WashU (wustl) Class of 2012! Forum

[steindle]

Does anyone in the know have any idea if there are many duplexes or 4-unit places in the CWE? Ideally that is where my fiance and I would like to live, but we are only finding huge apartment buildings there and we have no interest in that (having done it for years and years and dealing with all manner of problems).

It seems like there's a lot more of what we're looking for in the Loop area, but it also seems like there are a lot more undergrads in the Loop and we're trying to avoid that scene as much as possible.

[gk101]

I called the Financial Aid office with that question early this year, and was told that they do not. That aid is merit based only.

Does WUSTL give any need based aid? All I got was the scholarship information on the financial aid letter
Also, I should be in Saint Louis sometime in early June to lock up housing somewhere in CWE.

thanks.

[woopwoop]

Finally withdrew from everywhere else. WUSTL it is.

I'm going to have to lease an apartment without visiting. Loop Lofts looks acceptable enough to me. 2 miles from campus, 800$ for rent, utilities, cable and internet.

Apparently it's in a shady area though? Any thoughts on this?

[Leeroy Jenkins]

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[matty]

Finally withdrew from everywhere else. WUSTL it is.

I'm going to have to lease an apartment without visiting. Loop Lofts looks acceptable enough to me. 2 miles from campus, 800$ for rent, utilities, cable and internet.

Apparently it's in a shady area though? Any thoughts on this?

No, don't live there. Skinker and Delmar is where the loop roughly ends. As a rule, don't go anywhere north or northeast of there. The building might be nice, but it will be shitty surroundings and crime is more prevalent. If you're set on living in the loop, look for something a little more south and west of there, i.e. directly between Delmar and Forest Park Pkwy/Wash U. If you're not set on the Loop, look in the Central West End, but you will need a car (or there is bus/metro transportation but its not all that convenient). Another area I haven't seen mentioned here is the Demun neighborhood. This is within walking (10-15 min)/easy biking distance of campus. There is not a whole lot to do there (a few restaurants, coffeee shop, wine bar) but it is a very quiet, charming area right across from Forest Park. Just search on Craigslist for Demun, there are a lot of small units available--closer to the intersection of Northwood and Demun will be the heart of that neighborhood. There are also a few larger apartment buildings here--the Dorchester is one, I believe--but they are more expensive iirc. The walk from the Demun neighborood to Wash U. via Wydown Blvd. is quite beautiful when everything is in bloom.

[steindle]

Can anyone tell me what the Quadrangle places are like, in terms of noise? Obviously that's an incredibly open-ended question that varies from building to building and neighbor to neighbor...but as a general rule, do you think they'll be acceptably peaceful?

I'm looking at three different 6-unit places in the Loop and I assume that they will be relatively quiet due to the fact that they are full of graduate students, but I'm a little wary because of previous experiences I've had in similarly small -- but incredibly loud -- apartments. (I'm think here specifically of the place where our downstairs neighbors had keggers and live DJs on Wednesdays, after which you could very clearly hear them throwing up on Thursday...or the guy above us who played the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack at full volume each night, punctuated periodically by the DADADUMMMM of the AIM sound).

[Ali]

So anyone know how the Housing Day is conducted?
Is is a formal thing? Or do we just go and check out places to live and pay down our rent deposits?

[gk101]

So anyone know how the Housing Day is conducted?
Is is a formal thing? Or do we just go and check out places to live and pay down our rent deposits?

I think some of the local property managers come to the housing days and show the apartments around the area. I have heard that these places tend to be more pricey

[Ali]

So from what I've gathered CWE seems to be better than most other areas.
Anyone have an opinion on DeBalivier Place, just North of Forest Park??

[LED1985]

Quitting my job July 17th.....can't WAIT.

I was thinking about buying a condo and then flipping it when I graduate (the housing market can only get better, right? Come on Obama!) Anyone consider this?

