Starting Your Search
Finding suitable housing for your needs is possible- the whole city of Philadelphia is at your fingertips!
Location, Location, Location
The best way to start off searching for a house is narrowing down where you want to live. Many Temple University students choose to live the neighborhood surrounding Temple University, but there are other options to consider! Use our interactive map feature found on our homepage to discover which neighborhood is right for you!
Budgeting
After deciding which area you want to focus on in your search, the ever important question of budget comes up: How much are you willing to spend? When calculating this figure, here are some factors you should consider:
- The cost of utilities: Although sometimes overlooked when budgeting, utilities such as electric, water, internet and gas can add a significant cost to your monthly expenses. In the winter and summer months specifically, the costs tend to rise due to the costs of heating and air conditioning.
- Transportation: If you choose to live an area other than one that is within walking or biking distance to campus, transportation becomes an important factor. Do you have a car, and if so, where will you park it when you come to campus? Don't forget about adding in gas, insurance and car maintenance into your budget! Or, if you are planning to use public transportation, the cost of tokens or a monthly pass needs to be considered. Information on SEPTA, Philadelphia's public transportation provider can be found here.
- Other housing costs: Do you plan on buying new furniture for your new house, or are you hoping to get something already furnished? What about buying rental insurancem, which is highly recommended?
We suggest you view, print and complete a budget worksheet. There is a lot to consider in terms of cost, and we don't mean this to be a deterrent! However, evaluating what your monthly costs may be can save you a lot of anxiety in the future!
Finding Available Properties
In person:
There are places available for rent every day in this city! If you are located close to the Philadelphia area, we suggest coming down and simply walking around the area you want to live. Not only will you get more familiar with the area, but you may also run into a few "For Rent" signs while you are at it. You can also walk around campus to search for postings on bulletin boards in buildings, and throughout Liacouras Walk!
The Internet:
Other options include starting your search online. Here are some links you may use to find housing:
- Near the Temple University area: Local Apartment Complexes
- Facebook: Our Off-Campus Housing Facebook Page often has postings
Many students have had success in using these websites for housing:
- www.craigslist.org/ A free classified posting website popular nation-wide. Includes cateogories for roommshares and apartments.
- www.philly.com The site of the two main daily newspapers in Philadelphia: Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily
- www.phillyweekly.com The site of the Philadelphia Weekly, a local newspaper.
Networking:
Another great way to find places is by asking around! Know someone who goes to Temple? Perhaps they have experience with a great landlord or property management company that they can recommend you to. People associated with Temple are everywhere--- ask around!
