How to look for off-campus housing?
I applied for university on-campus housing in big city and I am on waitlist. I may or not get space, it is very limited, about 3000-3500 on 14,000 undergraduate students with most reserved for freshmen and sophomore. (and I will be sophmore).I am thinking about looking for off-campus housing still close to my school and subway. The costs at living studio are nearly the same as on campus, sometimes cheaper. I looked on rent.com website but do you know better ones? What websites are good for finding rents and what good for finding a roommate. Would you rather get (if you were in my place) single studio for $600-$800 or try to find a roommate who needs another roommate and share costs and pay $500 or less? Do most rents in general are furnished and have bed and desk? Since I am on waitlist the best housing option for me would be that does not need me to sign long-term contract, but on other side I do not want to live in hotel. LOL What are the options for me? I currently live with parents and when I go to school I commute for 1 h - 1:30 hour. But I do not want to stay here because I need to get involve more on-campus. What are good options for finding rent? Are lease agencies good and reliable source for finding rents or rather on own through websites?
I go to school in Chicago with campuses in Lincoln Park and Loop if that helps! I prefer living in Lincoln Park or Lakeview but it can be any other area as long as it is close to Red Line and safe.