A map outlining the boundary zones for average rental income needed to lease a home. These are the most recent statistics for East Lansing.
Housing in East Lansing is getting more expensive, according to data provided by David Lee, the City Assessor for the City of East Lansing — something MSU students experience first-hand.
The trend can be seen looking at the data from 2010-14, the one exception is the drop off from a median rent per room rate of $400 to $398 in rental area B. That slight dip is in contrast to an increase of the median rental rate per room of $303 to $337 in rental area A and $525 to $580 in rental area D.
“My general sense is that over the past 20 years that I have been here are that prices and rates have increased just like everything else,” said Annette Irwin, Housing and University Relations Administrator for the City of East Lansing.
The higher priced housing options are usually the ones with a better location, Irwin said.
“You are going to pay more if you are living right downtown and even more again if you are living right downtown in a newer product,” Irwin said.
Irwin also gave some advice for first-time renters and student renters as a whole.
“It’s really, really important that students not rush and panic and think they have to sign something,” Irwin said.
“There’s plenty and plenty and plenty of places for students to live around campus and so the most important thing is not to panic. If you are uncomfortable about something don’t ignore that feeling,” she said.
Many of the problems students run into with landlords or housing companies stem from the fact that students sign leases too early and without reading them. Irwin said there are plenty of options for student-living and there is no reason a lease needs to be signed in as early as October as many students feel they need to.
It is important students go the property before signing to make sure it is up to par and is the same as it is advertised as well, she said.
Students may notice they are paying more money renting in East Lansing compared to most college towns around the state — this is “market driven,” Irwin said.
Mount Pleasant, home to Central Michigan University, and Allendale, home to Grand Valley State University, were cited as examples of generally providing less expensive housing while being a college town.
“It’s (East Lansing) been more expensive (than most college towns) since I was a student, which was a long time ago now. It’s the market, in general I think those are markets that don’t have rates as high,” Irwin said.
“Same as real estate, I think that purchasing a house probably is a little bit less expensive in most college towns in Michigan. Now if you were to compare it to Ann Arbor I think you’ll find there (are) rental rates higher and a lot of times their home purchase prices are higher.”
No matter what the cause, MSU students must continue to deal with high rent costs.
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