The Economics of Living: Off-Campus Housing Options

For college students keen on keeping their sights trained on academics, the thought of having to deliberate over housing choices is distasteful. Yet the sad reality is that here at UAH, the on-campus residential facilities do not cater to all economic brackets. Nor are the facilities that do fit students’ pockets adequate. This forces students to spend considerable time deciding where to live.

One of the major differences between off- and on-campus housing is the size of the residences. Campus residence halls are generally constructed with the single student in mind, but this is not generally the case with apartment complexes.

The recently developed Huntsville Place Apartments on Century Drive is a notable exception. The units are built as “houses” with four bedrooms and a common living room and kitchen, but the occupants are each allotted one bedroom. The cost includes rent and the utilities for just the bedroom they occupy and is usually in the $450-a-month range.

Another issue is the lease. A nine- or twelve-month residence hall lease might be cushioned by the proximity to the campus; however, this is not the case for apartments that might be at a distance.

The only apartment complex near UAH with any flexibility regarding the lease is Tara Garden Apartments, on Old Madison Pike. This complex offers month-to-month leases on studio and single-bedroom, furnished and unfurnished apartments. There are also some two-bedroom apartments. There are several floor plans available with a price range starting from $450 per month on one-bedroom apartments and $550 per month on two-bedroom apartments.

Most other complexes usually preferred by students fall into the category of shared apartments. Quail Pointe Apartments, just off University Drive, is fewer than ten minutes’ walk from the University Center. It offers one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as 3-bedroom townhouses with rents starting from $500, $575 and $725, respectively.

Another favorite is Summer Tree Apartments, located slightly north of campus on Sparkman Drive. Summer Tree features one-bedroom apartments at $455 and above, and two-bedroom apartments at $550 and above.

While these options may seem prudent, the final choice can only be made on personal opinion and consideration of several other factors. Most apartments require thorough background and credit checks, and availability might be a factor. Some costs that are not always advertised include application fees, move-in deposits (which are not always refundable) and maintenance/pet fees.

Properties offer varying utility services. Some will need residents to have their own electricity connection, while others may bundle that with the apartment. Internet services are generally never included (Huntsville Place scores in this respect, offering WiFi service to tenants).

For those new to the city, an apartment guide might be useful, but an informed choice requires the would-be tenant to make a few trips around town.