Larissa Kimmer, a finance freshman, is looking to join those ranks in fall 2008. She and three friends will be moving into a house near the northeast corner of campus.

That doesn’t mean she won’t miss some conveniences of living on campus.

“It’s nice to have meals right here, you can go (eat) whenever you want,” she said. “I’m a little worried about needing everything they don’t supply at the dorms.”

For students interested in having their own place, Annette Irwin, East Lansing’s operations administrator for Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation, said students need to know they have additional responsibilities.

“You’re going to have to be willing to do some of your own yard work, divvy up bills and pay attention to your surroundings,” she said. “You may be living next to students, maybe not.”

But before moving day comes, students need to sort out their housing options, and that typically involves signing a lease.

Students should never sign multiple leases, Irwin said. Prospective renters might think they can guarantee their best housing option by signing two or more leases, but this leads to problems, since leases are legally binding documents.

“Once you’ve signed it, you’ve made a commitment and can’t walk away from it,” she said.

Irwin also said students should carefully read their lease before signing it. The MSU College of Law has a free Rental Housing Clinic available to review leases. ASMSU also has legal services available to student tenants.

When moving to a home in East Lansing, students are expected to take care of the property and follow city ordinances.

“There are a whole lot of issues involved in knowing what requirements there are in maintaining a household,” said Howard Asch, East Lansing’s director of Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation.

Parking in the yard and litter are some of the most common complaints from permanent residents.

“When you’re living in your home, it’s your responsibility to pick up the newspaper, take the trash to the curb on the right day and park in the driveway,” Irwin said.

But renters need to do research to avoid taking on more than what they planned.

“It seems like every year there are people surprised with the condition of their apartment,” Asch said. “If someone goes through an apartment or home, chances are that’s what it’s going to look like when they move in.”

While landlords might promise upgrades, students need to get those arrangements made in ink.

“If it’s not in the lease and not in writing, don’t count on it,” Irwin said.

Asch also suggested students get reviews of a landlord, especially if the landlord owns multiple properties.

Regardless of the paperwork and technicalities, a large number of MSU students choose to move into East Lansing’s neighborhoods each semester.

“Consider what sort of lifestyle you’re expecting, and find a neighborhood that supports that kind of lifestyle,” Asch said.