ONLINE RESOURCES APARTMENT TOUR CHECKLIST
6 • Weekend, October 20-23, 2016
DC
MADISON HOUSING GUIDE
dailycardinal.com • 7
Fall 2016
It’s more than just a house or an apartment—it’s a home. Your home, for the next year. Madison’s housing scene includes luxurious high rises, friendly neighborhoods and trendy apartments. Find your crib with help from the DC housing guide, because there’s nothing like home sweet home.
ONLINE RESOURCES While looking for signs proclaiming “For Rent” is one way to find a new place to live, looking for apartment availability online might be a more effective and less time-consuming process. Between search filters, city maps and reviews from past residents, the web is a treasure trove of resources for finding the right apartment for you. Here are five sites to help you start your search for happy housing. Campus Area Housing This is the official source of the university for finding off-campus housing. With handy filters to help personalize your search based on number of rooms and bathrooms, location and rent, this website is probably the best place to start your search for your new college pad. Website: campusareahousing.wisc.edu Google Reviews Landlords don’t advertise pests, mold and bad attitudes, but past tenants do. Reviews are the best way to get an unbiased opinion about a potential home. People discuss their experiences with the landlord, in specific apartments and often how unfortunate scenarios were remedied. But it’s not all negative; when you’ve found a nice place often there are pleasant reviews present too. Because of Google’s giant collection of users, there are a wealth of opinions on all things housing-related available with just a few clicks on the keyboard. Search for property management companies, apartment complexes or specific addresses to find the reviews. When combing through the good, the bad and the ugly, bear in mind that often it takes extreme circumstances for someone to post online about an experience. The most helpful reviews will often be the ones that tell you a story. That way you can judge, if the circumstances were yours, if you would have been satisfied with how they were handled. ABODO When you go to ABODO’s website, the focal point is a giant map highlighting different apartments of Madison. Then based on the area shown in the graphic, you can adjust your search based on rent and number of bedrooms. Website: abodo.com/madison-wi
Feature by Allison Garcia
BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
1. Camp Randall It’s Saturday, the game is starting in 20 minutes and you don’t want to miss kickoff. Good thing you live just blocks away from the stadium. After throwing on your bibs, you stroll past your neighbors playing beer pong on the patio and just two minutes later you’re in section O listening to the band play “On Wisconsin.” This area has every-
2. Vilas
Also known as the Greenbush neighborhood because it is conveniently situated next to Madison’s best donuts, the Vilas area is a great place for people who want to hear the crunch of leaves on a fall day and visit the local zoo. With reasonable rents
this area is shared by students and families alike.
3. Campus high rises
Close to campus and State Street, the stacks of freshly remodeled apartments lining University and Johnson are considered to be prime real estate. Because of the great location and newer quality, often
these high-rises are more pricey. However, there are deals available if you’re willing to share a room.
Check out: Forward Management, Tallard Apartments, Madison Property Management, Patrick Properties, SRM Properties
With a reputation for taking in sophomores fresh out of the residence halls, Spring Street hits the sweet spot of getting off campus, but just barely. Union South is just blocks away, Camp Randall is only a short stroll and Spring connects directly with the bike path. Typical housing includes smaller apartment complexes and townhouses.
Check out: Madison Property Management, Varsity Quarters
MORGAN WINSTON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
thing from refined apartments to run-down houses, and living in this neighborhood puts you near enough to campus to leisurely stroll to your classes too.
Check out: Tallard Apartments, SRM Properties, Madison Property Management, J. Michael Real Estate
10
This area is next to the water and home to trendy coffee shops.
Check out: Keller Real Estate Group, Patrick Properties, Mullins Apartments, Ellickson Properties, Madison Property Management, Greenbush Properties
10. Mansion Hill
Residence Halls Even if you are no longer a freshman, the residence halls are still a viable option. Check out the different locations; often Smith, Ogg and Dejope are popular destinations for upperclassmen. Website: housing.wisc.edu
This historic neighborhood is home to houses with wood detailing, hardwood floors and other fancy musthaves like crystal door knobs. The area has a lot of character and takes on a new part of Madison’s cultural scene—and it’s just a quick walk to The Plaza Tavern.
