Students moving into their first apartment after staying in a dorm can be a big transition. University of Florida students live in a college town that is constantly fluctuating – bringing in more students year after year who require housing. In Gainesville, the new freshman class grows exponentially each year, increasing the demand for housing in a specialized market for college students.

Tip One: Research the University’s Policies on Student Housing

Some universities, especially private ones, require more students to live on campus their first year of school and sometimes for the entirety of their stay. Investing in apartments for a school with very small to no need for off-campus housing means only a small pool of renters will be available. For example, apartments in Gainesville are more sought-after because after students graduate, they often stay in Gainesville to either work or go to graduate school. Additionally, UF does not require students to live on campus their first year or any subsequent years, which creates more demand for student apartments.

Tip Two:  Evaluate the City’s Advantages and Weaknesses.

Different cities have differing conditions which alter housing needs for students. In urban cities with a highly-dense population there are a larger number of students who are part-time or who commute to school and don’t need off-campus housing because they already have an established living arrangement. In more rural areas like Gainesville, UF students are from other cities and states and require apartments because they are not from the area and don’t have living arrangements already in place.

Tip Three: Invest in an Area Popular for Students

Different universities have their respective locations that are popular for student housing. In Gainesville specifically, college students want to be as close to their classes as possible, making the area directly adjacent to campus very popular. Parking is often limited on college campuses such as UF and many students instead choose to walk or bike to class if they don’t want to catch a bus. Royale Palms Luxury Apartments in Gainesville is a property located less than a block from the University of Florida campus. Popular for its convenient location, Royale Palms has leased to full capacity yearly, making student’s lives easier so they don’t have to deal with the hassle of finding a parking spot on campus.

Tip Four: Identify the Type of Renter You Want to Target.

In Gainesville, Trimark Properties’ target many different populations. For example, Trimark offers and advertises apartments near sorority row so that girls can easily walk both to campus and their respective houses for meals and other sorority events. This area is in high demand by girls who don’t want to travel far to reach a group of friends in their respective sorority houses. There are many other niche areas that can be found in a college community like Gainesville. Trimark also offers apartments near the Shands area. Shands Hospital at UF is a hotspot for doctors, nurses and medical students who must travel to work every day. Knowing what the housing goals are for different groups and then targeting those people in that area is vital for success.

Tip Five: Find an Effective Marketing Strategy to Attract Renters.

These days, college students find their information using a variety of sources, including word of mouth, social media, mobile searching, and other methods that help students seeking off-campus housing. When on the go, young adults expect to easily be able to find information on apartments, so a website with a mobile-friendly format is important. Knowing the demographics of your audience helps to format their experience so that they get the most out of what they are given.