House Hunters: USC Edition
by AnnaLiese Burich ‘17
Ah, yes, the beginning of November. Fall is in the air, Halloween has just passed, Thanksgiving break is on the horizon, finals are a little farther back on the horizon, registration for spring semester’s classes are right around the corner, you are starting to sniff out those spring internships, and you are house hunting for next August.
Wait, what was that last thing? House hunting? For next year? Right now, before we have even picked our classes for next semester? That’s right, folks. Pre-leasing season for non-university housing is upon us. And, if you’re anyone but a current senior in high school, non-university housing is a seriously viable option for your living accommodations next year.
This could be your new home!
Scary, right? We just started the year—we have just started
to figure out our school, work, and social lives—and we are asked to predict
where and with whom we want to live 9
months from now. But, this is the trend and you can’t ignore it, because then
you might end up homeless.
It’s a harsh reality, but someone has to tell it to ya. If you want the best housing—the best apartments and especially houses—you need to act fast.
But, lucky for you, in the last weeks I’ve become an expert on the local USC real estate scene as I’ve been searching for a house for my group of friends. And, benevolent soul that I am, here are my hints and tips as to the local management scenes and strategies.
General Tips:
-Most of the houses you see when you walk around the general USC area are not, in fact, complete homes, but rather a home split into individual units/apartments for rent.
-Often, the front of the house is indeed more like a house, with the house’s original fireplace, crown moldings, structures, etc. but these houses are more expensive and have more bedrooms.
-8 times out of 10, the back of a house will be split into two or more apartment units, with usually around 4-6 bedrooms.
-Bedroom numbers can be deceptive: 4 bedrooms sounds like a lot from your childhood home standards, but in USC world many of these bedrooms are the size of a closet.
-These closet rooms are fine for one person—we aren’t talking Harry Potter broom closet size here—but they would be hard pressed to fit more than one twin size bed. Just something to keep in mind.
-Some units have a mix of room sizes: some are big enough for two people, and some are big enough for one. Be diligent and ask based on your group dynamics.
-Be careful with lease prices: many management companies charge an extra $100-$200 per person you add (with the base number of people being the number of bedrooms). This isn’t a deal breaker, but can add up based on how many people want singles, etc.
-Be careful with utilities: some cover water, some make you pay everything. Just know what you are getting into.
-Same with furnishings: some have furnished common spaces, others have zero furniture in a big home. Just something to be aware of if you’re on a budget (which you probably are).
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The Management Companies:
- Stuho (http://stuho.com/USC-Student-Housing.aspx)
Stuho has a wide variety of lovely homes that are mostly split into apartment complexes. They have a nice website, but aren’t known to have the best customer service in the entire world. That being said, I haven’t heard of a single management company with stellar reviews, but something to keep in mind to appease your parents. I worked with them this housing season and didn’t end up leasing with them, but they were diligent with their email responses.
- Mosaic Student Communities (http://livewithmosaic.com)
I really like Mosaic. I did a tour with them, and their office was organized, friendly, and easy to work with. They have a killer website fit for 2015 (which is more rare than you’d think). Wide variety of properties, but they go fast.
Most of their properties are newly revonated, so that’s a plus. Gotta have those granite countertops.
- SCSH (SC Student Housing) (http://southerncalstudenthousing.com/properties.html)
I also worked with them a little, and they were very professional and organized. Their homes look like they come out of ads, complete with blackboard painted walls and newly renovated homes. They have a lot of duplexes, and A LOT of homes with hot tubs and grills. Just sayin.
-GF Property Group (http://www.gfpropertygroup.net)
While their website isn’t necessarily fit for 2015, my friend lives in one of their home and it is a dream come true. They have the whole house all to themselves, the house has character, a dining room, and came partially furnished. Look beyond the surface here and you could find a gem.
-29th Street Student Housing (http://www.29thstreetstudenthousing.com)
Same deal with the website, but they have lovely homes in an even lovelier location. We live in a historic area, believe it or not, so you can have your very own Victorian with lovely backyards for a pretty reasonable price. They have the extra $200 per head, though, so make sure to clarify that as the prices can skyrocket if you have too many people.
-Trojan Villas (http://trojanvillas.com)
This ended up being my winner this year, because their prices are unbeatable and their website is surprisingly comprehensive (no other site gives you the price). Great apartment style homes with a good number of bedrooms. Check them out, I promise you won’t regret it.
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Just imagine: you and 10 of your buddies living in one beautiful home. So college. So hip. So Victorian. Those memories will last a lifetime.
