More than 1,000 visit 11th Annual Housing Fair

Seniors Julia Koday and Jenny Kratzat live in sorority houses on campus, but next year the pair will face a situation they have not had to worry about: searching for off-campus housing. \nOn Wednesday both Koday and Kratzat attended the 11th Annual Housing Fair hosted by the Indiana Daily Student in Alumni Hall to find a remedy for their unknown housing arrangement next year. The two were among 1,028 people who attended the fair, said IDS Marketing Manager Rob Bock.\nIn their first year attending the fair, both found it to be helpful.\n"We've been living in sororities and this is the first time we have to find a place," Kratzat said. "I knew about (the housing fair) last year, (but) this is the first time we're looking."\nThe fair aims to assist students in finding housing for each upcoming year. Housing-management properties are represented at the fair with booths, so students have the opportunity to learn information and possibly sign leases. \nTerry Elkins, owner of Elkins Apartments, said he has had a booth at the fair most of the 11 years the Housing Fair has been in existence.\n"It is just something you do if you are in the business," Elkins said. "Success varies year by year. Obviously it helps, otherwise I still wouldn't do it." \nDavid Kerber, manager at Varsity Villas, said this is the second year the Villas has participated in the fair.\n"Everyone knows the Villas," he said with a smile. "The fair is good for places with empty units," he said, reflecting on how the Villas at this point in January is almost reaching full occupancy.\nKerber said typically leases for the Villas start signing in September. He said to find the best locations off campus, students should start looking earlier and be done with finding and leasing a place to live for the following year by January.\n"It's a good information gathering," Kerber said of the fair. "It also depends on the company." \nHe also recommends that students check out the places they are considering before signing any deals.\n"It's one thing to find out information, but it is another thing to actually go see it," Kerber said. "Actually go and look. It's important."\nNicole Goodnight, a leasing agent for Deer Park Management, said the housing fair is a good advertising effort to get messages out to students. \nFreshman Gordon Buchanan said he was expecting more private rentals rather than big companies.\n"I want to live in a house with a few of my friends. I wish they had something like that," Buchanan said. "For someone looking for an apartment, though, the fair was very helpful"