Deciding where to live when moving to a new city can be challenging. Once you sign a housing contract, you will likely be there for a year or more, so it helps to weigh your options to make the most informed decision. Fortunately, there are numerous USC housing options to choose from. This guide from The Retreat at Columbia can help you find the right type of student housing so you can get the most from your college experience.
Dorms At UofSC
The biggest appeal to dorms is their location. Unlike apartments for rent in Columbia, SC, dorms are located on the university campus, making daily commuting to class and other university events a breeze. This is a huge benefit for those who don’t want to wake up early for class. Many students also enjoy dorms because they can be in the center of student life, which is especially beneficial for freshmen, as it allows them to get to know the campus faster and meet new people. Another benefit to dorm life is that utilities are usually included, so you don’t have to worry about paying bills every month. However, dorms do have their downsides. They tend to be more expensive than most off campus housing, and you cannot stay there during certain breaks and holidays. Plus, you often must share dorm rooms with another person, and if you do not sign up with a roommate, the university will match with a random person.
Columbia, SC Apartments
Apartments for rent provide more freedom, privacy and space than dorms. Plus, the installment payments are often cheaper than houses and comes without all of the extra responsibilities. Apartments have management services that provide maintenance and repairs, and some also offer amenities such as community pools and fitness centers. Apartments, however, are known for being noisier than houses since they share walls with other residents. Pets can be an issue with some apartment complexes, but most will allow them by charging you extra fees. Apartment parking is often limited, and you may even need to purchase a parking permit.
Luxury Apartments In Columbia, SC
Certain apartments, known as luxury apartments, offer amazing amenities providing residents with resort-style living. Indeed, these luxury apartments in Columbia, SC, can offer everything from private shuttles and computer lounges to basketball courts and putting greens for the ultimate college living experience. Many luxury apartments also host social events, where residents can meet and interact with one another, which is a great way to make friends that can last a lifetime. Not to mention, the leading luxury apartments near USC offer a shorter commute to campus, so you can easily get back and forth to the university. What’s more, luxury apartments have management services that perform regular maintenance and repairs free of charge, so you don’t have to worry about those types of responsibilities.
Houses For Rent In Columbia
These homes typically provide students with the most space and freedom of all USC off campus housing. In a house, you get to choose who lives with you, rather than being assigned random roommates. The house’s floor plan will likely provide you with maximum living space, storage space and even privacy, since the walls aren’t connected to another residency. Another benefit of renting a house is that you frequently get a private parking space or garage and maybe even a yard. Yards are particularly nice for cookouts and letting pets roam free. On the other hand, monthly payments and utilities can be more expensive for houses, since you have more space. And depending on your landlord, you may also have to take care of maintenance, repairs and landscaping yourself or pay someone to handle those services for you.
Townhouses & Condos Near USC
There are a variety of condos and townhomes USC students can choose from, and they offer a mix between a house and an apartment. Townhouses and condos are generally more spacious and private than apartments. However, like apartments, they sometimes share walls with other residencies, so noise can still be an issue. Monthly payments and utility bills may also be higher than an apartments in Columbia, SC, but often less than houses. Townhomes and condos are usually under homeowners associations, which means you’re provided with certain maintenance services as well as communal amenities like pools. The downside, however, is that there are more rules and restrictions in place than with houses.
The Best Luxury Apartments In Columbia, SC
The Retreat at Columbia offers USC students incredible luxury apartments that will meet all of your needs and wants, while providing a living experience you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us today to call The Retreat your new home!