Moving to Normal - Rental Questions (Bloomington, Lincoln: apartments, rentals, townhomes)

[cutlaa11]

My fiance and I will be relocating to the Normal area for me to attend graduate school at ISU.

I am having trouble finding reasonable apartments in the B-N area that aren't per room (for undergraduates). Does anyone have any recommendations? We are hoping to pay under 600 for hopefully a 2 bedroom, which I realize isn't much. My fiance does not have work lined up yet, so we really don't know what he will bring in. How is finding a job down there?

We were talking of finding a smaller village outside of Normal to live. Are there any that are clean, have decent rentals and worth the drive?

We are from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so moving to a bigger area like this is a bit overwhelming, so any advice about living in B-N or the surrounding areas would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

[linicx]

Illinois is an agricultural state. You will find far more corn and beans than people downstate. ISU gas somewhere around 25.000 students and teachers. Here is a link to ISU housing. I think you might need your student ID to access it. There is also a phone number to call on the lower right side if you cannot access the list or need other help. Welcome to Illinois State University Off-Campus Housing Database

IL is a bit different than most states. A community can be a village, a town, or a city; it is not judged by size. The problem with the smaller farm towns is there is generally not a lot of rentals available. And then you are driving 10-20 miles to school at $4 per gallon.

Call ISU housing and don't mention the boyfriend if they don't ask. If worst come to worst you may have to come early to find a place. Most apartments are rented by Aug 1st.

[jillr527]

Normal isn't all that big, and at $600 a month, there should be plenty available. Lincoln Park Townhomes would be viable on that budget, and it gives you laundry in unit and free cable and internet. They are pretty nice, and it's a short walk to campus.

[sprtrpr]

Getting a job here for college kids is really easy, that should not be a worry.

Honestly, just search for apartments in the area and you should find something. Bloomington is cheaper if you can drive to class.

Sami, Class Act, and Steeping Stone are just some of the main local apartment leasers. I do not know what you have looked at so far.

Good luck!

[cutlaa11]

Thanks so far you guys!

My boyfriend and I will be married before we move down, so we really don't want to do the whole student apartments. But a lot of the residential apartments are just so expensive! I applied to on campus graduate/family housing, but they don't offer apartments until 2 months to the start of the semester. Just not sure if that turns out to be no if that gives us enough time to find something else. (Especially when we will only be there in a week and once at the beginning of June for orientation)

[sprtrpr]

Originally Posted by cutlaa11

Thanks so far you guys!

My boyfriend and I will be married before we move down, so we really don't want to do the whole student apartments. But a lot of the residential apartments are just so expensive! I applied to on campus graduate/family housing, but they don't offer apartments until 2 months to the start of the semester. Just not sure if that turns out to be no if that gives us enough time to find something else. (Especially when we will only be there in a week and once at the beginning of June for orientation)

Are you referring to the Shelbourne apartments? You do not want to live in those anyway.

[cutlaa11]

Yeah...

Why should we not live there?

[sprtrpr]

Originally Posted by cutlaa11

Yeah...

Why should we not live there?

It is just incredibly outdated, a lot of complaints with that.

[cutlaa11]

Does anyone have any opinions of Danbury Court Apartments (Bloomington) versus Briarwood II apartments (Normal)?