Area realtors prepare for rush of apartment hunters

By BETH BAUMGARDNER
Collegian Staff Writer

For many students, returning to the same cramped dorm room or crowded apartment after a long break is even worse than returning to classes. While it may be too late to change present living quarters, it is not too late to decide on an apartment for next semester.

"We have apartments available, but they are limited," said John Hanna, property manager and owner of Continental Real Estate Management Inc., 256 E. Beaver Ave. "The apartments start going in November, with requests (coming in) as early as September."

Continental, which handles the leasing of several downtown apartment complexes, no longer has three-bedroom apartments available but does have a few two-bedroom apartments left in some of their downtown buildings, he said. There is an ample supply of one-bedroom and efficiency housing available, he added.

Most apartment complexes have been leasing units since the middle of last semester and still have apartments available.

Because of the demand for apartments, many complexes maintain a waiting list for students. Real estate agents proceed down the list of possible tenants, assigning apartments when they become available.

State College Park Apartments, 349 W. Clinton Ave., maintains a priority list for those interested in apartments, said Moriah Fatula, leasing agent. Current tenants announce plans to renew their leases by Jan. 15, after which those on the list are assigned apartments, she said.

When added to the list, future tenants also put down a security deposit and sign an application to lease, Fatula added. The application to lease is a binding agreement, so it is necessary to seriously want an apartment when signing.

While State College Park Apartments are currently available for next fall, Fatula said they go quickly throughout this month, so interested students should act soon.

"We started leasing in October, so right now is prime time for leasing," Fatula said.

Associated Realty Property Management, 456 E. Beaver Ave., which, like Continental, manages of a number of downtown apartments, is also busy leasing, said Kris Holzwarth, property manager.

"We're just getting started," Holzwarth said. The most lease requests come in beginning the day students get back from winter break until the housing fair, scheduled this year for Jan. 30, she added.

Because Associated Realty already knows which apartments will be renewed and which apartments will be available next fall, Holzwarth said agents are able to show interested students the same apartment they would be assigned rather than a model.

This benefits future tenants by allowing them to plan for their own apartment, she added.