The first problem that most people studying in The United States face, is housing. Especially if you’re an exchange student like me in search for a short term lease for just a Semester Abroad rather than an entire year. If you’re lucky enough, your Host University should send out a list of possible housing options, just as mine did at The Ross School of Business, (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor). However, the list typically consists of viable options such as “On and Off” campus University Dorms, Private accommodations, International Housing Centers (Inter-Cooperative Council – Co-op Housing) and probably as a last resort even classified ad listings such as craigslist. However, when you search deeper into these options you realise that almost every one of them only provides long term leasing options, which for people like me (exchange students) turns out to be unnecessary.

So well, from my experience here are the possible solutions:

1. What most people in The USA would suggest then, is the option of Sub-Letting. Sub-letting is when you sign a lease for the entire year and at the time you are planning on moving out, you search for another student ready to sub-let (take over) the house (lease) from you.
   The Positives
   – You are good to go from the very beginning. You have all options open to you from the list mentioned above and can choose whichever option suits your requirements best.
   The Negatives
   – Finding a potential candidate can be quite the hassle. Especially when you’re anyways new to the city and probably don’t get to know “enough people” with a short span of 4-5 months, to be able to find a suitable candidate.
   – Even if you do find a suitable candidate or potential buyer, you may not get back the whole amount you pay for the lease. Usually, such buyers take your vulnerability of the “need to sell” to their advantage, and start negotiating the terms of the lease with respect to pricing. You on the other hand have no better option as you do need to sub-let the lease in order to avoid paying for the entire year’s worth of the lease.
   Ways to sub-let: Every University usually has it’s own Facebook page. Post your offer to sub-let on the FB page. If you’re lucky enough, some people will message you with offers.
2. Sub-Letting “from” existing students
   Another feasible option is to sub-let the accommodation lease from existing students who may not require the accommodation during your time at the University (Somewhat similar to renting).
   Ways to find a sub-let: Just as in Point 1, Visit the University FB page in search for people who may have posted their need to sub-let for a specific time period. If the durations suits your requirements, inbox them for further details.
   The Positives
   – Probability of better pricing for the same reason’s as mentioned in Point 1.
   The Negatives
   – Most students in the United States go for their term abroad in the Spring (Winter)Semester. Hence, finding someone willing to sub-let an accommodation during the Fall Semester (when Class Students go for their Term Abroad) gets pretty difficult.
3. Contact private accommodations “Personally” 
   This is the option that worked out best for me! From day 1 constantly contact various private accommodations that you may be interested in regarding the need for a short term lease. At first, most will say, “Sorry, but we only offer year-long leases.” Do not be put off by that remark. I faced it too. But what I never stopped doing was – sending constant emails (about 2 a week), posting on their Facebook wall (in search for either a short – term lease or sub-letters) and calling them weekly. About a month later I received an email from one of the accomodations I was really hoping to stay in. The email read out, that they were willing to offer me a 5-month instalment for a few of their housing layouts (studios or 4-bedroom sharing suite). Even though my duration of stay would only be for 4 months, the 5-month instalment system made much more sense to me rather than paying up for an entire year and “hoping to find” someone to sub-let it later. So yes, I went ahead with that offer.
   The Positives
   – Most of these private accommodations are located much closer to campus than other houses or apartments.
   – Almost everything is within walking distance (In Campus Towns).
   – Most of these accommodations provide their residents with morning snacks in the lobby, and other free to access ammenities such as a study room, a lounge (which may include a pool table or other such games), research and group-study rooms, a gym and maybe even an outdoor heated pool.
   – After constant modes of contact, you may receive a call/email back regarding their willingness to offer you a short-term lease.
   The Negatives
   – “Higher Prices” – In order to make up for a long – term lease, a lot of these accommodations charge higher rates per month, for short – term instalments.
   – If you’re someone who prefers quiet surroundings, this may not be the best option for you. A lot of students staying in such accommodations are either frat or sorority associated students. Which means more house parties and added noise to the already existing happening neighbourhoods.
   NOTE: For anyone applying to Ross Business School, UMich, I would highly recommend staying at Landmark apartments, as it is a mere 4 minute walk away from the school building, very much on Central Campus and literally 2-5 mins walking distance from most of the happening places around campus and undoubtedly a beautiful place to stay with well furnished rooms. (Other options include Arbor Blu, Varsity, University Towers and The HUB)
   
   

   Rooms at Landmark Apartments, Ann Arbor

   

   Landmark Apartments, Ann Arbor

    

   Link to Landmark:https://www.americancampus.com/student-apartments/mi/ann-arbor/landmark

4. International Co-Ops.
   These Co-ops are quite famous amongst international students in search of making friends. The housing capacities usually range from 20-50 other students from across the globe. They are usually massive houses with a large living room filled with games and maybe a 8 ball pool and/or foosball table, depending on which one you stay at. They have multiple sharing and single bedrooms with a common kitchen and a number of sharing bathrooms based on the size of the house and number of rooms.
   The Positives
   – It’s a great place to start off with making friends from all over the world, especially if you’re new to the city  or an exchange student.
   – You’re never really alone. With a house of 20-50 people, you’re certainly never going to be home alone, there’s always someone you can spend time with at the house and who know’s maybe even overcome any homesickness if you have any.
   The Negatives
   – At the same time when you may want some of you personal space, the house may also not always be “Quiet” for you to study or do something that sort.
   – These homes are a great place to bond, but a lot of them are not very well furnished as most private accommodations or smaller houses maybe.
   Link to International Co-Ops: http://www.icc.coop/index.php
   
5. Rent a house or AirBNB
   The last resort of course is to rent a house or opt for an AirBNB, like most juniors and seniors in The USA do.
   The Positives
   – It’s pretty much like having your own house or mini villa. If you’re lucky enough to find one near campus it would be great!
   The Negatives
   – Most of these rented houses are usually for 4-6 people, hence the landlords usually ask you to find your own group and sign the lease together. When you’re an exchange student, you most likely don’t know anyone as yet, so finding people to share the house and lease with can be quite a hassle.
   – A lot of these houses are located a little further away from the central campus. So that would add on to travel time. There are of course a number of houses close to central campus, however most existing University students reserve these houses well in advance so that they get to be as close to Campus as possible and to avoid any last minute hassles of finding a home to stay in.Really hope these tips and suggestions could be of help to some of you! It certainly would’ve been for me if I had this information before getting to University.
   
   P.S.: All details are specific to Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA but may or may not apply to other parts of The USA.
   Picture Sources: Google