from the blog
student housing tips & guides
everything you need to know about finding, choosing, and living in student housing.
When Should VCU Students Start Looking for Off-Campus Housing in Richmond?
VCU students should start looking for off-campus housing 9 to 11 months before move-in — October through December for an August lease.
5 Best Richmond Neighborhoods for VCU Students (2026)
Carver takes the top spot for VCU students in 2026: it's a five-minute walk to Monroe Park classrooms, and per-bed prices at Marshall Park Townhomes start at $725.
The 10 Best Orlando Neighborhoods for UCF Students (2026)
The Alafaya Trail corridor is the best Orlando neighborhood for most UCF students, and it isn't a close call. Per-bedroom rents there run roughly $710 to $1,050 in shared units, you can bike to Millican Hall, and most buildings sit on a free UCF shuttle route.
When Should USF Students Start Looking for Off-Campus Housing in Tampa?
USF students should start looking for off-campus housing in Tampa in October, about ten months before an August move-in, and should sign by the end of January. Purpose-built buildings around the Tampa campus open renewals to current residents in September and release what is left to the public in October. Nationally, student pre-leasing went from 58.3% in March 2026 to 84.7% by June.
Best Tampa Neighborhoods for USF Students (2026)
Want the shortest commute of any student housing in Tampa? Live in the Fowler-Fletcher corridor, where per-bed rents on Find My Place run $749 to $1,152 and the Bull Runner actually stops. Everything else here is a trade: you buy quiet, cheap, or nightlife, and you pay for it in drive time.
Do You Need a Cosigner or Guarantor to Rent Student Housing?
Most students do need a cosigner or a guarantor. The standard approval bar at a leasing office is a 620 to 650 credit score plus income near three times the rent, and a full-time undergrad rarely has either. But a cosigner and a guarantor for a student apartment are not the same thing: a cosigner signs the lease as a co-tenant and has the legal right to occupy the unit, while a guarantor signs a separate guaranty, owes the money if you stop paying, and never gets a key.
What Is Student Housing? Types, Costs, and How to Choose
Student housing comes in six distinct formats, and the gap between the cheapest and priciest runs well past $1,000 a month. Across Find My Place's national inventory, the median private bedroom in a student rental costs $599/month and the median shared bedroom costs $489, while the average purpose-built student apartment bed rented for $993/month nationwide as of May 2026.
Can You Live Near GCU Without a Car? West Phoenix Transit Guide
Yes, you can live near GCU without a car if you live close. Bike the 27th Avenue corridor to campus in 8 to 12 minutes, use Valley Metro Route 50 on Camelback, and reach light rail 1.5 miles east.
When Should GCU Students Start Looking for Off-Campus Housing in Phoenix?
Start looking in February or March, five to six months before an August move-in. GCU's fall semester starts late August, and west Phoenix's best units near the 27th Avenue corridor go fast.
Best Neighborhoods for GW Students: Foggy Bottom, Dupont and Navy Yard
The best neighborhoods for GW students: Foggy Bottom for proximity, Dupont Circle for nightlife, Navy Yard for value. Metro access, vibe, and rent compared.
How Much Does Off-Campus Housing Near GW Cost in Foggy Bottom?
Off-campus housing in Foggy Bottom averages about $2,050 for a studio and $2,680 for a one-bedroom in 2026. Splitting a two- or three-bed drops each roommate's share.
When Should American University Students Start Looking for Housing?
Start four to five months before move-in. AU's fall semester starts late August, so search March or April and sign by May, ahead of DC's summer leasing rush.