September 29th, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

Here’s a cool new technology I read about that will change how real estate agents gather new leads. Basically potential buyers or sellers can connect much faster with real estate agents via cell phone text messaging. Say, for example, you get to a house you’re really interested in buying and you want in depth information asap.

You can now send a text message or email directly to the sales agent right away and they’ll send you back more detailed information on the spot! This company is taking advantage that everyone now carries cell phones so why not connect buyers with sellers?

It has only been 10 years since www.realtor.com became the starting place for anyone looking to buy, sell, rent, and list properties; in those years the same people began carrying a cell phone with them eighty-plus percent of the time. Now with text messaging growing faster than any other form of communication in the world, the opportunity to capitalize has presented itself.

XAP Realty, a Los Angeles based real estate marketing company has created a lead capture solution to utilize the fact that cell phones are now carried by all buyers. The concept is extremely simple, www.xaprealty.com provides real estate agents, individual sellers, and property management companies with interactive yard and rider signs. The signs allow prospects to request the listing information of a particular property by sending a text message.

The prospect is immediately sent the listing details including: address, price, beds, baths, acreage, MLS#, agent’s contact information, and more. Simultaneously, the agent or property manager is sent an email that includes the prospects phone number and the listing that he/she is interested in viewing. The service acts like an on-site assistant, reporting full property details and taking down new lead information 24 hours a day 7 days per week.

XAP Realty benefits realtors by capturing more leads using the non-invasive communication medium of text messaging. XAP Realty saves realtors time and money by providing prospects with the relevant information they need, and reducing materials. Last of all XAP Realty simplifies the process by providing prospects with an effective means of saving the listing information they require, thus making the job easier the realtor.

The question of whether realtors will stay on the cutting edge of technology remains unknown, however, with regards to cell phones XAP Realty interactive signs are already being used in a city near you.

Source: Real Estate Blog

Remarks: This article goes to show you how marketing today is being improved by technology. This is also the case for allstudentrentals.com as our website uses an advance web application that is very new to the internet. In addition to all of this, allstudentrentals.com is also a pay-per-lead service, meaning we only get paid when we bring you qualified leads! This is the same with XAPREALTY, they charge only for the leads that their service will bring you.

September 29th, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

Ohio State’s campus is undergoing a major makeover: the renovation of Thompson Library, the construction of the Lane Avenue parking garage and a new student union set to open in 2010.

The university is also embarking on a $250 million dorm renovation to take place between 2009 and 2012.

According to the university registrar’s office, students living in university housing are likely to maintain higher grade point averages and graduate sooner.

The Office of Student Life has invested $150 million in university housing during the last 15 years to improve campus housing, and have plans to invest more to revamp eight student housing facilities including Lincoln Tower, Jones Tower and the south towers.

“The buildings, especially on south campus, were built in a different era,” said Ruth Gerstner, from the Office of Student Life. “We want to be able to provide students with more privacy and a modern living space.”

Incoming students ranked the quality of residence halls as very important, but give OSU housing facilities a poor rating, according to a survey by the Office of Student Life.

Sophomore roommates Jen Coleman and Malory Weber agree. Coleman said she prefers her current living space in Drackett Tower to her freshman housing on south campus.

“There were things that needed improvement,” Coleman said of her freshman dorm. “The bathrooms weren’t big enough for all the girls and there wasn’t much privacy.”

Weber said she enjoys the convenience of sharing a bathroom with only one other person, and both agree they have more privacy living in Drackett Tower.

By 2012 there will be 1,000 additional beds on campus, 90 percent of residence hall spaces will be of double or single occupancy, 81 percent of residence halls will be air-conditioned and 88 percent will offer private or semi-private bathroom areas. The Office of Student Life will have invest $30 million in standard renewal projects in other residence halls.

“University housing is at 100 percent capacity,” Gerstner said. “We are trying to create a good living environment for students, one that is less crowded.”

Some students will experience changes as early as 2010. Renovation in Lincoln Tower will begin in April, and by fall 2010 floors one through 15 will be converted from offices to living space. Renovations in Jones Tower will begin July and will be completed fall 2010.

