<p>I want to live off campus (fall 2008)? Should I apply for financial aid and then lease an apartment or what? Does anyone have any good places I should consider staying at that are near campus? I need help!</p>
<p>You can check <a href=“http://www.fsu.edu/~sga/och/listings.html[/url]”>http://www.fsu.edu/~sga/och/listings.html</a> to get lists of available off-campus living situations.</p>
<p>There are apartments, private dorms and condos/houses available nearby.</p>
<p>A few things to remember:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>A lease (a written contract) on an apartment still binds you regardless of your status with the university. </p></li>
<li><p>Make sure the apartment has the ability to have high-speed Internet service installed as you’ll want this for interaction with FSU.</p></li>
<li><p>Lease payments do not stop just because you go home for summer semester or travel for a few weeks. If you want flexibility, get it written into the contract. Read and understand the fine print on a lease. Make sure the term of the lease fits your needs.</p></li>
<li><p>Apartment leases may or may not include utilities - ensure that you find out what is covered in the lease and budget accordingly.</p></li>
<li><p>Check out the grounds of the ENTIRE apartment complex. You may find overall maintenance is not up to your standards by checking around back.</p></li>
<li><p>Examine windows, screens and door locks - ensure they fit well and work like they should.</p></li>
<li><p>Ask about insect control. Does the apartment spray for bugs? Does it have a chronic problem with insects? Find this out BEFORE you sign a lease.</p></li>
<li><p>Consider small, family-run duplexes and apartment buildings. Often times these are extremely well-maintained, quiet and convenient.</p></li>
<li><p>Look at several places before you sign…compare your options. This takes leg work, expect to spend about a day searching. It may be hard to find a manager on weekends or after business hours.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Just a few simple things to consider, hope this helps. ;)</p>
<p>Those are all excellent tips.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider - timing of your financial aid dispursement. My d is a student at UCF, and her housing is covered by financial aid. Since she lives on campus, her housing is taken directly out of her financial aid. She does not have to pay “up front”. i’m assuming that if you live in an off campus apartment, you would probably have to pay before the financial aid is dispursed (approx. 2 weeks after school starts).</p>
<h1>1bandmom is right that you will have to front the money for deposits and first month rent most likely. The excess scholarship/financial aid funds for Spring 2008 will be disbursed on January 14th even though classes start January 7th.</h1>