Advice re.Syracuse Univ student housing PLEASE!!! (Orient, Hope: real estate, apartment)

[Annabelle56]

Hi All,
Our son will be a grad student at Syracuse Univ this fall.We need advice re.apartment hunting.
We are planning to visit the area at the end on May but we will only have three days to look for an apartment.Is using a real estate agent to help us look a good idea?
We looked at orangehousing.com but it has so many places listed it's tough to choose who to make an appt.with ,without knowing whether or not this is a good,safe neighborhood and it's close to school,since he won't have a car while attending school.
I don't even know where to begin,any advice will be most appreciated.
Thanks!
PS.We'd love to hear your opinion(good & bad) about the school.

[skaneatelesmom]

First of all, congratulations to your son on his acceptance to SU. It is a great school. Now find those woolies and start packing! Orangehousing.com is a commercial interest not connected to SU. I've looked at the site and it seems very detailed and organized. Looks like a great place to start. Check out the link I've enclosed that gives information about the neighborhoods. Look for neighborhoods on the bus lines and ask students (there must be a student website with postings) for their opinions. You can ask a realtor all the questions you want, but by law realtors should not be commenting on what is a good neighborhood, or a safe one. Everyone has a different definition, as they should. You should call local law enforcement for statistics as to crimes and draw your own conclusions.
Hope this helps and good luck.
Syracuse University - Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs

[Annabelle56]

Thank you skaneatelesmom for replying.Indeed he'll need some serious winter gear....I've been reading about the city and I'm getting mixed reviews re.safety.It all depends on the area as it is with other places.
I'll keep working at it(our son is doing the same)so hopefully we'll find something nice.
I'm hoping to get more replies here too,it's very helpful.
Thanks again!!

[mixedberries]

Off-campus housing seems to extend east from Comstock to a couple blocks east of Westcott Street and south to E. Colvin. This seems to be the area that most grad students live in. Some also live north of campus, around University Avenue and on E. Genesee, but I would rather live in the Westcott area (speaking as a grad student.)

Buses are available most of the day and into the evening in those neighborhoods and certain routes are free for students. There is also a shuttle that students can call to take them from SU to their apartment if they are there late at night. As far as safety goes, you just have to use common sense. Don't walk alone by yourself late at night, don't leave a bunch of CDs (or whatever) visible in your car. Same as any college campus.

[Annabelle56]

Thanks for your reply mixedberries,are you/were you a student at SU?

[Classicalguy]

SU is very safe. There are some rough areas in Syracuse, but they are easily avoided. As cities go it's very safe.

[dnclark]

SU is generally safe. Don't make yourself a target. (i.e. Walking alone at night with your phhone in your ear.)