affordable and urban (Minneapolis: renters, look for a job, university)

[ReadWriteRun]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I would like to move to Minneapolis in May. I have a summer job lined up near the University of Minnesota. We would like to live downtown, but will consider other options. We won't be making a heck of a lot of money: my girlfriend will probably look for a job in a coffeshop or bookstore, and I will be doing something fairly low-waged for the summer (I will probably substitute teach or teach part-time in the fall). Does finding a one bedroom in a relatively nice area (I don't need "fashionable," I just want safe and clean..to the extent those things can happen in a city) seem plausible? Here we survived on a place that was 700 w/utilities. What might I consider? Thanks!!!

[golfgal]

I can't help you on the housing but do you have a valid MN teaching license? You won't be able to sub in MN without one so if you plan on doing that in the fall you might want to contact the state licensing board and see if you have all the requirements for a MN teachers license.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Exact prices tend to vary, you could get something small (eff. or 1 br). Downtown is nice, you can find something. Check out places by the Univ. also. (Marcy-Holmes, Dinkytown). They tend to have a lot of student renters and you could probably find somethink half decent. In this area, beware of slumlords as they are a growing problem. The nirghborhoods are nice and the only time they are dangerous is when Men's Hockey wins the title. Convenient to dtwn, Dinkytown is a good commerical area that is part of the Univ. area. Could also look at Uptown. More trendy and gentrified, but has some affordable stuff. Loring Park is an old residential area adjacent to downtown. There will be something nice there too. Hope I didn't ramble, good luck.

[toml0035]

I'd suggest the Uptown area, its very walkable and very urban. There are two express buses that run from uptown to the U through out the day and only take about 15 minutes.