What’s so special about off-campus living?
For many students who are coming up on their junior or senior year at ODU, the grind of on-campus living gets to be a little bit dull. Sure, there’s a ton of fun things to do on campus, but sometimes you really do just want a space that doesn’t perpetually feel like campus.
If you’re thinking about venturing into the world of off-campus housing at ODU, here’s four of our best reasons you won’t regret it.
1. You Get Way More Options
ODU is no small school, offering 15 different on-campus housing options with a variety of sizes and features. Still, if you’re looking off campus, there are literally hundreds of options to choose from. You can rent an apartment, a house, a flat, or even a loft (which is amazing…). You can have 1, 2, 3, or even up to 5 roommates with all the options available.
Properties can include amenities such as decks, private backyards for get togethers, and off street or decaled parking. With the wide variety of locations you also have the choice to live close to the bars and restaurants or further from the noise. Basically, you get a lot more options to choose from that can fit your needs better than the dorms.
2. It’s Way Less Expensive
This is one of the biggest reasons people move off campus. Not all off campus housing is more affordable, but there’s a huge selection of rentals that cost thousands less per year than on-campus housing.
Earlier this year, we did a comparison of the costs between off-campus and on-campus housing at ODU, and the results weren’t even close. A year’s worth of rent for a property listed on ODURent.com averaged $1,000 to $2,500 less than on-campus housing, not including spending up to an extra $5,000 a year on food for on-campus students. (Trust us, you REALLY don’t need to spend that much just on food…)
3. Guaranteed Parking Spots
Have you ever come back to the dorms from work or class in your car and had to park a meager 3-years walk from your building? Many rental properties (including many of the listings on ODURent.com) come with decal-protected parking right near your rental, if not directly in front of it. Imagine celebrating finding a great parking spot every time you come back to your digs. Sounds nice right? It’s also a great safety feature!
4. It’s for Introverts and Extroverts
Some people want to get off campus so they can have an amazing space for their friend group to hang out away from the dorms. Some people get off campus to get away from people.
With rental properties, you get the best of whatever you’re looking for. You can bring friends over for an awesome cookout or create your own quiet, comfy safe haven from the noise and busyness of the world. Extroverts, now you don’t have to figure out which off-campus friend you should convince to have people over. Introverts, now you don’t need to go to a coffee shop (that’s probably filled with ODU students anyway) to get away from the hustle of dorm life.
Planning for Next Year
At this point in the year, it’s coming time where you need to make a decision on if you’re going to live on or off campus next year. Our advice: don’t wait around before all the rentals are signed away and you don’t have as many to pick from!
If you haven’t yet, start browsing what’s available right around ODU. If you find any you want to see in person, be sure to schedule a tour! That’s the best way to really see what’s available.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email. We exist to help connect ODU students with the best, most affordable, off-campus housing available!
