Thresher Housing Guide 2018 by The Rice Thresher

presents:

HOUSING GUIDE 2018 pg 2

Leasing 101 Average Monthly Rent pg 4 Off-Campus Perspectives pg 5 Surviving Housemates pg 6 Surviving Without a Car pg 6-7 How to Eat While OC pg 8 Public Transit Near Campus

Design and illustrations by Christina Tan and Sanvitti Sahdev. Content contributed by Drew Keller, Juan SaldaĂąa, Andrew Grottkau, Emily Abdow, Charlene Pan, Shannon Klein and Sara Lopez.

HOUSING GUIDE

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

LEASING 101 1

PLAN

Determine who you’ll be living with and your budget once rent, utilities, insurance and other costs are divided among you. Also, figure out whether you want to rent the house/apartment starting at the beginning or end of the summer. Many lease agreements lock you in for 12 months, but you can find some of the many Rice students who stay in Houston for the summer to sublet and pay rent for the summer. Size: Pretty self-explanatory. How many bedrooms do you want? How many bathrooms are you willing to share? Location: The key question: Do you have a car? Proximity to campus should be a major consideration in your decision of where to live. Amenities (mainly applicable at complexes): Parking, pool, gym, etc. Ask if they’re free. You’d be surprised what’s included in the rent at some developments, ranging from free coffee to complementary yoga classes and development events (if you want to make friends with a bunch of middle-aged parents).

The best idea is to start looking immediately after you know you’ll be living off campus next year. The internet is a big help in finding apartments (and in most other things). Check out sites like Zillow, Trulia or the many, many, many other services dedicated to collating and comparing apartment openings. Word of mouth is another useful means of finding possible places, especially houses. If you’re looking for a single room, the Rice Apartment/ Sublease Finder Facebook group is where people typically post for housemate search.

TOUR

You should be able to arrange tours of your top choices, and it’s a good idea prior to moving in. Ask questions and try to imagine yourself in the space for a year. If a development has multiple units open, look at a few different floor plans. One month before move-in is the peak time for reserving an apartment, though it’s certainly possible to find options before and after. For houses, the time is more flexible so you can typically arrange a tour with the landlord months before move-in. Communication with the landlords is critical because they can have various house rules. Tip: Ask about furnitures and utilities. Most apartments are unfurnished and you have to set up your own electricity, gas and wifi. Houses may come with some furniture and/or utilities and chances are people moving out may be willing to sell furniture at low prices.

RESERVE

MOVE IN!

Once you’ve found a place that you like within your budget, go ahead and fill out a rental application. It will likely take several days to be approved, depending on how quickly you get all of the necessary paperwork in (expect to send your driver’s license, blank check and student ID). Typically, you and your roommates will be co-signing the lease, meaning you’re all responsible for any rents and liabilities arising from the rental. At apartment complexes, chances are you’ll need a guarantor as well, since you and your roommates’ combined income as students won’t reach the level required to sign a lease. Ask a parent to sign as guarantor — they’ll need to submit identification and a pay stub as well. Expect some upfront payment, typically a deposit and/or the first month of rent, even if you’re not living there right away. Your landlord may require you and your co-signers to purchase renters’ insurance, which can run $15-30 per month (Side note: Make sure to cancel this insurance after you move out! It may not happen automatically). You’ll need to figure out how you’re moving into your new place, the difficulty of which depends on whether the house or apartment is furnished. If you’re going unfurnished, a good idea is to look for students who are graduating or moving back on campus and buy their furniture, especially if they’re living near your rental (Moving can be as simple as carrying furniture from one unit in a complex to another!). To get stuff from campus to the rental without a car, recruit friends, rent a Zipcar pickup trip or U-Haul van — which are surprisingly affordable — or consider pooling with other students to pay for movers.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

