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Housing Options for Students Attending

Winona State University *

A) On-Campus, University Managed and Supervised:

This is dormitory-style living with supervision, room checks, including refrigerator checks (strict no alcohol policies). You must vacate the rooms at specific times during the year. Most students and parents are very surprised to learn that on campus, dorm living is more expensive than ALL off-campus options. Check for yourself. Subtract the meal plan costs from your room and board charges for the number of months you'll have access to the dorm room. Surprised? Most people are. All WSU on-campus dorms even double and triple rooms, as well as apartments at Eastlake,  (smallest, oldest, 2 students in one room, shower/bath down the hall) from (for private 8.5'x 13' room in newer dorm (built 2011-12), where you still share one small bathroom with 3 other people) run $500-$895/month. This does not include meals or parking. If you choose to share an apartment or house with roommates of your choice, you can get a nice place close to campus for under $450, including utilities. This would be a private bedroom, sharing a kitchen, living room and one or two bathrooms with two or more other students of your choosing. The best approach is to select the roommates you’d like to live with next year and then choose a place with the number of bedrooms you need. Bluff City Properties / WSYou.com, across the from campus on Huff Street is an established and reputable company providing off-campus housing for WSU.

No Campus dorms have air conditioning except the new dorms built in 2010 on Mark Street. The new Residence Halls at WSU did not add any additional housing capacity at the University due to the fact that an equal number of beds were taken off-line from other dorms on campus due to City parking requirements.  

1) Main Campus - Convenient to main campus classrooms. Older, small (usually shared) dorm rooms with shared showers and toilet down the hall. The new residence halls built in 2010 have small rooms ( 8.5’ x 13’).

2) East Lake Apartments - 1/2 mile from the main WSU campus. 
You will have to cross a set of busy and noisy railroad tracks that are located right next to these apartments. Trains go past at all hours of the day and night.  Trains run frequently and can take a long time to pass in this part of town. You may be late for class waiting for trains.

3) West Campus - Located on the former St. Teresa College Campus
You will be over ONE MILE from the main WSU campus & classrooms. Older, small (usually shared) dorm rooms with shared showers and toilet down the hall. These rooms have No Air Conditioning.

B) For-Profit Rental Housing Businesses in Winona:

1) Rental Management Companies - These companies typically own very few, if any, of their own properties and manage properties for other owners. The company takes a percentage of the total rent paid each month as payment for management services. Some of these properties can be quite nice, but most are in poor condition.  Repairs and maintenance can be very inconsistent between the properties because the individual owners decide how much money, if any, they choose to put into repairs and improvements.

2) Part-Time and Absentee Landlords -- These are your "typical college rentals." Some of these properties can be rented very cheaply when located far from campus. You get what you pay for! Many of these properties are owned by individuals working other full-time jobs, trying to fit in their property management duties when convenient for them. Consistent, 24-hour emergency response availability is unlikely. Repairs and maintenance can be inconsistent. These may be landlords who show up and enter your rental home without notice. Some landlords are concerned exclusively with the monthly income at the exclusion of improvements and service. Absentee Landlords live out of town. Obviously, repairs, maintenance and service can be nearly nonexistent when the owners do not live in the area.

C) Your Best Choice is WsYOU.com - Bluff City Properties, LLC

This company stands out amoung all other landlords. They are by far the largest (and voted best) source of off-campus houses and apartments at WSU.  Plus, they own all of their own properties so they keep them updated, safe and attractive. At Bluff City / WSYou. there is a huge selection of apartments and houses for three or more renters priced between $350 to $450 / month plus utilities (2011-2012). Over 90% include parking and free laundry in the unit.  These prices are for single private bedrooms with your friends in a wide selection apartments or houses convenient to WSU.  You can choose a place across the street from the main campus, or a beautiful river view in Fountain City, just 8-10 minutes to the WSU campus.  These are not very expensive! In this economy you win.  The ultimate in privacy and luxury is at “ Shorty’s Greenhouse” or across the street at Izzy’s (Isabelle’s Lodge) .  For around $550 / month you can get your very own 12’x25’ lodging studio unit that is only one block from the WSU main campus with your own PRIVATE full bathroom, kitchenette and guaranteed free parking included.  Built in 2009 and 2010, Shorty’s Greenhouse and Isabelle’s Lodge are security-entrance buildings only one block from the WSU main campus. The vast majority of students choose to share a place with friends, however.

