When it’s time to decide on your home for the upcoming school year, many Georgia Tech students are often shocked at how early the leasing process can begin. With demanding academic schedules, work commitments and maintaining a social life, the school year can swiftly pass by, making it hard to carve out time to look for student housing.
At Rambler Atlanta, we know how time-consuming the housing search can be. To help make this process easier we have written this guide outlining the best time to start your housing search and the first steps you should take to ensure you can effortlessly discover the next place you’ll call home.
In this article, we’ll dive into:
- The typical timeline for a Georgia Tech student looking for housing
- The pros of signing early and how it can help you save money
- The optimal time to begin your housing search
When Should I Start Looking for Student Housing in Midtown Atlanta?
What does the housing timeline typically look like for a Georgia Tech student?
While the timelines for each individual can vary, many students start the lease signing process as early as the fall semester of the year preceding the intended lease commencement.
For instance, incoming first-year students often find themselves contemplating or signing a lease for the upcoming year within a few months into the fall of their first year.
It’s important to note that your specific timeline can be influenced by your desired living location. Generally, student apartments tend to have earlier leasing schedules and this trend is particularly common for new and upcoming properties.
Fresh developments want to swiftly occupy their units, offering attractive discounts and perks to encourage students to secure their leases early. If you’re leaning towards a new development, you should begin your search during the summer and aim to finalize your lease early in the fall of the preceding year.
For example, if you’re looking to sign a lease at an apartment that is opening in fall 2025, you should research the company website during summer 2024 and finalize your lease by early to mid fall 2024.
Will signing earlier get me a better rate?
When properties start their leasing process for the upcoming year, their websites often fill with enticing phrases such as “our lowest rates,” “don’t miss your chance,” and “sign now.” This might prompt you to wonder: is this genuinely beneficial and does signing early lead to cost savings?
In short – yes! Typically, rates for student apartments begin at their lowest levels during the initial leasing stages and gradually escalate as the apartments become occupied and demand rises.
It’s important to note that while early leasing can help you secure a more favorable rate, there’s no guarantee it will be the absolute lowest. Some properties might introduce flash sales and discounted rates as the school year approaches and vacant rooms remain. However, waiting to lease late entails potential risks. Late leasing may limit your options to less desirable complexes, locations and floor plans, along with reduced flexibility in choosing roommates.
The decision to lease early comes with several advantages beyond potential discounts. It allows you the first pick of preferred locations, floor plans and roommate choices, significantly influencing your overall living experience for the upcoming year.
Leasing early also gives you a better chance of securing block housing. Block housing is when you and a large group of friends lease at multiple units near or next to each other on the same floor. For example, if you and 15 of your friends sign for a “block,” you won’t all be in the same unit, but divided up over multiple units on the same floor so you’re no more than a few feet away from each other. Block housing is most common at new developments. To learn more about block housing, be sure to read our article, Everything You Need to Know About Block Housing at Rambler.
However, if your priority is solely to find the best possible rates and you’re willing to take the risk of leasing late, that option remains open. Ultimately, the choice depends on how much you are willing to risk to secure the utmost lowest rate.
How early should I start my search?
Now that you have a sense of when you intend to finalize your lease. Now, the question is: how far in advance should you initiate your search to allow enough time for decision-making before signing?
Before committing to a lease, you should research locations and floor plans, touring various properties and engaging in discussions with potential roommates. Altogether, this process may span a month or two.
To make sure you have enough time to navigate through these crucial steps and make informed decisions, you should start your apartment research one to two months before your intended lease-signing date.
For any additional questions about the leasing process or to learn more about living at Rambler Atlanta, feel free to reach out to our leasing team. We are more than willing to assist you in your pursuit of student housing!
