Moving to Millersville -- rent or buy ? (Lancaster, Hershey: apartments, rentals)

[Dreamland]

Hello, Good Day !

I've got a tenure-track faculty position at Millersville University, and will move there (alone) around early August. Since it's a completely new place for me, I'd like to get some advice on the accommodation there. Your kind help would be most appreciated.

Option 1 -- to buy a house:
How is the housing market in Millersville, pretty stable or not ? Is it a good time to buy now ? What would be the average price for a pretty new 2- or 3-bedroom house there (in a quiet, safe and beautiful place, within walking distance to the campus) ? If I buy a house, it would be the best for me that the house has almost everything, in good taste and good order. Is it easy to sell a house there (in case I'll have to sell it) ?

Option 2 -- to rent (rent for some period and then buy)
How much is the rent for a 1- or 2-bedroom apartment ? Are there nice apartments near the campus (quiet, safe, with beautiful surrounding and within walking distance to the campus) ?

What would you recommend, to rent or buy ?

Have a sweet dream,

Dreamland

[teachbeach]

You need to come and visit to see what/where you want to live. Living close to campus sometimes means living with/among students, which could be fun at times, but at other times you might be a camp counselor or den mother trying to quiet the masses. There are many pretty communities and I'm sure you could find a house with your specifications. If I were in your position, I would look for a short term rental and seek the advise of co-workers, live here and decide how close/far you want to be to campus and check out the options between Millersville and Lancaster for affordable housing to buy.

[Dreamland]

Dear teachbeach, Many thanks for your very kind advice. I'm also thinking about short term rental. According to the information provided by my future co-worker, it seems I'll have to rent an apartment in a house since I want one within walking distance (my driving skill is not yet good enough). Some future colleagues in the university have kindly offered rooms for me to stay in their houses, but I'm a bit worried about living with colleagues considering the different culture, habits and etc. I would't want my work relationship to be likely damaged -- can I tell the colleagues this way ? How can I find a furnished apartment in a house around the campus (e.g. in Crossgates) for a short term rental ?

Your kind help is most appreciated. Take care,

Dreamland

[toobusytoday]

In any college community there are going to be rentals available. If at all possible, I would not stay with a colleague. Your instinct is right about that. Okay, maybe a week or two while you find something, but that would be long enough.

Once you get to the college I'm sure you will find a bulletin board or two in the student union where people have posted places to rent or sub-let. Also, at my sons college there is an on-line classified ad bulletin board where people will post rentals, perhaps they have something like that at M'ville. You should also be able to find things with the classified sections LancasterOnline.com: Classifieds > Rentals Both of my kids applied and were accepted at Millersville (although neither accepted), it's a great college. good luck!

[solancogirl]

Most of the rentals in Millersville are acclimated toward students and so a nice rental can be hard to find within walking distance of the school. It is obvious that your standards will be much higher than a student's just as they should be. Non-student rentals will expect you to sign a 1 year lease. Finding a furnished place will be very hard. Short term leases? Almost impossible.

The surrounding area is beautiful, Millersville is a nice small town. Housing prices right now are strong, as they always are in a college town since demand is consistent. You should very much consider coming to the area and spending a few days and looking at it for yourself for several reasons. 1) Everyone's standard of far and near, pretty and not so much are different. 2) What is common in some areas (such as certain types of rentals) are not always so common in others, so you need to become personally familiar. 3) It looks as if you have very exacting standards. It would make more sense for you to see what appeals to you. 4) Once here your co-workers, I am sure, will be glad to help you find housing.

It is always difficult to make recommendations with so little information. Available money would be a good way for us to give you more exact recommendations.

[toobusytoday]

Actually, I think it's easier to find places in college towns because of the transient nature. In regular towns people stay in apartments and houses for years. I would suggest looking ASAP. This is the time of the year that leases are being signed for the fall. Good suggestion from solancogirl about talking to your co-workers about places. It sounds like you know a few co-workers now, ask them to keep their eyes and ears open for apartments or houses.

[Dreamland]

Hi, many thanks for all your very kind and helpful advice. My co-worker has offered to find a short rental for me. Just to provide some information for some future new comers, I was advised that the best rental complexes are Manor House Apartments (Spencer Ave., Lancaster) and Hershey Heritage Apartments (Wabank Rd., Lancaster). Manor House is about 4 miles away from campus, and it's on a bus route. The bus stops right in front of the library at MU. The rent would be about $720 per month for a one bedroom and one would pay the electricity which includes the heat. Both complexes have web sites for more information.

All the best to all of you !