Probably your first time to live on your own, or maybe your first time time you can actually choose where to live.
ISO will help you in the process of finding permanent housing during for the school year.


First, lets get a basic understanding of the U of M, Twin Cities campus...

The U of M, Twin Cities campus is made up of three areas across two cities:
The city of Minneapolis contains both the East and West Bank areas.
The East Bank campus area is on the east side of the Mississippi River. 
The West Bank campus area is on the west side of the Mississippi River
The Washington Avenue Bridge connects the West bank and the East bank campuses and takes about 5 minutes to walk across.
The bridge is also heated during the cold winter months.

The third campus area is located in the city of St. Paul and is commonly referred to as the St.Paul campus.

The university has its own bus system known as "Campus Connectors" that have routes between all three campus areas.  It takes about 15 minutes to travel on the Campus Connector from Minneapolis to St.Paul campus.  Rides are free for students.

The specific area of your instruction is dependent on your major, but most lower division undergrad instruction occurs on the East bank. 


Second, lets answer some of the frequently asked questions international students have about housing...


1) What is the difference between "on campus" and "off campus" housing?

Answer: 
The terms "on campus" and "off campus" housing are given in reference to the official university sponsored housing options.  Anything designated as "on campus" housing is sponsored by the University and is very close to campus, but not necessarily right next to your building where you will have your classes.  You will still have to walk or take a bike outside to your classes. 

"Off campus" housing is any housing not sponsored by the University and is usually located along the perimeter of the official campus area.  Most "off campus" housing is still within walking or biking distance of the main campus area.


2) Do all apartments come furnished?

Answer: 
Most "on campus" housing IS furnished while most "off campus" housing is NOT furnished, which means you will have to buy your own bed/mattress, furniture, kitchen supplies, and other needs.


3) How much do apartments cost to rent?

Answer: 
Rent is paid on a monthly basis. 
The following are estimates of "off campus" housing apartment monthly rent prices... 
Rent for an efficiency/studio range from $500 to $750. 
Rent for a 1 bedroom range from $600 to $900. 
Rent for a 2 bedroom range from $900 to $1100. 
Rent for a 3 bedroom range from $1000 to $1200. 
In order to keep rent lower, most students will have 2 people stay in a studio or 1 bedroom apartment and split the monthly cost.  Likewise, they will also have 4 people stay in a 2 bedroom.


4) What is the process of "getting" an apartment?

Answer:
a) Talk to any of your friends or contacts at the university about their apartment experiences
b) Research and gather as much information via the internet about apartments
c) Email and/or call apartments to find availability
d) Interview the apartment personnel and take a tour of apartment
e) Sign lease, pay deposit, pay first months rent, and move in


5) What kind of questions should I ask the landlord, apartment caretaker, or lease agent when interviewing?

Answer:
a) Do you allow double occupancy?  Is there an extra charge?
(Some apartments do not allow double occupancy or will charge you extra ranging from $30 to $100.)

b) What is the lease length?
(Most lease lengths are 12 months, which means if you are planning on going home over the summer you might wish to find a sub-leaser.)

c) Is there an application fee?
(Some apartments require a non-refundable application fee ranging from $15 to $50, due when you submit your application.)

d) What is the deposit amount?
(Most apartments require a deposit equal to that of one month's rent.  The deposit is usually due when your application is accepted and you sign the lease.  The deposit is returned when you move out provided no damage has been done to the apartment.)

