Housing Presentation Life at NIU Law

1. Housing PresentationLife at NIU Law NIU Law Office of Admissions & Financial Aid June 11, 2012

2. Overview • First Step: Know Yourself • Second Step: Know Your Surroundings • Third Step: Know Your Options • Resources for finding a home • Areas to avoid • Areas we recommend • Management companies • Fourth Step: Know Your Rights • Fifth Step: Be in the Know • Life at NIU

3. Step 1: Know Yourself • What are you looking for? • Your price range • How best can you minimize your budget? • Your study style • Library (very flexible hours)? At home? Coffee shop? • Your transportation options • Bus route? Covered parking? • Your pet preferences • Allergies? Yard? Dog parks? • Your distance preferences • Will you be rushed? Gas prices? Parking? Willingness to drive in inclement weather?

4. Step 1: Know Yourself • What are you looking for? • Your style • Large landlord/small landlord • Smaller landlords can be more flexible with financial aid disbursement/tend to like law students! • Larger landlords may have more perks/services (e.g. snow removal, lawn cutting) • Rent or buy? • Your living style • Family-oriented? Roommates? A Yard? • We have extra roommate request forms!

5. Step 2: Know Your Surroundings • DeKalb (0-15 minute commute) • A thriving college town • Great if you really like socializing! • Majority of law students live here • There is a lot of shopping here for all of your major needs. • Sycamore (20-30 minute commute) • A family-friendly, quaint town adjacent to DeKalb! • The second most popular location for law students • Cortland/Maple Park (20-40 minute commute) • Very quiet towns in DeKalb County • Easy commute to NIU, great townhomes • Not much shopping

6. Step 2: Know Your Surroundings • Malta/Rochelle (10-15 minute commute) • Very small towns with easy commute to law school. Relatively few housing options available. • Rockford (45-60 minute commute) • North of DeKalb. Large town where the Zeke Giorgi clinic is located. • Western Suburbs • There are many suburbs between here and Chicago. Many of our students commute from these suburbs.

7. Step 2: Know Your Surroundings • Elburn (30 minute commute) • 20 miles east of NIU. The nearest Metra station is located here. Park for $1.25/day (free on weekends!), and take the train right into the heart of downtown Chicago. • Need more information? • Contact the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.dekalbareacvb.com/ • Stay tuned for “Bill of Particulars” from our Dean of Students. This comprehensive mailing will have details about the ins-and-outs of life in DeKalb.

8. Step 3: Know Your OptionsResources for finding a home • Daily Chronicle Online Classifieds • DeKalb, Sycamore, Cortland listings • Places 4 Students Inc. • DeKalb only. Targeted at students. • DekalbRent.com • DeKalb listings only. • Rentals.com • Apartments and townhomes. DeKalb and Sycamore • Craigslist • Rockford or Chicago • NIU Housing and Dining • NIU Off-Campus Housing • Driving around • Our office!

9. Step 3: Know Your Options Areas to avoid • Hillcrest • Edgebrook Drive/Kimberly Drive/Ridge Drive • North Annie Glidden Road (North of Lincoln Highway) • Lucinda Avenue • Heart of downtown DeKalb (train noise) • Companies that have University or College in the title

10. Step 3: Know Your Options Areas we recommend • First Street (North of Dresser Road) • Downtown DeKalb (2nd Street, 4th Street, 7th Street) • College Avenue (East of the law school) • South Annie Glidden Road (Area South of Lincoln Highway) • Sycamore

11. Step 3: Know Your Options On-campus housing • Northern View Apartments • Family apartments on campus • Stevenson Towers • Single rooms • Meal plan • Speak with NIU Housing and Dining for more information.

12. Step 3: Know Your Options Management companies • Autumn Creek Management • Leese Rental Properties • Mason Properties • Laing Management • Townsend Management • Many private landlords • See handout for more information!

13. Step 4: Know Your Rights • Know your rights as a tenant • Landlord’s duty of notice • Landlord’s duty to maintain • Keep records of everything, especially damage • Ask for tenant references • Talk to Student Legal Services before signing a lease to see if there have been complaints! • Renter’s insurance • Some landlords require it. • See handout for more information.

14. Step 4: Know Your Rights • Ask questions • Parking • Mail • Noise • DeKalb is very quiet in the summer: it may be different in the fall! • Pets • Subleasing • Average cost of utilities • Lease term • Security deposit • Emergency number • Fitness options • When in doubt, ask!

15. Step 5: Be in the KnowParking at NIU • Yellow: Students residing outside the city of DeKalb, those who do not have a DeKalb address, or those who live more than a 5 block radius of the Huskie Bus line bus stop. A reserved parking space may be available for an additional fee. ($75 annual and $54 fall only) • Brown: Students living within the city of DeKalb. ($37 annual and $32 fall only)

16. Step 5: Be in the KnowParking at NIU • Orange: Students residing in university-owned housing on a first-come, first-served basis until limit is reached.  A reserved parking space may be available for an additional fee.($75 annual and $54 fall only)  • Green: Remote parking in the East Convocation Center lot, for students living in university-owned housing at a less expensive fee. ($37 annual and $32 fall only) • Motorcycle: Aspecial yellow permit ($30 annual) • Don’t worry about this until Orientation!

17. Step 5: Be in the Know • Eating at NIU • Holmes Student Center • Subway • Coffee Shop • Blackhawk Cafeteria • Small convenience store • Lincoln Highway • Every type of food • Student Lounge • Fridge, freezer, microwaves • Vending machines!

18. Step 5: Be in the Know • Exercising at NIU • NIU Recreation Center: free! • Weights, cardio, swimming • Group exercise classes • Informal group law school workouts! • Personal training • Intramural sports

19. QUESTIONS????