JUST THINK, EVEN THE MOST PRIVATE, CONVENIENT AND LUXURIOUS OFF-CAMPUS RENTAL IS STILL LESS $$ THAN THE LEAST DESIREABLE, SHARED / DOUBLE CAMPUS DORM ROOM in a 50+ YEARS OLD building with a shared bathroom / shower down the hall, NO A/C, NO included parking, and the laundry is coin operated. WOW!

Did you know that 80% of WsYOU.com units are leased during the previous year’s fall semester?
Off-Campus Housing Info - Winona State University

Time-Saving, Stress Reducing Tips for Finding Your Perfect Place for Next Year:

Make Your Selection-Compare for Yourself:

Locate a few apartments/houses that fit your needs for next year from the web site (WsYOU.com). Taking the time to review properties online will save you a lot of time later! With floor plans, lots of pictures and tons of information, you should be able to narrow down your search to the two or three properties that will best fit your needs. Also, feel free to stop by the office any time and the staff is happy to answer your questions. They really are friendly and helpful. They have large computer monitors work well for showing groups. The great thing about WSYou.com is they are the only company with an office across the street from the WSU Main Campus. Stop by anytime between 9 a.m. and 5p.m. at 555 Huff Street, Winona, MN or call (507)454-4444.

                                                                         Set up a Showing:
 
Set up a showing so you can take a look at the properties you have selected from our website. You should have all prospective renters available for the showings. We understand if one can't make it for some reason, on the day of the showing, but we do expect you to plan for a time that you can all make it. Please make a note of your appointment time as we do reserve a time for you.

The day of your showing, you'll want to check our website again to see if any units you were interested in had been rented. Also, to see if there are any others you are interested in. The website has all of the important details and pictures for each of our apartments. You can check "Availability" and go to the area with the number of bedrooms you want, and find other properties that are similar as well.  Day of showing: We always meet at our office for showings at 555 Huff Street, Kitty Corner  from the Sheehan Hall - The Tallest Building on the WSU Campus and across the street from Za Za's Pizza, and then we will go to the property. We are happy to give you a ride to the apartment showing if you don't have a car, or if it would be more convenient for you to ride with us.

                                                                        After the Showing:

Back at the office, we will take a few minutes to show you the lease and the other forms you will need and will answer any questions you have about the paperwork, deposits, etc. Often, parents have questions as well. Staff are happy to talk with them, but only if you ask us to. The lease is available online so you can review it before your showing, if you like. A parent or other advisor can view the lease online any time as well. It can be found under the "forms" section of our home page, upper-left part of the page. Call 507-454-4444 for the password to download a copy of the lease.

                                           How to Reserve Your Place for Next Year with a "48hr Hold"

After you have found the perfect place, you will want to reserve and hold the apartment so that it cannot be rented by anyone else (they can rent very quickly in the fall of the year). You can do this either by signing the lease (at least half of the number of renters for the number of bedrooms must sign and pay the deposit) Or, with apartments renting so fast this year, we are also offering a "48 hour hold." Here is how it works:

When you've found your perfect place, you only pay $200 total, (no matter how many renters are in your group) to hold your place for 48 hours. This gives you time to arrange your finances to pay the deposits if needed. But make sure you want it before signing a "hold." The $200 goes toward your deposit but is not refundable if you change your mind. The deposit is $10 less than the monthly rent of your place. You also pay last month's rent in advance, and a utilities deposit. 

                                                     "But We Don't Have All the Money Right Now!"

No problem. A payment plan can be set up for you to give you a reasonable time to pay all of the deposits and to find any needed renters.

What if one of the roommates decides later that they won't be here, or are unable or unwilling  to live in the leased next year?

Your lease is a legal document. You should read it and fully understand it before you sign. However, having been in the student rental business for over 24 years, we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise. For this reason, we have developed the Lease Amendment that can be used in such circumstances. The lease amendment is similar to a sublease agreement, with some important differences. It outlines a procedure for changing renters, and even for changing apartments if there is a problem. Ask the staff for details.

                         You can always call if you have any questions (507) 454-4444
 

          After You Have Signed:
Take a deep breath, relax and celebrate. Imagine how great it will feel to live in your new place next year!

  WsYou.com "LIVE where you like. LOVE where you live!

WsYOU.com ( Bluff City Properties LLC ) was voted Winona’s
BEST OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING PROVIDER
by renters signing leases