THE RICE THRESHER

HOUSING GUIDE

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

OFFCAMPUS PERSPECTIVES

Sam Burke Martel College junior

Residence: Townhouse Roommates: 2 Car: Yes Meal Plan: No How far away? About a 10-minute drive. What time do you come to campus? Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10:40 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 9:00 a.m. What time do you leave? By 5:00 p.m. Why OC?:At Martel, usually juniors get kicked off. I knew one of my closest friends, [Martel junior] Adrish [Anand] had a house, so I was like, let’s go, let’s get housing early, lock it up — that way we don’t have to worry about housing jack because I’ll most likely get kicked off. How often do you cook? Almost every meal. I’d say I eat out five meals a week, which includes Sammy’s, Chik-fil-A and going out to dinner. The other meals I’m at home, usually reheating chicken tenders or bagels or cereal. Best part about living OC: It’s cheaper by a lot. I eat better food than on campus. I eat significantly more food than on campus even though I know it’s unlimited on campus, and I pay a lot less for it. Worst part about living OC: The convenience factor and being disconnected from your college. It’s definitely hard to be connected with everything going on. First semester I tried to be connected to things going on at Martel. I would do all my homework in the commons, say hi to people, but I didn’t really know the incoming freshmen and still don’t. On campus I think I would know them a lot better. Miscellaneous: The convenience is not bad. I can park in North Lot or West Lot and I end up closer or equidistant to things. I still do feel disconnected, and that’s a bummer, but the food is so much better. And the amenities are better. I was living at Martel, so I had really great rooms, but living OC I’ve got my own bedroom, my own bathroom for the same price Rice housing is. Advice: Try to find a group as early as possible and base the housing on that group. You’ll care more about having a good group and a bad house than a great house with a bad group. Another key piece of advice is: Don’t get the meal plan unless you’re planning to eat every meal on campus. Otherwise, it is not worth the price. You can pay for Tetra and then get meals swiped that way. The meal plans for less than the full amount are scams. Will you stay off? Yes

Eugenio Mesto Will Rice College junior

Sofia Russo

McMurtry College sophomore

Residence: Apartment Roommates: 1 Car: Yes Meal Plan: No How far away? 10-minute drive. What time do you come to campus? 8:00 a.m. every day. What time do you leave? After classes end. Why OC? My sister started college at a nearby school, so economically it just made sense. Money-wise, why pay for two dorms when you can pay for one? How often do you cook? Dinner every night. Best part about living OC: I get my own bathroom. Living in the dorm rooms, in McMurtry we have these stone walls. It’s not very homey. I go back to my apartment, I have stuff all over the walls, it’s my place. I like the separation. Worst part about living OC: I have class at 10 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. I will get here at 8 in the morning so I can get parking. West Lot parking is bad. I had lab last semester — it was my only class of the day and it was at 1 p.m., so I was like OK, I’ll get to school at noonish, but no. I had to pay $12 to park in a visitor parking lot. Then I learned that I needed to get here in the morning and go sit in Fondy for four hours. To park. Miscellaneous: Living on campus freshman year, you’re submerged into this culture. It’s a great culture, and I know a lot of people really enjoy it. For me, I like the ability to step back and separate personal life from school life a little bit more. When I leave campus for the day, it’s very much relaxing. I enjoy that part of OC life. Advice: Don’t be afraid of it. At Rice there’s a big stigma about living off campus because everything is on campus. It’s kind of crazy if you think about it because a quarter of us will eventually live off campus. I would say don’t be afraid of it, but definitely be proactive. I think proactive is the best term, because if you want to stay involved, you have to get involved in things. You have to put yourself out there, put your name on things, become an off-campus representative. Sign up for housing jack coordinator. There’s more effort, but if you take time to put the effort in, it’s not the worst thing that will ever happen to you. Will you stay off? Yes

