Tired of co-ed bathrooms and card keys? You've weathered dorm life for a while now. Time to strike out on your own. Although it's only July, and fall semester seems about a bajillion days away, it's actually the perfect time to get your ducks in a row and start looking for your own digs. Welcome to an on-going series dedicated to helping you out of dorm life and out into your first rental.
For the first installation, we've asked Rental Beast to come up with a list of apartments they thought were perfect for students just breaking out on their own. The list is by no means definitive, rather it's meant to serve as a survey of the city's pickings: it's a tough rental market out there, and rents are on the rise.
Here's a word of advice from Uncle Curbed:
1. Read our "Beginner's Guide to Renting in Philly." We wrote it just for you. 2. Head over to your college's off-campus housing office. They know their stuff, and may be able to help with specific landlords or apartment buildings that the college has a history with.
3. Don't just rely on one website to find your apartment. Rental Beast, Craigslist, Zillow, they all have their idiosyncrasies. Get to know them, and check them daily.
To the listings, via Rental Beast.
↑ This four-bedroom is in Manayunk, a common pick among the college crowd. The $1,250 apartment features a living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen with dishwasher and disposal, central air and wall to wall carpeting. Coin-op laundry on-site. But warning: we counted the bathrooms. There is one.
↑ This three-bedroom apartment, also in Manayunk, is renting for $1,600, and also features one bathroom, a living room, family room, dining room and a kitchen which includes a range/oven, refrigerator, microwave, granite counter tops along with a dishwasher and disposal. There is a basement for storage, and there is a back yard.
↑ Renting for $2,250, this three bedroomin Manayunk features two and a half baths, a living room, dining room and a kitchen which includes a dishwasher (the best roommate you'll ever have).
↑ You could do worse than live in Fitler Square. Far worse. This $1,905 2-bedroom
apartment features your very own washer and dryer and is cable ready. It's also cat-friendly if your roommate is of the furry variety.
↑ This one-bedroom is right in the center of the action at Logan Circle. Renting for $1,595, the apartment features carpeting, your very own washer and dryer, and a patio. Suburban station is a few minutes' walk away, giving you flexibility in terms of transportation to and from school or work.
↑ This one's for the Whartonites. Running from $2,303 to $4,185, the units in this Rittenhouse Square building feature access to a fitness center, secure indoor bicycle parking, and an outdoor terrace. Pets welcome!
↑ This two-bedroom in University City is renting for $1,095. There are on-site laundry facilities and the Drexel shuttle pulls up right at the corner.
↑ $1,825 rents you a 1-bedroom in this University city mid-rise. The apartments in the building feature dramatic high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling picture windows. It's a pet-friendly community that boasts a terrace garden; billiards and game room; entertainment and media room with large LED TV; internet cafe; private rooftop lounge w/ fully equipped kitchen; outdoor grilling area; state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga studio, TV monitors, and sound system, and ground floor restaurant. Just make sure you don't forget to go to class.
↑ Also in University City, for $3,000 you can rent this 6-bedroom for yourself and your favorites. There are two and a half-baths, a dishwasher, and a back yard.