"I got so fed up with it," Jones said. "I went and got one single plate, one spoon, one fork, one bowl, one knife, one pot, one pan, and I just have all my own separate dishes that I wash by hand now."

Jones lives in a house he rents from his friend's mom, who bought the property a few years ago. He’s been living there since his junior year. He adds that these "living values" are important for maintaining a good relationship between roommates. 

"They’re getting better," he said. "I like the guys. They’re good people."

Journalism junior Mikayla Mazza, who lives in the DTN-run apartment complex Cedar Greens, agrees that core values between roommates are important.

"I really think that if you enjoy the people that you live with and really want to further your relationship, then you can work through any kind of small stuff," Mazza said. 

When it comes to beginning your housing journey, starting early is something public relations junior Emiley Visioni suggests. Visioni lives in Block 36, about 15 minutes from campus.

"I think that the most important thing is to research and look at reviews and see what people say," she said.

Mazza suggests scheduling a day trip to East Lansing to look at possible housing options. 

"It’s a competitive market," Visioni said. "I wish we (her and her roommates) had more options because now we're figuring out, for next year, if we want to do something else or do the same thing."

Planning time to drive to campus, or even walking from an apartment complex, is also something to consider when renting. 

"The biggest thing is just having to drive to class and find a place to park," Jones said. "You just got to manage your time a little better getting to classes and stuff."

Jones said the lot in front of the International Center is usually the one with a few open spots. 

As well as living values, Mazza said one of the most important things to always keep in mind is safety. 

Mazza and her roommates once found a stranger sitting in their stairwell early in the morning. This happened a few times, and they contacted their complex. When the complex said there was nothing they could do, Mazza said it wasn’t that they felt unsafe, but that they didn’t feel comfortable, and they contacted the non-emergency East Lansing police department. 

The experience taught them to trust their instincts and take action when something feels unsafe, such as repairing broken locks or reporting issues to management. Living off-campus, she said, requires self-advocacy to ensure safety needs are met.

"If you keep being persistent and asking again and again for these sorts of things, something will change," she said. "I mean, it’s an exhausting truth, but that is just the reality of living off campus in a college town."