Author Archives: Ali Bartmer

About Ali Bartmer

Chips and salsa aficionado, Ali Bartmer joined the Rent College Pads team in the fall of 2016 as the Operations Assistant and has since become a Content crafter. Cat mom of one, Ali prides herself in being a Bloody Mary connoisseur and with her Masters from Hogwarts there’s nothing Ali can’t do.

Top 10 Penn State Landlords
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State College, PA Welcome Sign
(flickr)

So you’re looking for apartments near Penn State — but where do you start? We know what not to do. Don’t go around town looking at For Rent signs taped up in dusty windows with landlord numbers hastily scrawled on them. Instead, you should research the best possible landlords and property management groups near campus! But how do you know which companies are best?

That’s where College Pads comes in. We work with reputable landlords on a day to day basis, so we’ve decided to put together a list of the best possible property management groups for you to compare when looking for your next place. Check out these top landlords, and then search for their Penn State apartments and houses on our customized map page!

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The Most Expensive And Most Affordable Colleges
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Congrats; you did it! You’ve been accepted to more than one college, but now comes the hard part. Choosing where you’re going to go attend college is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your lifetime, and choosing where you’re going to live during those unforgettable four (maybe five) years comes in at a close second. While a lot of freshmen go for the dorm life their first year, the majority of students who have done their time living on campus anxiously anticipate the day when they can live in their very first off-campus apartment or house. Sure, staying on campus has its (slim) advantages, but a place off-campus comes with some unbeatable perks and, for the most part, is cheaper than living on campus in the dorms. Time to say goodbye to restrictions and rules and hello to your new-found freedom!

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Student’s Choice: Top 10 Rated Student Housing Companies
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Off-campus student housing isn’t quite like it used to be, and these top ten companies on our list are prime examples of how this growing industry is taking off-campus student living to a whole new level. Hundreds of luxurious off-campus student oases have been popping up at college campuses nationwide over the years. These extravagant student abodes often draw in their residents with impressive amenities, like high-end furnished apartments with utilities, rooftop resort-style pools, cyber study lounges equipped with Macbooks, indoor and outdoor sports courts, movie theaters, and beyond! 

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Top 5 Apartments For Rent in Manhattan, KS Near K-State
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Every year, thousands of Kansas State students searching for off-campus houses and apartments in Manhattan, KS near Kansas State use CollegePads.com to find their perfect place to live near K-State. A vast majority of off-campus leases are signed during the early part of the second semester, months and months in advance from your move-in date. 

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Ohio State’s Going Back to Campus: Sophomores Granted Off-Campus Exemption
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Ohio State University students will make the return to campus for the fall 2020 semester! The Ohio State University President, Michael V. Drake, recently made the announcement that in-person classes will resume on campus beginning Tuesday, August 25 with the conclusion of the semester on Friday, December 4.

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Top 5 Houses for Rent in Ann Arbor Near the University of Michigan
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Each year, thousands of students searching for Umich off-campus housing use CollegePads.com to find their perfect Ann Arbor rental. A majority of off-campus leases are signed during the Fall semester, almost a year in advance of the date that you would be moving in. If you’re looking to land one of the houses for rent in Ann Arbor, you’re going to want to have your search well underway in September and have a lease signed no later than November. Students still continue to sign throughout the spring semester, though options are severely limited by that point. 


These properties were the five most contacted houses for rent in Ann Arbor by Michigan students during the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters.

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10 Most Popular East Lansing Apartments Near Michigan State University
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Every year, thousands of students searching for apartments and off-campus housing near Michigan State University use CollegePads.com to find their housing. There’s a great mix of off-campus housing options near Michigan State, and apartment inquiries have been on the up and up! Like many other campuses across the nation, MSU students start looking for housing during their Fall Semester. Students begin their hunt for MSU apartments as soon as September, and the number of searches peaks throughout the semester in the months of October and November. 

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Indiana University Top 5 Bloomington Apartments for Rent
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Each year, thousands of students searching for apartments and off-campus housing in Bloomington, IN  use CollegePads.com to find their housing. There’s a  great mix of off-campus housing options near IU and apartment inquiries have been on the rise! Like many other campuses across the nation, many students start looking during the Fall Semester. Students begin their hunt for IU apartments as soon as September, and the number of searches spikes throughout the semester in the months of October and November.

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5 Most Popular Houses for Rent in Muncie, Indiana Near Ball State University
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Each year, thousands of students searching for houses and apartments near Ball State University use CollegePads.com to find housing. Just like many other campuses across the nation, many students at Ball State start searching for housing during the Fall Semester. Students begin their hunt for Muncie rentals early in September, and the number of searches picks up throughout the semester in October and November. 

This year is no different. Most leases are signed during the Fall Semester, almost a year in advance of the date that you would be moving in, but the slackers are still signing during the spring. If you’re a BSU student with a group looking for a place, you’ll want to sign a lease as early as September and no later than November. For those looking to live alone, you can buy yourself a little more time, but don’t wait too long. Get ahead of your competition and start your search for off-campus housing before your competition does!

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How to Avoid Rental Scams
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From Telemarketing scams, identity theft, to credit and debit card fraud we’ve all heard horror stories about scams, or even worse, fallen victim. Rental scams are prevalent across the nation and first-time student renters looking for off-campus housing are especially vulnerable to fraudsters because they often communicate with landlords and lack experience when it comes to renting.

College Pads surveyed hundreds of students across campuses nationwide and found that many students have encountered an online rental scam when looking for off-campus housing near their university.

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