How to Find the Best Gainesville Apartments and Houses for Rent (University of Florida Housing)

Did you know that Gainesville was rated the #1 city in North America by a 2007 study?  It's true.  You can read about the study here.  Gainesville, Florida is the home of the University of Florida, one of the top 10 public universities in the Nation, and home to the #1 Football and #1 Basketball Gator Teams.  It's a great place to live!

Each year, 20,000 people move here for the quality of life, job opportunities, and to attend classes at UF.

Due to the large influx of people every year, finding available rental housing can be incredibly challenging, particularly for those renters who want to live in houses and rental apartments in Gainesville near UF, Shands, and Santa Fe.

Knowing that the demand is often higher than the supply for quality apartment and house rentals near UF campus, Trimark Properties designed a business plan to help alleviate some of the challenges searching for available gainesville apartments.  They purchased land around the university and have developed 11 apartment complexes in the last decade, including 8 communities which have won the top award at the annual Gainesville City Beautification Awards.

They have also changed the way students search for apartments in Gainesville, most notably by designing a full service Apartment Search Website which specializes in apartments and houses for rent in Gainesville, Florida for rent near the UF campus.

They have structured their lease start dates so that students can move in before fall classes begin each year, and they post full color virtual tours on their website to assist out-of-town renters in securing housing before moving to the city.

Tips for a Succesful Gainesville Apartment or House Search

1) Start Early.  If you are moving to Gainesville in July or August, it is recommended that you begin your search no later than December of the previous year, in order to have the most options available to choose from. Many apartment layouts in the best areas (close to UF campus) fully pre-lease before the end of January, for August move-in.

2) Use Good Quality Web Tools to Find a Good Fit. With over 1000 apartment floorplans to choose from, if you start in December, you'll need to come up with a good way to narrow down the list.  Consider how many bedrooms you want (how many people you want to live with) and use the web to view photos and virtual tours for rentals in Gainesville, Florida.

3) After narrowing down the list, take a tour in person (if possible). Virtual tour photography can give you a good feel for the apartment size and layout, but it's best to take a tour of the actual apartment complex so you can get a feel for how close the rental is to UF campus. Ask yourself: Can I walk to classes from these Gainesville apartments?  How will I get to class and to work from this rental?  This is especially important if you plan on attending UF or working on campus, since parking for undergraduate students is incredibly limited at this time.  Most students are only eligible for ParkNRide decals, which are not walking distance to UF classes or administration buildings.  It's sort of like commuter parking-- from which you will need to take a 5-10 minute bus ride (after fighting traffic and hunting for a parking spot) to get to the heart of campus.  It's much easier if you live in an apartment near UF or a house for rent near campus.

4) Sign your lease paperwork for your apartment far in advance. Keep a copy. Be sure to actually sign paperwork for the apartment you want to move into, so that the apartment is officially reserved for you for fall move-in.  Don't wait!  Many people miss out on their top apartment choices because other potential renters sign paperwork before them.