You should look for an apartment 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.

The average cost for a room in a shared house is between $300-$600 per month.

Apartment or House Hunting on the Web

The Columbia Flier Newspaper www.columbiaflier.com. Search under Classifieds for Real Estate, Roommates and Rooms.
The Baltimore Sun Newspaper www.baltimoresun.com. Search under Classifieds.
Apartments.com: www.apartments.com.

Property Management Companies

Henderson-Webb, Inc. www.aptrent.com
The Bluffs at Hawthorn
10401 E. Hickory Ridge Road
Columbia, MD 21044
Tel: (410) 995-5559
Fax: (410) 720-0038
Contact: Ms. Clair Herb, Director of Corporate Housing
Fully furnished apartments, including utilities, linens and kitchenware on short-term leases are available.

University of Maryland Residence Life www.housing.umaryland.edu/
This website has numerous housing possibilities for students in the greater Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.

Real Estate – Central MD
1 Mall North
Columbia, MD 21044
Tel: (410) 730-7400

Points to Consider When Renting:

• Think about location, public transportation, laundry, cleanliness, parking and security.
  
• Bus Schedule information: www.howardtransit.com, www.corridortransit.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.