8 Stages of Finding Housing in Collegetown

While the walk from low rise 7 (or Mews if you were lucky) to the Ag quad might have seemed way too long (especially when it was -10 degrees and snowing), moving to Collegetown could potentially mean an even farther walk to class. The TCAT is notoriously unreliable and parking on campus is basically impossible, so location is crucial. Unfortunately, living closer to campus also means paying ridiculously inflated rent, so it can be tough to even decide where to start looking.

Once you have some idea about where you want to live, you and your future roommates have to contact landlords to schedule an appointment to tour some apartments. Touring is always an awkward occasion. For whatever reason, landlords don’t ever tell current tenants when you are coming, which usually means uncomfortably marching through random people’s apartments while they’re cooking, sleeping, or showering. Don’t worry–it’ll be your turn next year.

With options limited by price and proximity to campus, competition for housing is fierce. If you want housing, you need to be willing to literally sleep outside of a landlord’s office, because certain buildings are full before classes even start a FULL YEAR in advance. Who knew the housing market in Ithaca could be this cutthroat?

You slept on the streets of Collegetown all night only to realize that you might be expected to pay almost all of your rent before even moving in. You have to sign for 12 months even though you’ll probably only be there for 10, and even fewer if you’re going abroad (see #7). Not only that, but the landlord will only fix problems “if needed,” so you hope and pray that includes the couches that are falling apart and the moldy bathroom.

Though the lease is super sketchy and unfair, you’re really in a fix. If you try to negotiate or take too long to decide, your apartment will go to the people on the tour behind you. Anyone who has taken Econ 1101 knows that high demand and low supply means higher prices, so if you want a coveted College Ave apartment, you have to pay up.

He promised the couches would be there before you moved in, which turned into a week, which turned into a month, which turned into him not answering any of your calls. After a few weeks, though, you’d have to say that those questionable stains on the walls give the place some personality.

If you’re going abroad, you’re only going to be living in your apartment for 4 months, even though you probably signed a 12 month lease. The problem is there seems to be 15 Facebook posts a day from people looking to rent “1-3 rooms in a spacious 6 bedroom apartment,” and no one ever seems to respond to any of them.

Signing a lease makes you feel like an adult. This also means paying electricity bills, cooking, and buying your own toilet paper, but at least you get to live closer to CTB.