Residence: House How far away? Five-minute drive, seven-minute bike ride. Roommates: 3 Car: Yes, but not last semester. Usually uses bike. Meal Plan: No What time do you come to campus? 9:00 a.m. What time do you leave? 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. — it varies. Why OC? I wanted to go off campus to try it out, see what it was like and change it up a bit. I wanted to experience something else within Rice. Most people stay on all four years, but I wanted one year to go off campus, try to cook for myself and have a little more space on my own with my friends. How often do you cook? Every dinner; use guest swipes for lunch. Best part about living OC: The best part is definitely having your own space. Here we have a massive living room, dining room, kitchen and your own bedroom with your own bathroom. I know that’s not the case for all people who live OC, but at least for me. I like being able to leave the sometimes stressful and crazy on-campus commotion and be able to go home and relax a little bit. Worst part about living OC: I like being able to talk to a lot of people and play ping pong and video games whenever. Most Rice events happen spontaneously, or without planning, so I feel like one of the worst parts is you’re not really there for that sometimes. It’s hard to commute into those things. It’s a hassle. Miscellaneous: People are really scared of off campus, but it’s an amazing experience especially if you live with people you really want to live with. I really like living off campus and I don’t suggest you be scared of living off campus. Advice: I would get a house instead of an apartment. There are a lot of houses around here that are probably a lot cheaper than apartments and you have a lot more flexibility with them. Location is also one of the biggest things. I live next to some restaurants and an HEB. I’m also seven minutes from campus by bike. Location is big because sometimes coming to class is hard and you want to skip class. Also, have some sort of plan for your roommates of what you expect for cleaning or the noise level. Obviously you’re going to have to clean more and wash all the dishes and do all these things. Just have an idea of what you’re expecting for the year so you’re on the same page. Will you stay off? No

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

THE RICE THRESHER

HOUSING GUIDE

SURVIVING ROOMMATES We all know what it’s like to have a roommate — whether you’re a freshman with an assigned roommate or an upperclassman living with someone by choice. You may be excited to have your own space, a common area or even your own room. Don’t celebrate ridding yourself of all human interaction just yet — housemates are an entirely different game. Here are some tips for surviving your housemates: 1. Unlike your dinky double on campus, you now have household chores to get done. Unfortunately, you’re not a suburban parent who can make your kids do them as a form of character-building. To avoid tension with your housemates, decide from the outset how you are planning on scheduling chores. You can make a calendar and put it on the fridge, or get creative with a spinnable chore wheel. A variety of systems could work as long as what you select is a public way of keeping each other accountable. 2. Figure out your housemate’s quirks that wouldn’t come out unless

you share communal space with them. Do they want you to take your shoes off in the house? Are they early risers that will wake you up when they make coffee? Be willing to concede on a few of their quirks but stand up for your own preferences. Just don’t fall into the easy trap of passive-aggressiveness. Does your door have two locks? Figure out if you will be locking the regular bolt, the safety bolt or both. Just don’t spend all year playing a game of chicken with your house locks. 3. We all make fun of that roommate contract that our advisors make us create with our freshman year roommates, but it’s actually quite a good idea. While this roommate contract does not have to be drafted as awkwardly as your first one, the process is still a valuable way of setting expectations. Define rules for parties, chore division, transportation to campus, cooking, overnight guests, loud music and loud overnight guests. 4. Money can be a tricky subject. It makes sense to have one person managing the rent for the

whole place, but make sure they’re keeping you in the loop with the exact rent and utilities payments. We suggest a Google Sheet that states every line item and payment amounts. Transparency is key — we all know horror stories of

people being defrauded by their roommates charging them more rent than they needed. Even if you’re not the person managing the money, make sure you know exactly how much you’re being charged — don’t become too complacent.

FURNISHED CONDO/APARTMENT for lease

$1,650 -- 2 bed/2 full bath -- All utilities paid 0.7 mile walk to Rice U 0.3 mile walk to SHUTTLE stop

AROUND THE CORNER from Rice Graduate Apts !!! One story 1,105 sq ft 2 ample bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms. ALL UTILITIES PAID, incl. broadband internet. Large living room and walk-in closets. Plenty of light. Ceiling fans. Walk-in pantry-utility closet. COVERED RESERVED PARKING SPACE. Central laundry facilities. BIKE STORAGE ROOM. Complex pool and landscape grounds right off patio. Walk to Metro Rail for easy access to downtown and theater district. Very quiet, charming and safe complex on small beautiful street off Bissonnet.