...questions concerning utilities...

e) Is internet included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Average cost around $30 to $50 per apartment.)

f) Is heat included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Ranges in price per apartment...usually double the normal price during the winter months.)

g) Is water included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Ranges in price per apartment.)

h) Is electricity included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Ranges in price per apartment...usually double the normal price during the summer months if your apartment has air conditioning.)

i) Is gas included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Ranges in price per apartment.)

k) Is garbage included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Ranges in price per apartment.)

l) Is parking included?  If not what is the average cost?
(Ranges in price per apartment.  Parking spots for cars are very hard to find in the campus area, if you do get a parking spot with your apartment and don't have a car, consider renting it out.)

m) Is the apartment furnished?
(Most apartments are not.)

n) Is there washer/dryer in apartment?  If not, are laundry facilities on site?
(Most apartments do not have washer and dryers inside the individual apartments, but do have a set of shared washer and dryers for all residents of the apartment complex to use. The cost of each wash and dryer cycle is around $1.50.)

o) Is early move-in allowed?
(Most apartments allow early move-in if the current renter moves out early.  You will usually have to pay rent at a daily rate for the days you move in early.)

...miscellaneous questions...

p) Are their other international students in the apartment?

q) Have their ever been any thefts, break-ins, or other crimes in the apartment or neighborhood?


6) If I live in "off campus" housing how do I get to class?

Answer:
Campus area apartments are all within walking and biking distance to the University.  Some students who don't like walking or biking choose to take the city bus which have many routes around the campus area.


Third, look at at all your housing options, helpful info found below...

Official University of Minnesota Off-Campus housing website (link found here)

Other helpful links can be found at the following URLs...

Official UofM sites:
http://www.housing.umn.edu/offcampus/resources.shtml
http://www.housing.umn.edu/offcampus/complex.htm

Official UofM ISSS site:
http://www.isss.umn.edu/new/offcamphousing.html

Helpful FACSS forum site:
http://www.facssumn.com/forum/default.asp

Helpful FACSS additional housing:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~facss/offcampus/living.htm

Apartment Search Sites:
http://www.mynewplace.com/
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/
www.apartments.com
www.rent.net
www.apartmentrenting.com
http://www.mndaily.com/classifieds/HOUSING
http://www.4walls.us/Category/MN-Apartments/Minneapolis/University-Area/
http://www.stadiumvillage.com/directory.php
http://www.rent411.com
www.apartmentreviews.net
www.move.com
www.apartmentratings.com
www.apartmenthomeliving.com
www.yellowpages.com
www.apartmentsandrenters.com
http://www.merchantcircle.com
http://www.getfave.com
www.apartmentcities.com


Fourth, below are some apartment contact information that ISO has accumulated over the years of helping students, you can use this list to investigate apartments on your own and find out general costs, locations, and amenities (NOTE: we do not endorse any of these apartments, they are provided for the reader's information only)...

