When should college students start looking for off-campus housing?

Question

Accepted Answer

In many college towns, students start looking in the fall or early winter for the following school year, because the best places near campus are leased months ahead. In big cities with lots of general rental housing, starting two to three months before you move is often enough. Ask older students when leasing starts at your school. Timing depends on how much of the local market is built around students. In a small college town, landlords often start signing leases for next year soon after the fall semester begins, and popular houses can be gone by winter break. In a large city, most apartments are listed about one to two months before they're free, so searching a year early mostly shows you places that won't be available when you need them. Early in the fall, ask older students and your school's off-campus housing office when local landlords start leasing. Settle who you'll live with before you tour, since many student leases are signed as a group. Tour and apply as soon as leasing opens for the places you want. If you miss the main rush, look for lease takeovers and sublets from students who are graduating or studying abroad. Our semester-by-semester timeline walks through each stage in more detail.

Short answer