Construction on the Links Apartment complex is seen last year. As the trend of large
freshmen classes continues at Ole Miss, the need for off-campus housing developments
also continues to grow. DM File Photo
With nearly 3,500 freshmen currently enrolled at The University of Mississippi, more upperclassmen are on the hunt for off-campus housing than ever before.
“When we first started providing off-campus housing in Oxford, people weren’t signing leases until mid-February or March,” said Scott Stage, senior vice president and property manager of Core Campus in Oxford. “We are now seeing these dates being pushed back. I urge students to start looking between Thanksgiving and Christmas break and signing their lease soon after they return from the Christmas holidays.”
In January 2014, The University of Mississippi announced that on-campus housing would be given to freshmen first, and this announcement sent many upperclassmen scrambling to find new places to live for the next year. Now, the rush is on again for next year’s rising sophomores.
“The biggest obstacle has been time,” said Madison Salisbury, an Ole Miss student who will live off campus next year. “A person looking for a place to live in Oxford should be actively searching right now, if not yesterday. Places to rent go quickly, especially the town-homes close to campus. My advice is to find a place, sign a lease and start interviewing roommates.”
Emily Corley, a retired real estate agent of Coldwell Banker Realty, said there are some key questions to ask before making a selection.
“If renting is their first choice, obviously, location is key. Will you be safe in this area? Will your vehicle and belongings be safe from theft? Is it convenient to your college campus?” Corley said.
Oxford has seen a significant increase in construction of apartment complexes in the past two or three years, and Stager said there’s no shortage of off-campus housing.
“I think it’s actually in a good spot. In the upcoming years, however, it’s very possible that we will start experiencing a shortage if Ole Miss continues to grow at the rate they have been,” Stager said.
Sophomore Shelby Dennis agrees with Stager – for the most part.
“When I recently ended my search for off-campus housing for next year, I realized that there is enough housing to accommodate all students hoping to live off campus,” Dennis said. “However, finding the ideal place to live at an ideal price isn’t always the easiest task.”
As freshman enrollment at The University of Mississippi continues to increase each year, the challenge to find the perfect off-campus housing will likely increase, too.
