Frequently Asked Questions
Before you begin your housing journey, review answers to the most commonly asked questions about off-campus housing.
- When should I begin searching for a place to rent?
- What are the types, locations, and costs of rental properties?
- Convenience vs. Cost, what are your priorities?
- Are there minimum lease periods?
- Is the cost of utilities included in my rent payment?
- I want to live in a nice and safe area. How do I determine this?
- Where can I find information about the cities in the main campus area?
- Are there transportation services available to and from campus?
- Are there alternative resources for identifying rental properties in the area?
- Do I need renters insurance?
When should I begin searching for a place to rent?
Is it ever too early? No, there is no better time than right now to begin learning what your off campus housing options are. The university’s various programs begin at different times of the year, so availability can fluctuate. Waiting to the last minute to identify your preferred choice may jeopardize your chances of getting it. Many of the apartment complexes in the area work from “waiting lists”. To get on your preferred apartment complex’s waiting list you will need to provide them with a completed application and a check for their deposit fee. Once they have determined unit availability for your chosen move-in month, they will contact you with a move-in date.
The important point here is, don’t wait to the last minute! Give yourself plenty of time to research the website, identify your priorities, select your choices for residence, contact their property leasing agents and make necessary arrangements to secure accommodations for your preferred move-in date. Then you can relax, feeling secure in your advance residential preparations.
What are the types, locations, and costs of rental properties?
Rental properties currently advertising on the website include many local apartment complexes along with available condominiums, townhouses, and single-family homes for rent. There are also listings of individual rooms for rent in private homes and apartments. You can also find short-term stay hotels on the website.
Most apartments listed on the website are within 4 miles of our three Broward County campuses, as shown on our area rental map.
(There are other apartments in the area, unfortunately they chose not to advertise on our website, requiring you to search for them on the worldwide web). Along with showing apartment locations, the map shows the local cities they are located in, and provides a legend for gauging distance from campus. Website links for the various cities shown on the map are provided below in the FAQ section, so you can become familiar with that community and their various services.
For those choosing to live adjacent to main campus (City of Davie), most of the apartments shown are within a 5 to 10 minute walk. Please review the main campus map to orient yourself in respect to your program’s location and the adjacent apartments.
Monthly rental fees vary depending upon the type of rental property, distance from campus, amenities included and condition of the property. Generally, prices for properties listed on our website are as follows:
- One-bedroom apartments in Davie average be $900 to $1100
- One-bedroom apartments outside of Davie average $850 to $1000
- Two-bedroom apartments in Davie average $1200 to $1500
- Two-bedroom apartments outside of Davie average $1000 to $1500
- Three-bedroom apartments in Davie average $1300 to $2000
Convenience vs. Cost, what are your priorities?
When you begin reviewing the rental properties listed on the website you will notice that rental prices can be as much as $100 lower for apartments located 2 to 4 miles from campus. If cost is your priority and you have available transportation, you may want to consider apartments further from campus. However, if convenience is your priority, affording you the option of a 5 to 10 minute walk or a 3 minute drive to campus, you will want to look closely at the apartments on the fringe of campus.
If a consideration for you is the opportunity and cost to park on campus, you will want to know that currently the campus generally has ample parking and no fee is charged for parking with an NSU parking permit. All parking permits for students and employees are issued through the One-Stop Shop. To register a vehicle, students and employees must complete the parking permit application provided by the university and submit the application to the One-Stop Shop. Valid identification and the vehicle tag information must be presented to obtain a parking permit.
Applications and decals can be obtained at any of the following locations:
- Horvitz Administration Building, first floor in the One-Stop Shop
- Terry Building, first floor in the Admissions Office
- North Miami Beach on the first floor in the Admissions Office
Are there minimum lease periods?
The majority of apartment complexes in the area including those on the website have a standard 12 month lease. The minimum lease is 7 months and includes an additional monthly rental fee. Shorter lease periods are offered for many of the private homes renting rooms and at the short term stay hotels listed on the website.
Is the cost of utilities included in my rent payment?
Most apartment complexes in South Florida do not include your utility expenses (electricity, water, television and telephone services) as part of your monthly rental fee. Some of the complexes that advertise on our site do include some utilities as part of your monthly rental payment. Unless specifically noted in the apartment’s posting, you will be responsible for requesting services from the various utility providers and payment for these services.
For specific information on utility services, service packages available and monthly cost estimates, the following web links are provided to assist you in contacting utility providers in the area:
- Florida Power and Light (electricity)
- Bell South (telephone and internet)
- Comcast (cable television)
- Water Service:
I want to live in a nice and safe area. How do I determine this?
Some of the apartment complexes on our website are gated communities or offer security systems. These apartments note this information in their post on our website.
For police information for the communities where you are considering living, please contact the respective police department to find or request neighborhood crime statistics and other information.
- Broward County Sheriff's Office
- Dania Beach
- Davie Police Department
- Fort Lauderdale Police Department
- Hollywood Police Department
- Pembroke Pines Police Department
- Plantation Police Department
Where can I find information about the cities in the main campus area?
The following links provide you with valuable information about the city you may choose to live in:
Are there transportation services available to and from campus?
- NSU Wave and Ride Shuttle provides service throughout the main campus and to/from east campus
- South Florida Education Center SFEC Shuttle provides service throughout the South Florida Education Complex in which the NSU Main campus resides
- Broward County Transit provides bus service to and from the various campuses and throughout the county
- Tri-Rail provides rail service from Palm Beach to Miami with many stops in between. The rail service runs along I-95. The SFEC shuttle provides transit service from its closest station to Main Campus
Are there alternative resources for identifying rental properties in the area?
Do I need renters insurance?
Please be aware that the owners of rental property you may lease are not liable for loss to a tenant’s personal property. It is the renter’s responsibility to purchase insurance coverage to protect your financial interest in personal property and liability concerns. This is particularly significant if you cannot financially afford to immediately replace items that are lost, stolen or damaged. This coverage is less expensive than the replacement of many of your personal belongings (clothing, jewelry, electronics, furniture, etc.). Liability coverage will protect you in the event you are personally sued by someone injured while visiting you on the apartment premises.
You may find these coverages can be purchased as part of your parent’s homeowner’s insurance coverage. You can find insurance agent listings in the phone book or on the World Wide Web.