can't come to the campus every day, having a central time where landlords will all be there is a bit easier."

For out-of-state students such as creative writing graduate student Shaun Gannon, the fair was an opportunity to meet landlords and explore housing options.

"I was really surprised," Gannon said. "I was kind of afraid it would be a lot of the bigger places and not have any room for the individuals renting out places, but I think there was a good variety so that everyone should be able to find something they're looking for."

The third and final off-campus housing fair will take place July 17 at noon in the student union's Colony Ballroom.

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