Zoocasa
Real Estate Sold Prices
Calculator
Map
Property Trends & Insights
  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
  • Real Estate News
Zoocasa
Home Renting a Home

A Parent’s Guide to Apartment Hunting During the College Years

Jobpostings.ca by Jobpostings.ca
February 26, 2016
in Renting a Home
3 min read
Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares

apartments-tree-college

Nearly two decades pass and your little birdy is ready to fly. Their first stop: post-secondary.

As a parent, seeing your teens off to college or university is bittersweet. You’re happy they’re growing up and finding their own independence but, funny enough, you’re sad for the exact same reasons. Some will stay close to home, while others will take on a new adventure out of province. But before they venture off to their first taste of freedom, they’re depending on you for one final assist: the apartment search. Being hours away from home by plane, they’ll need your guidance in their first big move.

Do your research of the city

Along with your son or daughter, start by doing a thorough search of the new city they’ll be moving to. When scoping out places to live, become familiar with the transportation system, nearby commercial areas, and real estate hotspots and values. Much of this step can be done online—you can learn more by reading through the school website, doing a Google News search of the city and campus, or visiting social media accounts related to the city or school.

By gathering some background information beforehand, you’re able to lock down on potential move-in areas, given its proximity to the campus and affordability.

Know where to look

You know there’s a plethora of housing options around campus, but how can you find the perfect space for your freshman? The key is to use a niche search.

A website like Places4Students.com works directly with landlords across North America in renting housing to students, and has an accessible by-school search. You may also be able to find new openings on school social media pages, where current students or members of the community are able to post housing availabilities as they come up. In addition, you can conduct a wider search by looking on websites like PadMapper.com, Kijiji.ca, or Craigslist.ca.

Accompany your teen in apartment hunting

As you help with the housing search, your teens will go into the process with no prior experience in real estate. This is where your knowledge of renting or buying can be valuable.

With your teen, organize a time when you can both visit potential homes—even make a road trip out of it! Be present as they meet with landlords or real estate agents, get involved in the technical paperwork, pass down your real estate wisdom, and tour the city and campus.

Visit the school website

College and university websites aren’t only for student use. Most are accessible and valuable for parents as well, with sections entirely dedicated to the parents and families of students. There, parents will have access to plenty of student-related information, like housing options, campus security services, fees and finances, and important dates.

While the school website probably doesn’t provide a direct link to off-campus rental options, it’s still a great resource to use in learning more about campus layouts, school touring information, and transportation services—all of which are critical in the apartment hunt.

Be enthusiastic of the process

As much as the idea of being soon-to-be empty nesters makes you anxious as a parent, consider the nerves your teen is feeling throughout the process as well. It’s exciting on the surface, but adjusting to a new environment on your own as an 18-year-old is no easy feat.

Your support is most important during this time. Between now and the start of the new semester, your teen will be busy organizing class schedules, staying on top of payment deadlines, and making new college and university friends over social media. As a parent, it’s the little things that count, so you can help by organizing the mover, helping to pack, throwing a going-away bash, or just being empathetic of the entire process.

This article was written by Megan Santos of Jobpostings.ca, Canada’s largest student job network helping post-secondary students find their internships, co-ops, and entry-level jobs to launch their careers. Follow them @Jobpostingsca.

Unsplash: Crew

Previous Post

What Is Happening to Real Estate Prices in Newfoundland?

Next Post

Moving? There’s an App to Make it Simple

Jobpostings.ca

Jobpostings.ca

Related Posts

Break a Lease
Guest Posts

How to Prematurely Break a Lease

November 22, 2019
Rental Insurance
Guest Posts

Don’t Skip Out on Rental Insurance

November 4, 2019
First Apartment Tips
Guest Posts

How to Prepare for a Move into Your First (Grown-Up) Apartment

November 1, 2019

Blog Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent Articles

Sharp Housing Adjustment as Sales Continue to Drop: CREA

August 15, 2022

Hidden Gems for Sale in Markham under $700,000

August 12, 2022

Rent or Buy? Average Monthly Rental Prices vs. Monthly Mortgage Payments in the GTA

August 10, 2022

Should You Purchase a Home With an Open Floor Plan?

August 8, 2022

Sharp Housing Adjustment as Sales Continue to Drop: CREA

August 15, 2022

Hidden Gems for Sale in Markham under $700,000

August 12, 2022

Rent or Buy? Average Monthly Rental Prices vs. Monthly Mortgage Payments in the GTA

August 10, 2022

Should You Purchase a Home With an Open Floor Plan?

August 8, 2022

Condo Apartments Remain the Most Affordable and Second Most In-Demand Property Type in Toronto and GTA: TRREB

August 4, 2022

Your Home’s Screen Appeal: How to Stage Your Home for Photos and Videos

August 3, 2022

Newsletter Sign-up

Join a community of 130,000+ subscribers. Don't miss important real estate news, market data, and buying and selling tips.

Social Media

Featured Listings (Updated Weekly)

Hidden Gems for Sale in Markham under $700,000

August 12, 2022

The Most Expensive and Affordable Homes Sold in July in the GTA

July 29, 2022

The Most Viewed Homes in June 2022

July 22, 2022

Condos for Sale with Amenities in the GTA

July 11, 2022
first-time home buyer programs and rebates

About Zoocasa

Zoocasa.com is a full-service brokerage that offers advanced online search tools to empower Canadians with the data and expertise they need to make more successful real estate decisions.

Newsletter Sign-up

Join 130,000+ weekly subscribers. Don’t miss important real estate news, market data, and buying and selling tips: sign-up here.

Social Media

Zoocasa Tools

MLS Listings Canada
Search Sold Listings
iOS App
Android App
Find an Agent
Contact Us

  • Homes & Real Estate Properties
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2015 - 2022 Zoocasa Realty Inc., Brokerage

  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
  • Real Estate News
No Result
View All Result

© 2015 - 2022 Zoocasa Realty Inc., Brokerage