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It's that time of year again, when University of Colorado students begin the mad scramble for prime rental properties in hopes of locking down the perfect place for the fall semester.
With more available units in near campus this year, amenities are no longer just on the wish list -- they've become a necessity for some students.
When planning your rental budget, don't forget to include extra expenses like:
Utilities: Ask the landlord if rent includes heat, water, trash or cable
Transportation: You may need to buy a bus pass, or pay for campus parking at your new location
Deposits: Find out how much the rent, pet or utility deposits will cost and whether they're refundable
Personal expenses: Determine whether groceries and other personal items will be shared between roommates or individual expenses
For more tips, visit colorado.edu/ocss.
University-area rental vacancies have increased from 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 to 2 percent in 2009, according to the Colorado Division of Housing -- leaving students with higher expectations for their new pads.
CU junior Dana Foster, who attended a university-sponsored off-campus housing fair last week, is looking for a two-bedroom rental that's close to campus, pet friendly and has a dishwasher and plenty of storage.
"I have a cat so that's not negotiable," Foster said. "We need a place that meets our needs, but keeps our rent under $1,400 a month."
But despite the extra vacancies, Foster said she's finding it difficult to get everything she wants and stay within her budget.
Though extra vacancies are leaving more rental options for students, higher rents are forcing some students to make a choice between sacrificing amenities or their
The average cost of rent surrounding the Boulder campus is $806 per month, up $60 from this time last year, and amenities are only adding to the cost.
In the Denver-metro area, including Boulder County, a dishwasher increases rent prices on average by more than $200 per month. Finding a place that's pet friendly could cost an extra $100 per month. Add in the cost of extra storage, and Foster can expect to pay almost $400 more per month.
While some students may be able to have their cake and eat it, too, CU freshmen and roommates Vann Ellerbruch and Tony Elio said their budget mostly will dictate the property they choose.
"We both pay our own way, so we have a strict budget we have to stick to," Ellerbruch said. "It would be nice to find a place on the Hill or something with a washer and dryer, but it doesn't look like it's in the cards for us right now."
Ellerbruch and Elio are planning to room with two other students in a four-bedroom house, and even as freshman, they realize the competition for a property that size is stiff.
"Single family homes are the quickest to go," said Tom Orlando, relocation director for Housing Helpers in Boulder. "Anything on the Hill with three to six bedrooms is going to go fast."
For students searching for smaller one- or two-bedroom rentals, Orlando said now is a good time to start looking, but there's not as much pressure to act quickly.
Other students attending last week's housing fair said searching online is a convenient way to compare properties, and Off-Campus Student Housing at CU is making it easier than ever with the launch of its redesigned Web site, Ralphie's List.
At ralphieslist.colorado.edu, CU students, faculty and staff can access nearly 200 rental listings in the Boulder and Broomfield areas for free. Photos, amenities and prices can be compared side-by-side and students can use message boards to help find roommates, furniture or sublet opportunities. Students can also visit an on-campus attorney for advice on leasing agreements or legal disputes with landlords or roommates free of charge.
For more information or tips on finding a rental property in Boulder, visit Off-Campus Student Services' Web site at colorado.edu/ocss.