Tenant Resource Center This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering healthy relationships between landlords and tenants. This is a place for all renters to look and learn their rights and learn what action to take when these rights are taken advantage of. Website: tenantresourcecenter.org
Check out: Korotev Group, CMI Management, JSM Properties, Docken Management, Lofgren Properties, CHT Apartments, Steve Brown Apartments
9. Langdon
Despite its reputation as Greek Life row, Langdon also has housing for students not sporting the Greek alphabet. Parallel to State Street, home of Memorial Union’s Terrace and along Lake Mendota, Langdon can be a beautiful place to rest your head.
Check out: CHT Apartments, J. Michael Real Estate, Patrick Properties, Lake Towne Apartments, Hovde Properties, Palisade Property, Wisconsin Management Company, Surf & Surfside Apartments
11
Just because you’re a college student doesn’t mean you can’t live a life of luxury. These pricey high-rise apartments have been popping up like daisies downtown for the past decade. Central to the city’s most happening spots, these complexes put you smack dab in the middle of Madison’s entertainment and food scenes. These apartments also come stacked with furniture and appliances like laundry, dishwashers and even HD TVs.
State
8 5 3 1
6 4 7 2
Check out: JSM Properties, Rouse Management, Smith Management, Forward Management, CMI Management
5. Luxury Downtown
9
11. James Madison Park BEN GOLDEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
4. Spring Street
HARRISON FANGMANN/ THE DAILY CARDINAL
Check out these specific apartment buildings: Hub Madison , Domain, Ovation 309 and The James
Is there a window in every room? How much natural light is there? Is there a charge for sharing rooms?
BEN GOLDEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
6. Mifflin and dayton
8. State Street
7. Bassett
Living on State Street is like living in the center of Madison. You are connected to campus, within view of the Capitol and along a strip of the best restaurants in the city. If you want to live in this cultural hub, you will probably end up above one of State Street’s many businesses. The nights can get rowdy, as you’re living next to some of the city’s most hopping bars.
This area consists of larger houses that have been converted into spacious apartments. The rent tends to be relatively reasonable, making it possible have your own room. The lower rent also marks Bassett as a lesserknown score for Madison tenants. With the older style of architecture and outdoor patios, prepare to be charmed by this neighborhood.
Check out: Keller Real Estate Group, Patrick Properties, Mullins Apartments, Ellickson Properties, Madison Property Management, Greenbush Properties, Oakland Property Services
Check out: Oakland Property Services, Madison Development Corporation, Madison Campus Rentals, McBride Companies
KATIE SCHEIDT/THE DAILY CARDINAL
It’s an awkward thing to do. You go to someone’s home, meet a stranger who doesn’t even live there, then wander around an apartment and look for any reason why you shouldn’t live there. Inspecting the floors, walls and toilets are only part of the process. Think about the little things that affect your day-to-day life and happiness. Use these questions to evaluate whether or not you will be satisfied with the quality of your potential new college pad:
Questions to ask
Welcome to party central. Even when it’s not Mifflin’s annual block party, there is always whooping coming from Mifflin and Dayton. Those who live here are accustomed to the sounds of neighbors celebrating and red solo cups littering their lawns. Despite the party reputation, this is also a close location to many campus buildings.
Check out: JSM Properties, Boardwalk Investments, Hawthorne Buildings, The Towers on State, PH Apartments
APARTMENT TOUR CHECKLIST
Do the locks feel safe? Do the bedrooms have locks? Are furniture and utilities included in your rent? How large are the cabinets? What about the closets? Is there laundry on-site? Where would you dispose of trash? Are there functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Does the elevator seem reliable? Where would you park your bike? Your car? How thin are the walls? How often do they clean common areas? Are there terms in the lease prohibiting pets, candles or parties? How is the water pressure? Could you see yourself living there?
