How early to look for housing? - MacInsiders - Student-run McMaster University Help Forum

10-09-2012 at 07:59 PM

Hey there!

I am currently a first year in res and I have heard different stories from difference people about how early you should start looking for off-campus housing for next year. Is the winter too early? Is the summer too late? What if I do summer school and need housing for the summer...then when should I start looking for a place? BTW I already have roommates in mind and would probably want a house, don't know many other options though but that's probably what I'll go with.

Thanks in advance!

Commie42 · 10-09-2012 at 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHiggins

Hey there!

I am currently a first year in res and I have heard different stories from difference people about how early you should start looking for off-campus housing for next year. Is the winter too early? Is the summer too late? What if I do summer school and need housing for the summer...then when should I start looking for a place? BTW I already have roommates in mind and would probably want a house, don't know many other options though but that's probably what I'll go with.

Thanks in advance!

Most people looking for full houses start in December-January. I remember reading week being considered "very late" when I was in first year.

10-09-2012 at 09:15 PM

a lot of leases start in may so you'd have a place for summer if you needed it. for a full house id suggest looking in dec/jan, youll notice a lot of people starting to post ads/looking for places around then

10-09-2012 at 09:24 PM

It shouldn't be a problem having housing for summer school since most leases are from May 1st-April 30th or something like that. I would start looking in January.

10-09-2012 at 10:57 PM

Look around end of first term and definetly by january if you want those nicer places

10-09-2012 at 11:01 PM

I believe we signed for our house in early January, so start looking early, since the more you look in January the more you will find and they get snatched up quick

10-09-2012 at 11:23 PM

Do mind as you get closer to school year like the summer, houseowners get desperate and you can get cheap offers. However they're most likely basement

10-10-2012 at 12:00 AM

My housemates and I started looking in early January, and we managed to find somewhere by mid January. If you want a chance at a nice house, the earlier the better!

And most leases are from May- the next April, so you will have a place for the summer.