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Making the most of your place once you're in it — roommates, pets, safety, cleaning, décor, and the day-to-day of student apartment life.

Roommates

How to Find a College Roommate When You Don't Know Anyone

If you don't know anyone at your school, you find a college roommate the way thousands of incoming students do: start with your university's matching portal, branch out to your class group and a student app, then screen the people who respond before you commit.

June 20, 2026read more →
Health & Safety

Do College Students Need Renters Insurance? What It Covers and What It Costs

Renters insurance covers four things: your stuff (personal property), your legal responsibility if someone gets hurt or their property gets damaged (liability), a guest's medical bills after an accident in your place (medical payments), and your extra costs if a fire or flood forces you out (loss of use). For most college students living off campus, a policy runs about $14 to $25 a month, or roughly $150 to $300 a year, and yes, you almost certainly need it.

June 19, 2026read more →
Health & Safety

Does Renters Insurance Cover Stolen Items? What Students Need to Know

Yes, renters insurance covers stolen items — your laptop, bike, phone, and clothes are covered against theft whether they're taken from your apartment, your car, the library, or while you're traveling. The payout comes minus your deductible and is capped by your coverage limit.

June 12, 2026read more →
Decorating

Furnished vs Unfurnished Student Apartments: Which Actually Saves You More?

Furnished student apartments cost roughly $50 to $150 a month more than the same unit unfurnished. At the University of Rochester's Goler House, where both rates are published for the same floor plan, the premium is $72 a month on a one-bedroom and $98 on a two-bedroom as of July 1, 2026. Renting furniture separately costs more.

May 19, 2026read more →
Roommates

9 Apartments Near Weber State Ogden with Roommate Matching

Nine student apartments near Weber State Ogden, ranked by how each handles roommate matching — formal portal, informal property-level, or DIY.

May 7, 2026read more →
Roommates

How Are Roommate Conflicts Handled in Per-Bed Student Leases?

Per-bed leases shift roommate conflict from a tenant problem to a property-management problem. Here's exactly how property managers resolve disputes — incident report, mediation, violation notice, transfer, eviction — and why your rent isn't on the line for someone else's mess.

May 5, 2026read more →
Decorating

8 Furnished Student Apartments Near CU Boulder (2026 Guide)

Eight furnished student apartments near CU Boulder, ranked by location, price, and vibe. Real $/month ranges for 2026 and which type of student each one fits.

May 4, 2026read more →
Health & Safety

8 Red Flags When Renting as a Student

The student rental horror stories we hear at FMP all seem to open with the same sentence: "I knew something was off but I signed anyway." These are the eight red flags we see come up over and over, usually right before the regret sets in — plus what to do if you already signed.

May 2, 2026read more →
Roommates

How to Find Roommates for College Housing in 2026

The fastest ways to find a college roommate in 2026 are RoomSync, Bunky, Roomsurf, your school's "Class of" Instagram pages, and Find My Place's roommate finder for students targeting a specific off-campus building.

May 2, 2026read more →
Health & Safety

What to Look for in a Student Lease: 12 Red Flags

Twelve clauses in a standard student lease do most of the financial damage — from joint-and-several liability to auto-renewal traps to pre-filled condition reports. Missing any one of them can cost you $500 to $2,500.

April 29, 2026read more →
Health & Safety

How to Avoid Bad Student Apartments & Rental Scams

Most student housing rental scams fit five patterns — the traveling owner, the copied listing, the fake property management email, the pressure sign, and the Zelle deposit demand. Here's how to spot them, verify listings, and recover if you've been scammed.

April 27, 2026read more →
Roommates

8 Best Apps to Find a College Roommate in 2026

The best app to find a college roommate in 2026 depends on your school, but Find My Place is the strongest starting point — it ties roommate search to verified, reviewed housing so you find a person and a real apartment at once. Here's how Bunky, MeetYourClass, Roomsurf, SpareRoom, Diggz, and more compare.

April 9, 2026read more →