Finding a place to live can be a really fun experience, however, it can also be a stressful and very difficult time to find the perfect place to live. Here is a list of some of the challenges you may face finding housing as a Flagler student.
1. Where do I want to live?
As a Flagler student, you have three optionsL Downtown, Beachside, or off of US1. All have pros and cons. Living off of or near US 1 will be cheaper rent, but you are farther from the beach and school. Living downtown seems ideal until you realize all the houses are 100 + years old, and need to be renovated. Beachside seems like a dream come true, unless the bridge is up, and you are late to class left with no place to park.
2. How many rooms?
The more rooms/roommates you need, the harder it will be to find a house that fits your accommodation. However The more roommates you have the cheaper rent is.
3. St. Augustine is expensive.
Let's face it, we live in a travel destination. For this reason, rent is more expensive because people want to live here and it's hard to pay for it with a college budget.
4. Family Homes
Most likely if you are looking for a house with three or more bedrooms the description has the phrase "family home." Which is a nice way of saying no college students.
5. College student stereotypes
Realtors don't want to deal with stereotypical college student partiers. Even if you don't fall into the category, it still affects your chances of scoring the place you want to live.
6. A better option
So, you found a great house. Everything looks awesome, but wait, you just found another house that's cheaper and in a better location. So, you don't close on the first option in pursuit of another.
7. Unreliable realtors
So, you get to go see the place you want to live everything goes great, and the Realtor says they will call you back in two to three days... But a week goes by and after a few calls you decide you have to keep looking.
8. Unreliable "future" roommates
"Hey remember we are signing the lease today everyone be there at 3."
"Sorry can't do it I'm moving somewhere else."
9. It got taken, sorry.
So you just found the perfect place after weeks of Craigslisting and you call the number to find out someone already snatched it up...
10. It's not anything like the pictures.
The ad looks good, so you decide to go check it out. To your surprise it's nothing like the pictures. The floor plan is weird, one of the rooms has a washing machine in it, and there's a support beam in the shower.
11. Dorms
Sometimes dorms are the easiest option, but they are not the ideal or preferred option.