Property address: 5353 Institute Ln #18, Houston, 77005 Landlord: TELKOTEX@hotmail.com Agent: Linda Grover 281-463-6700 -SterlingLinda@aol.com

ALWAYS HIRING QUALIFIED NAIL TECHS Part time or full time so we can have longer hours for college nights and weekend specials!

THE RICE THRESHER

HOUSING GUIDE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

HOW TO EAT WHEN Y PASTA WITH MEAT SAUCE DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

- 12 oz. can of tomato sauce - 1 garlic clove, minced - 12 oz. pasta of choice - ½ tablespoon italian herbs - ½ lb ground beef (to make vegan, - 2 tablespoons olive oil sub ½ cup chopped mushrooms - Salt and pepper to taste and ½ cup chopped carrots) - ½ onion, chopped

1. Heat a pan on medium heat. Add olive oil. 2. Saute the onion and garlic until onion has softened. 3. Add ground beef. Cook until browned. 4. Combine the beef, onion and garlic mixture with the tomato sauce and spices. 5. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 6. While sauce is cooking, cook pasta in boiling water for 8 minutes. 7. Drain pasta and combine with meat sauce. Enjoy! Serves four.

TEX-MEX QUINOA SALAD DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS

- 1 cup quinoa, uncooked - 15 oz (1 can) black beans - 15 oz (1 can) sweet yellow corn - 1 cup spinach, roughly chopped - 1 bunch of green onions, thinly sliced - ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped (optional) - 1 small jalapeño, minced

- Feta crumbles - ½ cup lime juice - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 1 tablespoon honey - 2 teaspoons cumin - 1 teaspoon chili powder - Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. 2. Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: lime juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside. 3. When the quinoa is finished cooking and has cooled down, pour in dressing and toss until quinoa is evenly coated. Add the black beans, corn, spinach, green onions and cilantro. Toss until evenly distributed. 4. Serve immediately and enjoy!

SURVIVING WITHOUT A CAR The Houston bus system can be your best friend for getting around, if you let it. It’s very extensive and you’ll never spend more than $3 a day (The first two rides are $1.25, the third is $0.50 and anything over that is free). Just make sure to stop by the cashier’s office to get your Metro card filled up and you’ll be saving money and the environment. Depending on where you choose to live, the Metro can also definitely be a good friend too. If you find yourself living outside of walking distance from campus, a bike is a solid investment. You can rent one from Rice Bikes, and the “Rice Students Selling Stuff” Facebook page is always flooded with bikes at the end of a school year. Take it from us, though, if you buy a bike that’s falling apart thinking you’re saving money,

you might end up spending just as much in repairs. Make sure you get a U-lock with your bike to protect your precious and snazzy ride. Also very important: a helmet and bike lights. Some bike helmets have lights on them too if you want to be extra safe.

may or may not feel comfortable walking or biking home at night. If you live close enough to campus, the Rice University Police Department night escort is an option. If you live a bit farther away talk to your oncampus friends and set up a place to crash on late nights. If your friends don’t have a couch, you can always leave a sleeping bag (and a toothbrush!) at their place. Your residential college may also have a locker system for off-campus students where you can store your cute pajamas, deodorant and anything else you’ll wish you had when you wake up sweaty and gross the next morning.

One challenge that arises from not having a car is buying groceries. If your roommate has a car, problem solved. If not, consider picking a time that works for all of you, taking an Uber or Zipcar, and buying all the big heavy things that will be a pain to restock. Once you have all the basics, it’s easy to replenish your stash of cereal and pasta. Finally, don’t forget that you live in Houston. You’ll definitely need to invest in a sturdy Another thing to think about is traveling at umbrella and rain boots, and be prepared night. Depending on your situation, you to look for rides on the many rainy days.