I'm thinking about doing the same thing. Or rather, my parents are. We're going down next week to meet with a realtor, look at some places and scope out campus. My last day of work is going to be sometime that first week of August. Gotta get health insurance for those first 15 days in August before our WashU student insurance starts.

I'll try and take pictures of campus when I'm down there for those who still haven't been. Also from the 1L I've been talking to, it seems like CWE is the place to be, but I'll know more after next week.

Excited to meet you all.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

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[LED1985]

Thanks!

Yeah, my parents made me run about 6 different cash flow scenarios for them. It's all contingent upon me getting a roommate though, and I'm still up in the air about whether or not I want to do that or live alone.

[VAGATOR]

The housing situation is going to take a lot longer than three years to correct itself. If you buy a condo or home, prepare for that purchase to be a long term investment.

[LED1985]

Yeah. Definitely true. I think all we're hoping is that the price doesn't go down; then we've just built equity instead of paying rent. Plus, I'm actually planning on doing the JD/MBA program, so I'll be down there for 4 years instead of 3, hopefully that's 1 more year of appreciation.

[steindle]

Like many "rustbelt" towns, the St. Louis housing market never really blew completely out of proportion in the same way that Phoenix or the entire state of Florida did. According to at least one reputable source...

--LinkRemoved--

...housing in St. Louis is a LOW risk. Not quite as low as my lovely hometown of Pittsburgh, where housing has actually been APPRECIATING during the downturn...but there has to be at least one bright spot in a city that is generally used as the butt of jokes, right?

[MaiKleenex]

In the condo idea I think I was hoping rather to "equalize" (i.e. not lose 30k in rent over three years, but rather have a net of zero).

Has anyone else thought about the benefits of living alone or with roommates? Living alone seems attractive from a studying perspective, but not so much from a social one. Any 1Ls (or 0Ls like me!) want to weigh in?

[ksp405]

Definitely going to live alone. At least the first year. For me, the potential negatives of living alone are a lot less than those that can occur from living with a roommate. It's not worth the risk. I also like having the option of some silence and privacy.

[ksp405]

No offense to all of you haha

[MaiKleenex]

Yeah, agreed. I'm sure I'll spend time enough with my classmates in the law library...

[MaiKleenex]

law library is only open until 6pm?!?!!??

[steindle]

law library is only open until 6pm?!?!!??

No.

http://law.wustl.edu/library/index.asp?id=1125

[LabRat]

Like many "rustbelt" towns, the St. Louis housing market never really blew completely out of proportion in the same way that Phoenix or the entire state of Florida did. According to at least one reputable source...

--LinkRemoved--

...housing in St. Louis is a LOW risk. Not quite as low as my lovely hometown of Pittsburgh, where housing has actually been APPRECIATING during the downturn...but there has to be at least one bright spot in a city that is generally used as the butt of jokes, right?

I purchased my house last summer when I came to Wash U. I think buying can be a good decision given the market here, but try not to get anything that is too much of a fixer. You will not have the time to deal with it during your 1L year. I just hung the ceiling fans I bought last august.

[MaiKleenex]

MaiKleenex wrote:
law library is only open until 6pm?!?!!??


No.

http://law.wustl.edu/library/index.asp?id=1125

my inability to read is going to be REALLY helpful in law school.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

my inability to read is going to be REALLY helpful in law school.

I think you'll be fine as long as 1) steindle tips you and 2) you keep your sanity

[onfo]

So from what I've gathered CWE seems to be better than most other areas.
Anyone have an opinion on DeBalivier Place, just North of Forest Park??

Eh. Depends on your motives. I think that area is less expensive than the heart of CWE (around Euclid); however, it really isn't walkable to any place. The main drive for me living in the cwe was to avoid driving any place other than to/from school (which I do). There are a enough bars, restaurants, cafes, and other law students around to not really have to leave the cwe on the weekend. That said, there are a couple law students who live around there and seem to enjoy it.