Housing Name	Neighborhood	Address	Manager Number	Website
Como Apartments	Como	1409 Como Ave SE	651-206-3933	?
Elmwood Properties	Como	1701 & 1725 Elm St SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
Elmwood Properties	Como	1100 Como Ave SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
Elmwood Properties	Como	1410 & 1414 Rollins Ave SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
Elmwood Properties	Como	1313 Como Ave SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
Elmwood Properties	Como	823 15th Ave SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
Elmwood Properties	Como	837 15th Ave SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
Elmwood Properties	Como	918 17th Ave SE	612-623-4488	www.elmwoodproperties.com
?	Dinkytown	942 15th Ave	651-633-0536	?
?	Dinkytown	1327 7th St	612-718-6613	?
?	Dinkytown	15th Ave and 6th St	651-642-9403	?
1301 University	Dinkytown	1301 University Avenue	612-617-8000	www.1301university.com
Ag Muller Apartment	Dinkytown	1401 6th St SE	612-676-1511	?
Bierman Place	Dinkytown	1401 6th St SE	612-331-3375	http://www.biermanplace.com/
Chrisland Properties	Dinkytown	815 13th Ave SE	612-378-0769	http://chrislandproperties.com/location.html
Dinkytown Rentals	Dinkytown	Misc	612-378-2413	http://dinkytownrentals.com/
Hartley Properties	Dinkytown	1414 S 3rd Street	612-275-2822	?
Integrity Property Management	Dinkytown	316 10th Avenue SE	?	?
Keeler Apartments	Dinkytown	317 17th Avenue Southeast	612-338-7500	www.keelerapartments.com
Marcy Park Apartments	Dinkytown	1015 8th St SE	612-623-1100	http://www.marcy-park.com/
MATCOM	Dinkytown	10th Ave and 8th St	612-788-1401	http://matcominc.com/u_of_m_rentals.html
Nicholas J Puzak Apartments	Dinkytown	1415 5th St SE	612-331-1009 (?)
Riverton Community Housing	Dinkytown	425 13th Avenue SE	612-331-3911	www.riverton.org
Riverton Community Housing	Dinkytown	700 10th Avenue SE	612-331-3911	www.riverton.org
Riverton Community Housing	Dinkytown	1000 8th Street SE	612-331-3911	www.riverton.org
Riverton Community Housing	Dinkytown	1405 5th Street SE	612-331-3911	www.riverton.org
Riverton Community Housing	Dinkytown	1227 4th Street SE	612-331-3911	www.riverton.org
Riverton Community Housing	West Bank	2300 East Franklin	612-338-4574	www.riverton.org
University Terrace	Dinkytown	1117 7th St	612-484-7846 (?)	?
Varsity Apartments	Dinkytown	15th Ave and 8th St	612-331-4488	?
?	Holmes	315 5th Str	612-644-7607 (?)	?
?	Holmes	4th and Univ Ave	612-623-7607 (?)	?
?	Holmes	409 Univ Ave	612-384-3966	?
?	Holmes	700 Univ Ave	612-290-6363	?
?	Holmes	813 University Ave SE	612-379-1843	http://www.813university.com/
?	Holmes	330 8th St 401 4th St	612-366-4659 612-331-8369	?
?	Holmes	600 University Ave SE	612-802-7973	?
?	Holmes	718 University Ave	612-290-7823	?
Campus Apartments	Holmes	University Ave	612-290-7730	?
Park Meadows	Holmes	Amrcy Park	612-868-1290	?
Remington Campus Apartments	Holmes	708 5th St SE	612-378-0501	?
St. Anthony Village Apartments	Holmes	320 7th Street SE	612-379-1060	http://www.athomeapartments.com/stanthony.htm
St. Anthony Village Apartments	Holmes	400 6th Ave SE	612-379-1060	?
Stone Arch Apartments	Holmes	601/701 Main Street S.E.	612-331-8100	http://www.stonearchapartments.com/
University Court Apartments	Holmes	729 8th Ave SE	612-378-6006 (?)	?
?	Staduim Village	Erie St	612-751-6774	?
?	Staduim Village	524 Huron Blvd	612-868-4890	?
Dinnaken Properties	Staduim Village	920 Delaware St SE	612-623-0606	www.dinnaken.com
Dinnaken Properties	Staduim Village	900 Washington Avenue SE	612-623-0606	www.dinnaken.com
Dinnaken Properties	Staduim Village	Fulton & Ontario Streets SE	612-623-0606	www.dinnaken.com
Dinnaken Properties	Staduim Village	609 Oak St SE	612-623-0606	www.dinnaken.com
Erie Essex Campus Apartments	Staduim Village	414 Essex St SE	612-331-5333	?
Erie Essex Campus Apartments	Staduim Village	1015 Essex St SE	612-331-5333	?
Huron Estate	Staduim Village	614 Huron Street SE	612-331-1580	?
Jefferson Commons	Staduim Village	609 Huron Blvd SE	612-623-3225	?