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

HOUSING GUIDE

YOU’RE OFF CAMPUS For students moving off campus, the prospect of adapting to life without the consistent and reliable food provided by the serveries can be daunting. Adjusting to life without a meal plan does take some work, but ultimately it can be cheaper and allow you to have more control over what you eat every day. Before you decide to forego meal plans completely, consider the different options Rice Housing and Dining offers. Rice has five meal plans, ranging from 20 meals per week to 50 meals a semester. It is important to consider how often you expect to be on campus when decided which meal plan is right for you. If you need to be on campus throughout the day, you may want to consider choosing one of the more expensive meal plans. If you expect to be able to go back to your off-campus housing for most meals, you might consider purchasing the smallest meal plan.

a full meal plan. No matter your schedule, there are ways to get by without a meal plan. By making lunches and dinners to take to campus in advance, you can prepare for your servery-free day. Even the busiest of students can take a few hours one day a week to meal prep for the entire week. Simple meals such as sandwiches and wraps pack well and can be stored in lunchboxes. Fancier meals can be packed in tupperware, stored in college refrigerators and heated up in the many microwaves around campus.

When moving off campus, one of the first things you’ll need to do is stock up your kitchen and pantry. Essential kitchenware for surviving without a meal plan include pans, pots, mixing spoons, spatulas, a baking dish and lots and lots of tupperware. It’s very difficult to cook for one person, so it’s always a good idea to make a few servings of what you’re preparing that Another option to consider is can be frozen or kept in the purchasing Tetra and using fridge for later. it whenever you need to buy food on campus. Tetra friendly If all else fails, there are number of healthy options include Sammy’s, a 4.tac0, Coffeehouse, Flo microwavable frozen meal Paris, the Campus Store and brands, that won’t break the even the serveries across bank at your nearest grocery campus. Having Tetra on your store. Just remember to plan Student ID is a happy medium ahead so that you don’t get between bringing food to hangry or use up your friends’ campus everyday and having guest swipes.

Each dish you make will require different ingredients, but some basic items to keep stocked include:

• dry pasta • pasta sauce • rice • frozen vegetables • chicken/beef/vegetable broth • eggs • olive oil

MEAL PLANS Option A: $2,180/semester includes 20 meals per week & $50 in Tetra. (On-campus meal plan) Option B: $730/semester includes 85 meals and $50 in Tetra. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Option C: $1,340/semester includes 170 meals and $50 in tetras. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Option D: $680/semester includes 85 meals. Lunch only. Option E: $400/semester includes 50 meals. Lunch only.

HOUSING CLASSIFIEDS Updated 2bd 1bth, 1105 sqft unit in prime location one street from Rice Graduate School housing. ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED. Condo features a sparkling pool, central laundry facility, and beautifully landscaped grounds. Additional features include private patio and assigned carport. Close to the Rice shuttle, city bus and light rail stops. $1,700 per month. Please email angie.dorfman@gmail.com or call 713-703-6616.

1 bedroom FURNISHED condos from $750-$950 available for a 1 year lease at 7901 Cambridge, Houston, TX 77054. Please contact Elaine Morris at 713-410-9104 or emariem777@yahoo.com Clean, quiet furnished rooms walking distance to Rice Campus. Individual rooms in a guest house with a sharing bathroom and kitchenette. Monthly rent of $560.00, includes all utilities and internet.

Laundry available. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WELCOME. Availability summer and/or School Year 2018. Deposit to reserve $300.00. Address: 2434 Wroxton Road, 77005. Email inquiries to: nutydreams@yahoo.com. Call/text 713-703-6372.

HOUSING GUIDE

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

PUBLIC TRANSIT NEAR CAMPUS map courtesy of RideMetro

LEGEND METRORail Bus every 15 minutes Bus every 20 to 30 minutes Bus that only operates during peak weekday hours