Traditionally, the last few weeks of school bring about inevitable stress, last minute scrambling, and late-night cramming to pass class. Aside from the worries about school, several students need to plan their living situation for the fall semester. Freshmen who inhibit the dorms see next semester as their chance to really be on their own and free of the DC and public bathrooms. Dormies, however, are not the only ones who have a change of residence in their future. Students who sign a month-to-month lease in the apartments close to campus share the same dilemmas. Also, year leases on houses that were snagged last summer will be expired right after finals are done.

If you find yourself falling into any of the above categories, you are probably contemplating your next move. If you are in the dorms, you could return next fall and be upgraded to a “suite” with a bathroom of your very own. If you are currently on your own, you could move back home to save money while losing your mind by living with your parents again. Perhaps the best solution is to start looking for an apartment or a house.

Now you face another dilemma: Which one to choose? While most would opt for a house, there are pros and cons to both houses and apartments.

Finding a house or an apartment can be difficult. There are renter?s guides that list open properties, however, driving around to various locations can be very time consuming. A solution to finding an apartment fast is a company called Apartment Search. Located on Howe Avenue, this is a free service to those who are apartment searching. Apartment Search is funded on commission by property managers. Basically, if you they find you a match, and you move in, the apartment complex gives them a certain amount. During your visit, the consultant enters your apartment ideals, such as number of bedrooms and price range, into the computer. The computer then finds the apartments that meet your needs. This eliminates going from property to property to only to find that they do not have what you are looking for.

“My roommate and I spent two days straight driving around town with the Renter?s Digest in hand,” said sophomore Stefanie Lamkin. “When we were so discouraged to the point where we were going to give up, we went to Apartment Search. They found us an apartment within 20 minutes and we have been very happy with our choice.”

Finding a house may not be so simple. If you are lucky, you have connections or know friends who are moving out of a house that will need to be rented out. Most, however, spend hours looking through the Real Estate section of the Sacramento Bee and driving around from neighborhood to neighborhood. Real estate agencies can be contacted for help but generally charge a small fee. Also, homeowners are more cautious to rent to a group of college students rather than a family of four.

There are things that obviously set houses and apartments apart. For example, with a house, the benefits are: having a garage to park your car, a yard to barbecue in, the option of having pets, and the convenience of your own washer and dryer. You do not have a landlord watching every move that you make and you have more freedom to party (without a neighbor living on the other side of your wall).

The downfalls, however, are that you have to take care of the yard and have higher bills from running the washer and dryer. With the expense of a house, you may need to have three to four other roommates rather than one in an apartment. Also, most homeowners require their renters to sign a year lease, which could be limiting if you find out three months after moving in that you do not like the neighborhood or the landlord.

The same discussion goes for renting an apartment. The benefits of living in an apartment are: you do not have to mow the lawn, you can afford to have only one roommate and you have the option of signing a six-month lease. Also, you are not responsible for maintenance, and if something does go wrong, it is usually fixed within a short period of time. The downfalls, however, are that apartments can be noisy if your walls are thin or if you live on the bottom floor. Also, your car is an easy target for burglary.

Students have different opinions when it comes to renting a house versus an apartment. “Sure, having a house is more expensive but having a front yard, a garage, a safe place for your car and all the extra space definitely makes it worth it,” said Senior Ryan Jeske.Jeske also saw the benefits of apartment living as well.

“Living in an apartment forces you to be more social with your neighbors because you are so close,” Jeske said.

Junior Jackie Barnes also knows the benefits of living in an apartment.”Since I do not know how to fix anything, and do not have the time to mow the lawn, living in an apartment is more convenient for my lifestyle,” Barnes said.

Regardless of whether you choose an apartment or a house, do not wait until the last minute. Start your search early or you will find yourself sleeping in the library quad, bathing in the fountain and living on food from the University Union.