When To Start Searching For Houses & Apartments in Ames, IA

Sometimes thinking about doing something is more exhausting than actually doing it. For example, thinking about cleaning your side of the dorm room can seem tiring - but it really only takes 15 minutes (unless your side of the room looks like it should be featured on an episode of Hoarders). Finding a house or apartment in Ames, IA, for the next school year is just like that. The idea of starting your search is actually more daunting than the actual task.

What’s great about trying to find an apartment or house for rent in Ames, IA, near Iowa State is that the off-campus housing hunt doesn’t really kick off until midway through the fall semester. So you’ll actually have time between settling into your new place and finding your next place.

A majority of students start searching in late October to early November. But the students who start then are looking for specifically for the large rentals or bigger groups. So if you’re not trying to snatch one of the bigger houses for rent in Ames, IA, off the market, you don’t have to start your search until late in the first semester.

If you’re looking to rent a studio or one-bedroom apartment in Ames, near Iowa State University, you can put off your search until the second semester. Just make sure you have a place locked down by Spring Break. If you wait until after break to find a place, you’ll be picking through a much smaller selection of Ames apartments near campus.

What’s The Rent Like For Houses & Apartments in Ames, IA

When you go to the largest college in the state, you can expect the rent prices to be a bit higher than neighboring campuses like the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. But fear not! There are a ton of different ways to save money that don’t involve switching to Geico. For example, if you choose to live with a few roommates you’re going to save a few hundred dollars every month than if you chose to live on your own. Historically, when rooming with a few other people will save you a ton of money. Will they eat some of your ramen and annoy you every now and then? Yeah, probably. But the pros definitely outweigh the cons here.

If you’re willing to drop a few extra bucks on rent, there are a couple of really cool luxury apartments in Ames, IA, to choose from. Again, unless you want to be dropping more money on your apartment than your tuition - FIND A FEW ROOMMATES!

Here’s a breakdown of the average rates for apartments & houses for rent in Ames, Iowa, per person:

How much do studio apartments near Iowa State University cost?
The average rent for a studio apartment in Ames, IA is $677.
How much do 1 bedroom apartments near Iowa State University cost?
The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in Ames, IA is $732.
How much do 2 bedroom apartments near Iowa State University cost?
The average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in Ames, IA is $444.
How much do 3 bedroom apartments near Iowa State University cost?
The average rent for a 3 bedroom apartment in Ames, IA is $442.
How much do 4 bedroom apartments near Iowa State University cost?
The average rent for a 4 bedroom apartment in Ames, IA is $456.
How much do 5 bedroom apartments for rent in Iowa State University cost?
While there will be some differences in price points depending on if you’re looking for a 5 or a 10 bedroom rental, the average rent for a 5+ bedroom apartment in Ames, IA is $580.

Kurt Friedrich