Housing & Relocation
Choosing a home is a personal decision—everyone has different needs and tastes. Here are some resources to help in your search, and some factors to consider that past Ross graduate students have identified as important.
Housing Resources
Interactive Housing Map & Survey
Choosing a Neighborhood
COMMUTING & TIME MANAGEMENT
Your time at Ross will be busy. Some ways to minimize your commute include:
Living within a 10-minute walk of Ross—generally in the areas south of Hill, west of State, downtown, around South University; and some areas of Burns Park.
Living close to an Ann Arbor bus route that passes by Ross, such as the No. 6 State Street; No. 5 Packard, or U-M Campus Loop Shuttle. Some larger apartment complexes also offer a shuttle to Ross.
AMENITIES
Renting a parking spot from a student apartment near campus and commuting by car. (Free street parking can be difficult to find, and U-M permit parking is limited; see U-M Parking & Transportation Services for more info). Please note, the lot right by Ross opens up at 5 p.m. during the week and all day on Sunday. Anyone can park there without a permit.
Several larger housing companies offer shuttles to campus for their tenants. Some shuttles are great, but not all operate regularly or have enough capacity to meet demand. Be sure to check with neighbors or Ross MBAs before relying on them for your commute.
NOISE
In addition to being a college town, Ann Arbor is a working city. Key factors to assessing an apartment for noise include a prevalence of students or undergraduate fraternities and sororities in the neighborhood, proximity to business districts, whether the housing is on a busy street, and distance from the train tracks that run through town (the train passes in the middle of the night). On football Saturdays during the fall, most of the town south of Huron is congested with pedestrians, car traffic, and tailgating parties, especially in neighborhoods adjacent to Michigan Stadium.
SAFETY
Ann Arbor rates are relatively low, and crimes that occur are fairly evenly spread throughout the city. The annual Ann Arbor Observer City Guide publishes a crime map that presents data for major crime categories by neighborhoods. See also the Ann Arbor Police and the University of Michigan Police for information about safety in Ann Arbor.
U-M Housing resources on safety
Choosing a Home
RENTING VS. OWNING
The vast majority of Ross students rent or lease an apartment or house.
TYPES & COSTS OF HOUSING
Ann Arbor offers a variety of apartments, complexes, houses, condos, and other types of units for rent. Costs will vary by neighborhood and quality of housing. For example, housing located closer to campus is generally more expensive.
QUALITY OF HOUSING
When viewing a prospective rental unit, ask the landlord and the current tenants if there are plumbing, insect, or other problems with the unit. If the landlord is cleaning or repairing any part of the house, the cleaning or repairs should be completed before your lease begins. The landlord is required to provide you with two inventory checklists upon move-in. Be sure to complete this list thoroughly to avoid being held financially liable when your lease ends.
AMENITIES & UTILITIES
In addition to the amenities you know you want, be sure especially to ask about utilities and parking. When not included in rent, they can add up and make a more expensive housing option more comparably affordable. For example, heating costs in the winter can run upwards of $100/month; Internet/cable runs $30-$100 or more depending on the package. Street parking can be hard to find in some neighborhoods. If you plan to sublet your housing during the summer months, see if the landlord will provide storage space for belongings you don't want to leave out for subtenants.
THREE TIPS ON LANDLORDS & HOUSING COMPANIES
Name Brands Aren't Everything. In addition to housing developments, apartment complexes, and leasing companies, there are people with investment properties or who moved out of the area and are willing to rent out their homes to students. Craigslist is a great place to find some deals.
Negotiate. Don't be intimidated by established housing companies or pre-prepared lease deals. You may be able to negotiate lower rent, extra amenities (e.g., parking), etc., especially if you're willing to sign a longer-term lease.
"Trust, but verify." In general, use your keen business judgment and seek information. Ask for offers and promises in writing, and make sure the landlord gives you a checklist and Tenants Rights booklet when you sign your lease.
LEASE LENGTHS
Because the housing market is largely driven by the influx of U-M students during the academic year, most landlords require year-long lease terms that run from Sept. 1 through the following August. Subletting is popular during these months, so because the market is flooded, subleases often only yield half the regular rent price. As you negotiate your lease, keep this in mind. Some landlords are willing to sign nine-month leases from September to May, while others will provide significant discounts for a long-term commitment, such as half-price rent during summer months.
Once You're Here
UTILITIES
Residential Phone, Cable & Internet: AT&T, XFinity, and Verizon
Driver's License & Car Registration: Michigan Secretary of State (by law, when you move to Michigan you must transfer your car registration within one month)
MOVING REFUSE
Moving can generate a lot of trash and recyclable waste. Some resources:
Washtenaw County Waste Knot Partners — this site describes Ann Arbor (Washtenaw County) waste pickup and recycling services. On the same site, look for the Trash to Treasure page for a list of area operations accepting selected items for reuse, resale, or donation.
Recycle Ann Arbor — Provides curbside bulky waste pickups at the following cost: $70 for up to 2 cubic yards; $25 for each additional yard; $25 per Freon appliance. Also accepts bulky items at the Drop-Off Station.
TDF II Hauling & Plowing (734-994-3484) — Pickup and disposal/recycling services for many items, including appliances, computers, furniture, and yard waste. TDF also donates items such as cleaning products, toys, clothing and books to local charities.
1-800-GOT-JUNK — For help during move-out, they'll take away large items, such as furniture and appliances, that you no longer want.
USED/RENTAL FURNITURE:
From Art Van Furniture to Craigslist, there are lots of places to purchase or rent new and used furniture in Ann Arbor. Here are a few other local sources for used furniture that some students use:
Cort Furniture Rentals 42350 Grand River Ave., 248-449-4660
U-M Property Disposition 3241 Baxter Rd., 734-764-2470
Treasure Mart 529 Detroit St., 734-662-1363
Super Family Thrift Store & Donation Center (Salvation Army), 1621 South State St., 734-332-3474
RECYCLING & COMPOSTING
The U.S. EPA has recognized Ann Arbor as one of the top 20 recycling communities in North America. Weekly compost and recycling pickup is available at most residential locations throughout the city. Some resources to help you participate:
Recycling storage bins and information can be delivered to your home, leave a phone message on the 24-hour line: 99-GREEN (994-7336) or pick up your bins from the ReUse Center located at 2420 S. Industrial.
DISPUTES & PROBLEMS
Just in case, keep these free, useful resources handy:
Housing Information Office more detailed information covering topics such as the legal rights of tenants, drafting roommate agreements, checklists, subletting, and the Ann Arbor Rights & Duties of Tenants Handbook.
U-M Student Legal Services free, full-service law office available to enrolled students on a variety of practice areas, including consumer problems, insurance, notary service, criminal defense, wills & family law, and landlord/tenant disputes.
U-M Conflict Resolution Services 734-763-4105