Finding a great off-campus apartment is an adventure that many of our students look forward to, and most are very successful. MICA’s Office of Residence Life and Off-Campus Housing will provide you with tools, advice, and resources to help you with any problems that might arise while you are living off-campus. However, our office cannot find you an apartment, screen landlords, keep track of your paperwork, pay any rent or fees, sign your lease, or act as a lawyer. Please consider us a resource as you begin your search, but please remember that the adventure of finding and keeping an off-campus apartment is your responsibility. Let us know how we can help!
On-Line Apartment Search
We recommend the following resources to find off campus housing but there are many more out there that might be fruitful. The popularity of these resource listings changes from year to year so please consider using more than one from the list below. Please keep in mind that there are people who are looking to scam you out of money on the internet! Search at your own risk and if you are unsure about a particular apartment, then don't sign a lease or send money. The following sites are not affiliated with MICA.
https://www.zillow.com/baltimore-md/
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/
If you happen to be in Baltimore, we recommend looking for vacancy signs in windows in the neighborhood of your choice. In addition, there are multiple apartment complexes in the area that often have a variety of different apartment options and usually have vacancies.
Finally, search Facebook for MICA Off Campus Housing - Here you will find students who are looking for apartment-mates, subleasing, have insider knowledge about a particular landlord or address, etc.
The following tips will help you with your search:
- Begin your search at least 30 days before you need a home.
- Allow several days to search for housing and become familiar with the city. Take your time inspecting accommodations.
- Allow time for your references to be checked.
- Plan to drive or walk through selected neighborhoods to look for vacancy signs in buildings that are not advertised in the newspapers or online.
- Check online everyday. If you see a listing you like schedule an appointment immediately.
- If a landlord tells you that a listing has already been rented, politely ask the landlord if she or he has additional anticipated rentals available. Have a pen and paper ready.
- Be assertive. Don’t be pressured into signing a lease on-the-spot before you’ve had a chance to review it carefully.
- Always call before visiting apartments, as spaces are filled quickly.
- If you are coming from out of town to look for an apartment, make arrangements in advance to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast.
- Contact Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) to get information about utilities and average costs for the address you are interested in.
- It is a good idea to have one person negotiate with the landlord, especially if several share the dwelling.