The best place to look for a nearby apartment is in Columbia, preferably around the Town Center where bus service is easily accessed. Some key neighborhood names to search for are: Clary’s Forest, Columbia Mall area, Hickory Ridge, King’s Contrivance and Swansfield. You may also want to look for a room in a shared house. The average cost for a room in a shared house is between $300-$600 per month.

Apartment near Howard Community College (HCC):

 The Greens at Columbia
12215 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
Tel:   +1-410-997-4774      
Price range: $1150 - $1425 per month
Distance from HCC: 1 mile

Harpers Forest Apartments
5980 Turnabout Lane, Columbia, MD 21044
Tel:   +1-410-730-2049      
Price range: $989 - $1489 (per month)
Distance from HCC: 1/2 mile

Clary’s Crossing Apartments
11311 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
Tel:   +1-410-964-5557      
Price range: $890 - $1655 USD (per month)
Distance from HCC: 1 mile

Other places to find housing:

Craigslist
Apartments.com
Henderson-Webb, Inc.

Points to consider when renting:

• Think about location, public transportation, laundry, cleanliness, parking and security.
  
• Bus Schedule information: http://www.howardtransit.com/.
  
• Before signing a lease or a rental agreement, make sure that you have read and understand everything in the contract. If you are not sure about anything, ask for help from a friend, or your advisor. Also, always get a copy of anything you sign.
  
• Do not sign a lease unless you are sure you like the apartment enough to stay the full time specified in the lease.