HARRISON FANGMANN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
DC
MADISON HOUSING GUIDE
dailycardinal.com • 7
Fall 2016
It’s more than just a house or an apartment—it’s a home. Your home, for the next year. Madison’s housing scene includes luxurious high rises, friendly neighborhoods and trendy apartments. Find your crib with help from the DC housing guide, because there’s nothing like home sweet home.
ONLINE RESOURCES While looking for signs proclaiming “For Rent” is one way to find a new place to live, looking for apartment availability online might be a more effective and less time-consuming process. Between search filters, city maps and reviews from past residents, the web is a treasure trove of resources for finding the right apartment for you. Here are five sites to help you start your search for happy housing. Campus Area Housing This is the official source of the university for finding off-campus housing. With handy filters to help personalize your search based on number of rooms and bathrooms, location and rent, this website is probably the best place to start your search for your new college pad. Website: campusareahousing.wisc.edu Google Reviews Landlords don’t advertise pests, mold and bad attitudes, but past tenants do. Reviews are the best way to get an unbiased opinion about a potential home. People discuss their experiences with the landlord, in specific apartments and often how unfortunate scenarios were remedied. But it’s not all negative; when you’ve found a nice place often there are pleasant reviews present too. Because of Google’s giant collection of users, there are a wealth of opinions on all things housing-related available with just a few clicks on the keyboard. Search for property management companies, apartment complexes or specific addresses to find the reviews. When combing through the good, the bad and the ugly, bear in mind that often it takes extreme circumstances for someone to post online about an experience. The most helpful reviews will often be the ones that tell you a story. That way you can judge, if the circumstances were yours, if you would have been satisfied with how they were handled. ABODO When you go to ABODO’s website, the focal point is a giant map highlighting different apartments of Madison. Then based on the area shown in the graphic, you can adjust your search based on rent and number of bedrooms. Website: abodo.com/madison-wi
Feature by Allison Garcia
BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
1. Camp Randall It’s Saturday, the game is starting in 20 minutes and you don’t want to miss kickoff. Good thing you live just blocks away from the stadium. After throwing on your bibs, you stroll past your neighbors playing beer pong on the patio and just two minutes later you’re in section O listening to the band play “On Wisconsin.” This area has every-
2. Vilas
Also known as the Greenbush neighborhood because it is conveniently situated next to Madison’s best donuts, the Vilas area is a great place for people who want to hear the crunch of leaves on a fall day and visit the local zoo. With reasonable rents
this area is shared by students and families alike.
3. Campus high rises
Close to campus and State Street, the stacks of freshly remodeled apartments lining University and Johnson are considered to be prime real estate. Because of the great location and newer quality, often
these high-rises are more pricey. However, there are deals available if you’re willing to share a room.
Check out: Forward Management, Tallard Apartments, Madison Property Management, Patrick Properties, SRM Properties
With a reputation for taking in sophomores fresh out of the residence halls, Spring Street hits the sweet spot of getting off campus, but just barely. Union South is just blocks away, Camp Randall is only a short stroll and Spring connects directly with the bike path. Typical housing includes smaller apartment complexes and townhouses.
Check out: Madison Property Management, Varsity Quarters
MORGAN WINSTON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
thing from refined apartments to run-down houses, and living in this neighborhood puts you near enough to campus to leisurely stroll to your classes too.
Check out: Tallard Apartments, SRM Properties, Madison Property Management, J. Michael Real Estate
10
This area is next to the water and home to trendy coffee shops.
Check out: Keller Real Estate Group, Patrick Properties, Mullins Apartments, Ellickson Properties, Madison Property Management, Greenbush Properties
10. Mansion Hill
Residence Halls Even if you are no longer a freshman, the residence halls are still a viable option. Check out the different locations; often Smith, Ogg and Dejope are popular destinations for upperclassmen. Website: housing.wisc.edu
This historic neighborhood is home to houses with wood detailing, hardwood floors and other fancy musthaves like crystal door knobs. The area has a lot of character and takes on a new part of Madison’s cultural scene—and it’s just a quick walk to The Plaza Tavern.