The south towers will receive renovations including air-conditioning units and conversion of community bathrooms to private bathrooms. Renovation on the south towers will begin June 2010 and will continue until August 2012. There will also be renovation in the Hall Complex with an addition of 410 beds.

During remodeling, housing facilities will need to be shut down. Arrangements have been made so the renovation process can run as smoothly for students as possible, Gerstner said. Lincoln Tower’s new 15 floors of living space will accommodate students unable to live in residence halls under renovation.

To pay for the multi-million dollar renovation project, student room and board fees will annually increase over the next several years. The Office of Student Life is seeking funds that will help limit the fee increase.

Source: The Lantern - The Student Voice of Ohio State University

Remarks: I found this article to be interesting because it shows that improvements are being made to the on campus housing as well. Dorms are typically thought of as little cubicals with no privacy or kitchen. But over at Ohio State University, they are looking to change this. The dorms are being upgraded and they will be better than ever when construction is complete. If you are a student at Ohio State, we definately recommend you check these dorms out!

September 24th, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

One of the hardest decisions college and university students must make when they go away to school is where to live. Should you live on campus on one of the residence buildings? Or should you live off-campus in student housing? Unless you’re one of the lucky (or unlucky, depending how you look at it) few that can remain living at home throughout your university career, you’ll have to make the decision. The best way of dealing with this dilemma is to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option in order to determine what is right for you.

Living On Campus

Pros:

• Sense of community - It’s easier to make friends and there is always someone around to talk to or find a study buddy.

• Great location - Most residences are located directly on campus putting you nice and close to classrooms, libraries, student life centers, food and much more.

• Don’t need a car - Living on campus gets rid of a daily commute and the need to own an automobile. All you need are your own two feet.

• Safety and security - College campuses have all kinds of security features, including walk programs and 24 hour emergency contacts.

• Easy living - Moving into college residence is quick and dirty. They provide you with everything that you need (including furniture) as well as a college check list for other items you may need to bring.

Cons:

• Higher cost - The residence fees are often higher than off-campus housing because you’re paying for the convenience of living on campus.

• Lots of noise - Residences can get very loud and noisy and at all hours of the night. So if you are the type of person that needs a lot of peace and quiet to sleep and study then it might not be right for you.

• Lack of privacy - Finding time to yourself is limited to when your roommate is off in class. Even then it’s hard to really be by yourself as there is always something going on in the dorms. Sharing a room

• Sharing space - Sharing a space with a roommate means you have to learn to compromise. Sharing a bathroom with many people may also not be desirable and certainly isn’t glamorous. Nowadays it is getting harder and harder to get a single dorm room.

Living Off Campus

Pros:

• Less expensive - Living off campus is generally cheaper than living on residence.

• More space - You will definitely have more space living in an off campus house or student apartment rather than living in the dorms.

• More privacy - It’s easier to find time to yourself living off campus. Even if you have roommates, you will have your own room and your own space where you can retreat.

• Quieter - The noise levels are less extreme in off-campus housing, but they aren’t completely gone. Nevertheless, it will be easier to sleep and study in off-campus living.

• You get to choose your roommate - Say goodbye to the roommate matched to you by some unholy questionnaire.

Cons:

• Miscellaneous expenses - There will be many hidden costs associated with living off campus that can greatly increase the cost of living. This includes utilities (hydro, water, etc) cable and internet bills, parking (at school and off-campus) and commuting costs.

• You may need to buy furniture - Not all off-campus houses are furnished which may be a dilemma to some students.

• Cut-off from campus life - You may feel disconnected from campus activities when living on your own off-campus.

• Longer commute - Buy living off campus you will be further away from campus building and necessities.

By carefully looking at the pros and cons of living off-campus vs. on campus housing, you’ll find it easier to make the right decision as to where to live. Either way you go you’ll be sure to have an enjoyable living experience that suits your needs and personal preferences, and will help you on your road to academic success.

Source: Suite 101.com

Remarks: These tips are good for seeing if living off campus is really right for you. Some students love the experience of being on campus while others like being on their own completely. Each has their pros/cons and both should be considered before a decision is made.

