Which areas offer housing options within waking distance from the campus?
The picture given below can be referred to get an idea of the popularity of areas around USC with the members of the USC community.
Area 1 & 2: Mostly USC students
Area 3 & 4: Many USC students
Area 5 & 6: Some USC students
Area 7 & 8: Very few USC students |
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What should I look for when searching for off campus housing?
Some of the important factors affecting your off campus housing will be:
- Proximity to campus (Click here for an interactive map)
- Safety and security (http://transnet.usc.edu/transit/cruiser_boundaries.aspx)
- USC transportation service (http://transnet.usc.edu/transit/transit.aspx)
- Strength of student community
- Accessibility to grocery and utility stores
- Surrounding neighborhood
- Cost of living
- Utilities (Electricity, gas, water, garbage, phone, internet and laundry)
- Parking
- Type of lease (annual or monthly)
What are the price ranges for the different housing options?
The typical rent around the USC campus is: (As of June 2006)
Studio or single room with bath and kitchen: $800 - $1000 (typically $800)
1 bedroom, bath, living, kitchen: $900 - $1200 (typically $1100)
2 bedroom, bath, living, kitchen: $1400 - $1900 (typically $1600)
The cost of living depends on the location of unit, furnished/unfurnished, condition of unit, utilities included, parking and security.
A typical deal would have the following:
Unfurnished, refrigerator and oven in the unit, gated entrance, annual lease, water and garbage included in rent, parking optional (pay separately), paid laundry in the building.
A good deal may include the following:
Furnished, air-conditioning, heating, electricity, internet, phone, gas and/or parking included in the rent.
Should I finalize my housing from my home country or after I get to USC/LA ?
As far as finalizing the housing from your home or waiting until you arrive here, we will not be able to give a clear answer as the situation depends on a variety of factors.
The advantage of fixing a deal before you get here is that you would have a place to move into as soon as you arrive and you would not be worried about arriving here early to look for a good accommodation. However, in this case, it is always better to have someone you trust to go and take a look at the place you are leasing before you actually commit to the contract. You must be sure of your decision as most contracts will carry a one year lease.
On the other hand, the advantage of coming here and finding an accommodation for yourself will be that you will know the location, assess the environment that you will be living in, compare it better with the options you have, also you will get a chance to meet the people living in and around your prospective unit before you actually move into the place. The problems you might face would be that you will need to arrange temporary accommodation for yourself during the period you are in Los Angeles and looking for your own place to live in (typically 3-7 days). Also, you will need to start your apartment hunt as early as possible because most of the good places around campus tend to fill up fast.
Where do I start looking for off campus housing options ?
For the OIS listing of current off campus accommodations available for rent please visit: OIS Housing Weekly.
You may also check the Other Sources section at the the bottom of the housing weekly page.
