Congratulations, you got into USC! The application and acceptance portion now being over, you can sit back, relax and consider your housing options. And while, the task of house hunting can seem a daunting one, it doesn’t have to be. With Mosaic Student Communities, finding the perfect setup, just got easier. With beautiful properties located within minutes of the USC campus, the task of finding student housing just got fun! But, before packing your bags, there are probably some questions that you want answered. Well, look no further, because where you have questions, we have answers.
First off, as you’ve probably heard: location, location, location! And never was that a more important consideration to take than while in school. You want to make sure that whatever property you look into has a reasonable commute to campus. Make sure you take your transportation options to heart and look into the length of the trip by car, bus, foot or however you plan to get from home to class. You also want to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood and look into local stores, restaurants or studying hotspots. Feeling comfortable and at home in your new neighborhood is crucial.
Next, you're going to want to set up a budget. Living in the City of Stars, for many, is a dream come true. However, it does come with a price. Literally. Los Angeles is known to be an expensive city to live in, so make sure you take your living expenses into consideration when looking for housing. As a general rule, most argue that you should spend no more than 30% of your income on rent, but depending on your financial situation, that’s not always possible. Just make sure you keep track of both your basic living expenses and recreational expenses when determining what you can comfortably afford for rent.
Additionally, roommates are a great way to cut the cost of rent and adjust to your new life as a university student. Living by yourself for the first time can be intimidating. Finding the perfect roomie can help. Just be sure that the two of you are on the same page as far as values and habits go. You don’t want to find out that your new roommate doesn’t like household cleaning after all the papers are signed!
Now, once you have found the perfect spot and before saying “I’ll take it”, make sure you ask the leasing manager some basic questions like whether or not utilities are included in rent. Remember, utilities are expensive, so make sure you plan accordingly based on your budget.
One other thing to think about while in the process of renting an apartment is credit. Like most new university students, you might not have had the opportunity to establish a credit score, which most properties check to ensure tenants are in good financial standing. Luckily, many properties listed with Mosaic Student Communities allow for co-signers to use their score for approval. For many, a co-signer is a parent or other trusted adult who take financial responsibility for a lease on behalf of the person living there. Planning ahead and either checking your existing credit score or finding a co-signer is key to the leasing process.
Now that we’ve discussed some Mosaic Student Communities FAQs, take a moment to pat yourself on the back. You’re here, you made it. Now is the time to explore different career pathways and learn about how to be an adult. Enjoy this time and know that this is the time to make mistakes and learn from them. After all, flowers can’t grow without a little rain.
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