September 24th, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

On Sept. 10, students in University dorms checked their e-mail to find an offer straight out of The Godfather. All the money they had spent on housing thus far plus $1,000 if they moved off-campus in one week.

Only the first 100 students who replied to the e-mail were considered for the offer.

Akron’s class of 2012, the largest in university history, has 4,537 students.  The influx of students proved too much for the existing residence halls.

The only way to house every student was to take space in the newly-acquired Quaker Square Hotel and rent sections of the Radisson in downtown Akron.

At the beginning of the school year, 150 students lived in the hotels.

Thanks to the open spots created by the University’s offer, only 50 remain at Quaker Square.

Hannah Haslinger and Rikki Ottney, freshmen living in Gallucci Hall, considered the offer when they saw the e-mail.

“I think where I stay is not as nice as other places,” explained Haslinger.  “It smells really bad in the elevators.  It was better to have our own place.”

The girls liked the idea of living on their own, paying less for rent and receiving the $1,000 incentive.

Unfortunately, the university would take about a month to send the money they needed for rent.

Though it did not work out for Rikki and Hannah, living off-campus certainly makes financial sense for many other students.

Compared to an average of $2,820 to live in university housing for a semester, five months of rent near campus costs roughly $1,500.

Of course, these figures do not include utilities or gas, but the general consensus remains that, from a strictly financial standpoint, living off-campus is the way to go.

Though offering a total of $100,000 as a free incentive to leave may seem like a waste of money, the potential alternative of paying the Radisson bill for several more months would have dug deeper into Akron’s wallet.

The University of Akron’s success and growth in academic and athletic spheres, as well as general excitement surrounding the new stadium, have made this the third consecutive year of an increase in enrollment.

According to University spokesman Ken Torisky, the Department of Resident Life and Housing has found itself in relatively unfamiliar territory.

“This is the first year we’ve had this situation happen,” he said.  ”We’re looking at all the options we have with our residence life community, and we’re going to be coming up with policies and procedures for future academic years.”

According to Torisky, a new and much-needed $32.5 million apartment-style residence hall on the corner of Exchange and Spicer “has been a possibility in the plans all along, but nothing has been approved yet.”

Source: The Buchtelite

Remarks: I found this article interesting because for once, students were asked to move off campus, simply because the school could not accomodate them. The need for off campus student housing has been on the rise for quite some time and shows no signs of slowing down. The first 100 students in this article were paid $1000 and had to find a new place to live by the end of the week. If allstudentrentals.com was launched in their area, finding a place in a week would be no problem. That’s what we do, we make finding a place easier than ever.

September 22nd, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

Some students opt for off-campus housing as a means to save money. Those willing to share bedrooms often find that living off-campus can be cheaper than living in Hilltop or Charter Oak apartments. But students who want freedom and privacy are finding that paying rent for your own bedroom in an off-campus apartment isn’t as cheap as it once was.

Rent prices have increased for 13 of their 14 off-campus apartment complexes, said Sharon Smith, community manager of New England Realty Management Group, LLC. The increase is attributed to inflation, and ranges from 1 to 7 percent depending on the amount of vacancies in each apartment complex and the distance from the UConn campus.

Perry Hill Estates, located in Ashford, is the only apartment complex owned by New England Realty which actually lowered its rent. The decrease in price from $995 to $800 a month is only temporary and is offered as a sign-on special. The rental special has been going on for about six weeks and could end at any time, said Smith.

Willington Oaks, which is growing in popularity among students, is one of New England Realty’s most expensive complexes. A year-long lease to live in Willington Oaks signed by tenants Annie Taylor, a 7th-semester psychology major, and Romina Sabando, a 7th-semester nursing major, in June of 2007, was $1316 a month. The price included rent and common area fees, but did not include utilities, cable and internet. The same lease, signed in June of 2008, increased to $1353 a month.

Taylor and Sabando, who share the two bedroom apartment with two other women, were unhappy with the increase in rent and brought the issue to New England Realty.

“They told us that rent prices increased everywhere, so they have to increase here too,” said Taylor. “They also told us we won’t be able to find anything cheaper.”

