Finding a place to live near a college campus can be a very frustrating and demoralizing process, but it does not need to be. There are several key factors that will make your search for housing around USC much easier.

First of all, before you even start your search, you should establish a price range to narrow your search. Near USC, if you are on a tighter budget, you should be prepared to share a room. Private rooms can be found for as little as $500.00 per month, but these are generally found only in shared homes. If you are looking for a truly private room, studio and one bedroom apartments are available, though both are considerably more expensive than a private bedroom in a shared house. You should be prepared to pay anywhere between $800.00 and $1500.00 for a studio or one bedroom apartment in the USC area.

Once you’ve established your price range, the search becomes much easier because it has been specified. The key to finding great housing around USC involves your friends. Whether you live with friends or not is entirely up to you, but I think friends are a key part of finding successful housing in the USC area. Because there are so few bars and the party scene around USC mainly revolves around the Fraternity ROW and house parties, more often than not you will be walking home at the end of the night. If you live in the same vicinity as the friends you party with, then you can walk home together at the end of the night. Because the USC area is a little bit rough, it is always a good idea to walk with a friend, especially after dark and specifically for women. So, more than any other factor (except money, of course), living near friends is the important factor in a housing search around USC.

Shared housing is the best way to get spacious and affordable housing in the USC area. Look for properties between 28th Street and 32nd Street and also between 36th Street and West 37th Place. Shared housing is a great option because spaces are available for individuals looking for private rooms and also for groups looking for entire houses.

Finally, don’t get frustrated if you haven’t found your perfect match right away. USC is located in the heart of Los Angeles and there is always free space. Keep an open mind, check for shared houses and as many other options as you can, try hard to live near friends, and stay the course! If you follow these simple guidelines, finding housing around USC will almost be as easy as beating the Fighting Irish on the gridiron! Good luck in your search and always remember to FIGHT ON!

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