Ann Arbor: The Great Apartment Search

We’ve all been there. Apartment hunting can be brutal. From touring places that look nothing like their photos to astronomically high rents that seem unfathomable for the space you’re looking at, you tend to face it all when looking for a new home. Add a super popular college town into the mix and you have a recipe for stress in front you!

Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, the Big House, Zingerman’s and a small town yet uber-techy, trendy atmosphere, can be one of the most challenging places to apartment hunt. Whether you’re a student, a family, or a local professional looking for housing, competition is high and supply can be low – at least for the space and amenities you might be searching for. So what’s the solution?

In Ann Arbor, it’s desirable for most to be downtown, close to restaurants, entertainment and within walking distances to the U of M campus. As a student, I loved walking outside my door to find a plethora of activities year-round, and being able to walk to the UGLI or grab a quick coffee and bagel on my way to class certainly had its “perks”! BUT, there were also some huge drawbacks…so many so that by the time I reached post-graduate years, I headed outside of downtown’s borders to find a space that fit my more adult lifestyle. So what’s the case for grabbing off-campus housing in Ann Arbor? Well, I’m glad you asked:

1) SPACE: First and foremost, the amount of space you can get just a couple of miles outside of downtown is completely mind-blowing. Multiple bedrooms, ample counter and cabinet space in the kitchen, even room to convert a third bedroom into an office. Plus, you can get things like bike storage, walk-in closets and vaulted ceilings. Try finding that downtown!

2) AMENITIES: Downtown, the top amenity you have is the city around you. Forget about having an on-site fitness center, swimming pool, yoga room, or any other bonus feature that’s included in your rent. That’s right – it’s practically free, unlike that tiny $150 a month gym you belong to now! Outside of downtown? You’ll find a plethora of amenities like the above, which are all on the list at Arbor Landings Apartments.

3) PARKING: Parking in Ann Arbor is not fun. Plain and simple. Trying to get a parking spot is even less fun. At one point I was paying upwards of $125 a month in addition to my already ridiculous rent just to have a tiny parking spot on the asphalt behind a building 4 blocks away from where I lived. Outside of city center, you’ll find abundance of private parking, and for a small fee, you might even score some covered parking. Driving to the Medical Center for work or to North Campus for class is simple and easy, and you don’t have to deal with avoiding ice patches and trudging through blizzards in the winter!

4) LOCATION: OK, the last thing you’d think of as a bonus to housing outside of town is location, but the truth is, the nearby suburbs have tons of perks. For one thing, your new place will only be a couple of miles from all the action – for example, Arbor Landings is only 4 miles west of campus and the Medical Center, and only 2 miles from easy freeway access. Using your car, parked just outside your door, you can quickly access it all. Don’t feel like driving? Hop on the AATA bus service – line #9 is just outside the door at Arbor Landings, for example. Plus, the suburbs boast quick access to grocery stores, malls, parks and quiet open spaces. Plus, you can avoid the noise and ruckus that life on campus can often bring. Frat parties are fun, but hearing them every night? Not so much.

So, are you ready to take the plunge into housing outside the bustling city streets of Ann Arbor? Ready for some peace, quiet and a crazy amount of space? Check out Arbor Landings to find what you’re missing out on. With amenities like poolside Wifi, yoga room, abundant parking, and a location in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Ann Arbor, you can’t go wrong. Arbor Landings has 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments that are yours for the taking.