The Office of Residential Life and Housing’s Off-Campus Housing Services will host an off-campus housing fair on Oct. 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Don Taft University Center spine, to connect students, alumni and faculty with representatives of residential properties near NSU and throughout South Florida. Julio Perez Jr., graduate assistant for housing services and off-campus housing, thinks this is an ideal opportunity for students to learn about local apartments and houses, as representatives will give participants personal attention.
“Each representative will take the time to speak with you to make sure they are meeting your every need,” Perez said. “They are going to be very considerate in honoring the NSU community when pricing apartments for students. It is also a good opportunity to build a relationship with your property manager.”
Representatives will include property managers, realtors, community managers and leasing agents from Grey Star, ZRS Management, Extended Stay America, Equity Residential and other companies.
Off-Campus Housing Services has had similar fairs for the past 14 years, typically in the UC each fall semester and at the Health Professions Division’s Terry Administration Building each winter semester.
Lillian Monique Valle, senior sociology and international studies major, moved into Sunforest Apartments, located off of Nova Drive and University Drive, soon after attending the off-campus fair last fall.
“It was a really broad overview of what’s out there in the community,” Valle said of the past fair. “They had a lot of good things for students, like discounted security deposits, pet-friendly neighborhoods, places within walking distance and very good amenities.”
NSU Campus Realtor Jill Sivert, who works closely with students and other community members interested in nearby housing, will also be at the fair and has attended several past ones. She said that the representatives try to make the fair enjoyable by incorporating free food, games, prizes and giveaways.
She also talks to students about different housing options, including apartments, condominiums, townhouses and more, along with the advantages of buying verses renting.
Sivert said, “I deal a lot with rentals, though some students do end up buying. If they’re going to be at school for a number of years, because rent is high, it is sometimes better if they buy the place and then get a roommate to help pay the mortgage.”
Though reservations to attend the fair are not required, Perez recommends that participants prepare in other ways.
Perez said. “Student should prepare by having a general idea of where they want to live and what they want out of the property such as what type of lease and how much you want to pay.”
For more information on Off-Campus Housing Services and the fair, visit nova.edu/reslife/offcampus or call 954-262-7060.