Tenants living in Celeron Square face the same problem. Kelly Corrigan, a 7th-semester sociology and psychology double major is entering her second year at Celeron, and while she loves the apartment, she does not care for the increase in price.

“Many students are responsible for their own financial situations,” said Corrigan. “It can be hard to make ends meet when you have to balance work and class.”

Not all property owners have increased prices for tenants who are signing again. Chapman Properties owns four off-campus complexes, the closest of which is Norwegian Wood apartments located about ten minutes from campus. According to property manager Debbie Blaise, the maximum increase was only $25 a month and tenants who signed their lease again were not responsible for an increase in the security deposit.

“This is my second year at Norwegian and my rent stayed the same. Everyone else has to pay more,” said Jason Zwang, a 7th-semester psychology major.

Despite the overall increases, most students seem to think living off campus is worth it. Carrie Wolfe, a 7th-semester nursing major loves apartment life. Wolfe, who shares her two-bedroom Willington Oaks apartment with three other girls, has to share a room in order to afford it

“I wanted experience in the real world. It’s an adjustment, but in the end I really like it,” said Wolfe.

Source: The Daily Campus

Remarks: This article is interesting because it shows that off campus housing is becoming more and more hard to find. This leads to price increases and less available to students in the area. Our website specifically hunts down available rentals in student areas and this area is no different. We understand off campus housing is becoming more and more competitive and our goal is to relieve the stress in finding a place to live away from home.

September 10th, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

September 10th, 2008 by AllStudentRentals.com

Builders and developers nationwide are increasingly targeting universities to profit from a fast-selling college product: off-campus housing.

By focusing their efforts on selling upscale, mixed-use apartments to the general public, developers have capitalized off the growing demand created by a record number of students enrolling at universities across the country.

With the housing market buckled under a stifling economy, developers are striving to attract students with high-class features. One such housing complex near U. Penn, the Radian, opened its doors at 39th and Walnut streets last week.

At upscale off-campus apartments nationwide, developers say greater luxuries and more freedoms are the biggest selling points. Other luxury complexes that have been constructed near U. Penn’s campus in recent years are the Hub at 40th and Chestnut streets and Domus at 34th and Chestnut streets.

That trend is extending nationwide: American Campus Communities, Inc. recently finished a large-scale off-campus development at Arizona State U.

When the smoke settled, Arizona students were introduced to the Vista Del Sol, a $130 million, resort-like development that features an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and theater.

“The generation we see today is accustomed to having more privacy and more amenities than most on-campus housing has to offer,” said Jason Wills, senior vice-president of development for ACCI. Wills said the company is in the process of negotiating a 1,000-bed project for Boise State U. in Idaho.

“It really comes down to the student making a consumer-based decision,” Wills said.

Steve Brown’s Lucky apartment complex in Madison, Wis. - near U. Wisconsin - also opened in August.

The complex contains two floors of retail space and apartments include features such as suede couches, designer chairs and dishwashers.

Brown - who has been in the business since 1980 - said more students have become open to the option of living off-campus.

“Each market is different, and in our case, it was a complicated partnership between the public sectors and private sectors that made this happen,” Brown said of the agreement to build the 1.4 million-square-foot complex.

About 90 percent of the residents who live in Lucky are U. Wisconsin students.

While many developers rush to build upscale complexes near universities, Inland American Communities Group - developer of the Radian apartments - was invited to submit a bid to build the off-campus facility on land leased by the University, said Penn Facilities spokesman Tony Sorrentino.

The Radian is still having work done on its retail component, but its apartments are 100-percent leased.

“Our communities provide new, high-quality housing to meet the demand for off-campus living among the student population across the country,” Inland Vice-President of Marketing Rachel Kihn said in an e-mail.

“Students are interested in off-campus living that offers the best experience for the best value, based on the amenities, technology and resident services being offered,” Kihn said.

Source: KnowledgePlex

Remarks: Off-campus housing is a great market for developers right now and will continue into the future. Our goal at AllStudentRentals.com is to help these developers lease their student housing complexes after they are built. We are working on partnering with multiple student REIT’s which will be a mutually beneficial relationship.