Jefferson at Berry	Staduim Village	950 Jefferson Common Circle	651-644-8400	www.jeffersonatberry.com/
Melrose / District on Delaware	Staduim Village	2508 Delaware Street SE	612-331-5900	www.melrose.com
Thornton Place Apartments	Staduim Village	810 Thornton Street SE	612-339-5656	www.hornigcompanies.com
Thornton Place Apartments	Staduim Village	48 27th Ave SE	612-339-5656	www.hornigcompanies.com
University Commons	Staduim Village	609 Huron Blvd S.E	612-623-3225	www.ucmn.com
University Village	Staduim Village	2515 University Ave SE	612-676-1000	www.umnvillage.com
?	?	?	612-336-4659 612-331-8369	?
Bigos Management	?	?	952-926-2494	?
Cardinal Properties	Holmes	301 University Ave SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
Cardinal Properties	Holmes	525 University Ave SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
Cardinal Properties	Dinkytown	840 18th Ave SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
Cardinal Properties	Dinkytown	1010 15th Ave. SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
Cardinal Properties	Dinkytown	1415 5th St SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
Cardinal Properties	Dinkytown	401 9th St SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
Cardinal Properties	Dinkytown	1503 8th St SE	612-237-6941	http://uofmhousing.com/
David Hoband	?	?	612-328-817	http://structuralintegrity.com/ http://universityguesthouse.net/ http://facultyhouse.net/
Frank Bergman	?	?	651-635-9563	?
Irving Properties Inc	Dinkytown	1415 8th St SE	612-871-1986	http://irvingpropertiesinc.com/
Irving Properties Inc	Holmes	310 8th St SE	612-871-1986	http://irvingpropertiesinc.com/
Irving Properties Inc	Holmes	624 4th Ave SE	612-871-1986	http://irvingpropertiesinc.com/
Irving Properties Inc	Holmes	715 University Ave SE	612-871-1986	http://irvingpropertiesinc.com/
Kasota Leasing	?	?	651-645-5450	www.apartments-kli.com
Landmark Restoration/Management	?	?	651-770-5128	?
Lasky Company	?	?	952-377-1167	www.umnrentals.com
Polar Bear Enterprises	Como	2115 Como Ave SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Como	2526 Como Ave SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Holmes	401 SE University Ave	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Holmes	408 4th Street SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Holmes	412 4th Street SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Holmes	509 6th Street SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Dinkytown	525 10th Ave SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Holmes	925 6th Street SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Dinkytown	982 15th Ave SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Polar Bear Enterprises	Dinkytown	986 16th Ave SE	612-802-4435	http://go4housing.com/
Rick Bergman	?	?	763-913-5000	?
Steven Scott Apartments	Staduim Village	624 Huron Blvd SE	612-627-9206	www.steven-scott.com
Steven Scott Apartments	Holmes	326 6th Ave SE	612-623-7601	www.steven-scott.com
Steven Scott Apartments	Holmes	410 6th St SE	612-623-7601	www.steven-scott.com
Steven Scott Apartments	Holmes	327 University Ave	612-623-7601	www.steven-scott.com
Steven Scott Apartments	Holmes	725 7th St SE	612-378-1464	www.steven-scott.com
Steven Scott Apartments	Dinkytown	600 10th Avenue SE	612-331-7274	www.steven-scott.com
Tim Bergman	?	?	651-983-7589	?
Town Crest Realty	?	?	612-366-4659	?
Twin Cities Student Housing Apartments Rentals Units	?	?	952-922-1002	?
Vision Investments	?	?	612-870-9100	http://brownstoneliving.net/
Westvik Properties	?	?	651-644-5907	?
Grandmarc at Seven Corners	West Bank	1849 Washington Ave S	612-333-4567	www.go4studenthousing.com
Seven Corners	West Bank	1400 S 2nd St	612-340-0738	http://www.bdcmgmt.com/sevencorners.html
Crossroads Apartments	St.Paul	Eustis and Lauderdale	651-644-5568	www.cpmincorporated.com
Highland Village Apartments	St.Paul	845 S. Cleveland Ave	651-698-3897	www.highlandvillageapts.com
Lauderdale Hollows	St.Paul	Eustis and Lauderdale	651-645-3713	?
Rose Hill Apartments	St.Paul	Eustis and Lauderdale	651-644-4823	?