Jackson Free Press

Living on campus can be fun, but if you're tired of putting up with late-night study sessions in the hall and always being at school, off-campus housing can be a convenient and cost effective alternative.

Apartments and rooms for rent may be listed online or in the classified sections of newspapers, but talking to friends, recent graduates and coworkers who have lived in the area for a while can be helpful. They may know which apartment complexes and landlords have a good reputation for fair prices and speedy repairs, as well as those that have unexpected fees and rundown facilities.

If you're a college student looking for a place off campus, the first thing you should do is check your school's policy on student housing. Some colleges require freshmen and sophomores or students under the age of 21 to live on campus, while some leave housing decisions entirely up to students. Rules may change from year to year, however, so make sure you have up-to-date information before researching off-campus housing in depth.

Some schools may also have resources to help students find apartments. The University of Mississippi Medical Center's Associated Student Body has a website where people can post available apartments and houses to lease or buy. Find it at asb.umc.edu/housing.html.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for an apartment:
- Lease – How long is the lease? Some places offer better deals if you sign a lease for a full year.
- Location – How much will you spend on gas to commute? Will you be able to live upstairs, which may be quieter, or downstairs, which may be more convenient? How difficult or expensive is it to find parking?
- Utilities – Are gas, water, electricity, cable and laundry included? If not, try to find out how much they cost from someone else living in the apartments and factor that in when you decide whether or not the apartments are affordable.
- Roommates – Living with others can greatly reduce the cost of an apartment, but if your name is on the lease and theirs isn't, you could be shouldered with unexpected costs if they damage the property or don't pay their rent on time.
- Cosigner – Many apartments require a cosigner for students or other people with limited credit history. Talk to your landlord and find out what their policy is before you decide to rent.