Tenant Resource Center This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering healthy relationships between landlords and tenants. This is a place for all renters to look and learn their rights and learn what action to take when these rights are taken advantage of. Website: tenantresourcecenter.org
Check out: Korotev Group, CMI Management, JSM Properties, Docken Management, Lofgren Properties, CHT Apartments, Steve Brown Apartments
9. Langdon
Despite its reputation as Greek Life row, Langdon also has housing for students not sporting the Greek alphabet. Parallel to State Street, home of Memorial Union’s Terrace and along Lake Mendota, Langdon can be a beautiful place to rest your head.
Check out: CHT Apartments, J. Michael Real Estate, Patrick Properties, Lake Towne Apartments, Hovde Properties, Palisade Property, Wisconsin Management Company, Surf & Surfside Apartments
11
Just because you’re a college student doesn’t mean you can’t live a life of luxury. These pricey high-rise apartments have been popping up like daisies downtown for the past decade. Central to the city’s most happening spots, these complexes put you smack dab in the middle of Madison’s entertainment and food scenes. These apartments also come stacked with furniture and appliances like laundry, dishwashers and even HD TVs.
State
8 5 3 1
6 4 7 2
Check out: JSM Properties, Rouse Management, Smith Management, Forward Management, CMI Management
5. Luxury Downtown
9
11. James Madison Park BEN GOLDEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
4. Spring Street
HARRISON FANGMANN/ THE DAILY CARDINAL
Check out these specific apartment buildings: Hub Madison , Domain, Ovation 309 and The James
Is there a window in every room? How much natural light is there? Is there a charge for sharing rooms?
BEN GOLDEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
6. Mifflin and dayton
8. State Street
7. Bassett
Living on State Street is like living in the center of Madison. You are connected to campus, within view of the Capitol and along a strip of the best restaurants in the city. If you want to live in this cultural hub, you will probably end up above one of State Street’s many businesses. The nights can get rowdy, as you’re living next to some of the city’s most hopping bars.
This area consists of larger houses that have been converted into spacious apartments. The rent tends to be relatively reasonable, making it possible have your own room. The lower rent also marks Bassett as a lesserknown score for Madison tenants. With the older style of architecture and outdoor patios, prepare to be charmed by this neighborhood.
Check out: Keller Real Estate Group, Patrick Properties, Mullins Apartments, Ellickson Properties, Madison Property Management, Greenbush Properties, Oakland Property Services
Check out: Oakland Property Services, Madison Development Corporation, Madison Campus Rentals, McBride Companies
KATIE SCHEIDT/THE DAILY CARDINAL
It’s an awkward thing to do. You go to someone’s home, meet a stranger who doesn’t even live there, then wander around an apartment and look for any reason why you shouldn’t live there. Inspecting the floors, walls and toilets are only part of the process. Think about the little things that affect your day-to-day life and happiness. Use these questions to evaluate whether or not you will be satisfied with the quality of your potential new college pad:
Questions to ask
Welcome to party central. Even when it’s not Mifflin’s annual block party, there is always whooping coming from Mifflin and Dayton. Those who live here are accustomed to the sounds of neighbors celebrating and red solo cups littering their lawns. Despite the party reputation, this is also a close location to many campus buildings.
Check out: JSM Properties, Boardwalk Investments, Hawthorne Buildings, The Towers on State, PH Apartments
APARTMENT TOUR CHECKLIST
Do the locks feel safe? Do the bedrooms have locks? Are furniture and utilities included in your rent? How large are the cabinets? What about the closets? Is there laundry on-site? Where would you dispose of trash? Are there functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Does the elevator seem reliable? Where would you park your bike? Your car? How thin are the walls? How often do they clean common areas? Are there terms in the lease prohibiting pets, candles or parties? How is the water pressure? Could you see yourself living there?
HARRISON FANGMANN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
