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Fizz

How to Actually Start Searching for Student Housing (Without Screwing It Up)

How to Actually Start Searching for Student Housing (Without Screwing It Up)

How to Actually Start Searching for Student Housing (Without Screwing It Up)

Aug 7, 2025

Sam Lipscomb

4

min

If you're a student looking for housing, you've probably already fallen into the Zillow spiral. One second you’re checking prices, and the next you’re doom-scrolling listings three cities over, wondering if you should just drop out and live in a van. It's overwhelming, especially if it's your first time renting. But starting your housing search doesn’t have to be chaotic. You just need a few key filters-and a better starting point than "apartments near me."

Here’s how to search smart from the jump.

1. Start Early. Earlier Than That.

Most students wait until everyone else starts looking-usually 2–3 months before move-in. But in most college towns, good places are gone by then. If you want a shot at the better spots, start 4–6 months in advance. Especially if you’re eyeing a specific building, roommate setup, or lower rent.

If you’re a freshman moving off-campus for the first time, talk to students a year above you. Ask when they started their search and what they regret not doing sooner.

2. Search Where Students Actually Post

Sure, Zillow and Apartments.com are fine, but they’re not where students live online. Try these instead:

Facebook Marketplace & student groups (Search: "[Your School] Housing")

Reddit (Search your school’s subreddit - people often sublet there)

Discord servers (yes, a lot of campuses have them)

Instagram stories (People actually post housing stories - keep an eye out)

Flyers on campus (still underrated)

Some off-campus offices also maintain internal housing spreadsheets. Ask them.

3. Don’t Just Look-Post

It sounds weird, but instead of only responding to listings, make your own. On Reddit, Facebook, Discord-post something like:

"Hey! Rising junior looking for housing near North Campus for fall. Budget

~$850, looking for private room. If anyone’s subletting or has an opening, feel free to DM."

This is how a lot of the better deals happen. Someone who didn’t even list their spot might DM you.

4. Make a List of Non-Negotiables

Before you even start clicking through listings, figure out what matters most to you:

● Max budget (include utilities)

● Location radius

● Commute (do you care if it's a 30 min walk?)

● Room type (private room vs shared)

● Laundry, parking, air conditioning, pet policy, etc.

Then use that list to say no to listings that don’t fit. You’ll waste less time and feel less overwhelmed.

5. Use a Burner Email

You’re about to sign up for a ton of sketchy-looking housing portals. Make a clean Gmail just for housing stuff so you don’t miss important replies buried between spam and school notifications.

6. Don't Sleep on Subleases

Subletting is often cheaper, comes furnished, and skips the worst paperwork. Search Reddit, Facebook, or even message graduating seniors. These are some of the best deals you’ll find.

7. Track Everything in a Google Sheet

Create columns for: rent, location, link, room type, utilities, contact info, and notes. Saves you from re-checking the same listings over and over again.

A Tool for the Financial Side:

If you're moving into a place where you'll be splitting rent, utilities, or even shared groceries-Fizz helps you handle all that without racking up credit card debt or forgetting to pay someone back. You can build credit by just paying your everyday expenses (like rent, streaming, etc.) on time. And there’s no interest or hidden fees.

It’s basically built for students who are trying to figure out adulting one bill at a time.

Ready to make this housing search a little less chaotic?

Fizz helps students build credit while managing shared expenses like rent and utilities-without interest, cosigners, or late-night Venmo stress.

Join Fizz and start building credit smartly

Sam Lipscomb

Author bio

Sam is a Kenyon College alum and is head of content at Fizz. He's been a go to personal finance resource among his peers since getting his first credit card during his sophomore year of college. He hails from Washington, DC, loves all things aviation, and currently lives in Los Angeles.

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ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


450 Broadway, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


All activities conducted by Fizz as program manager in connection with the Fizz Card and the corresponding line of credit are conducted by Fizz Technologies, Inc. (NMLS: 2522542).


Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. ¹Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary. To opt out of future recurring subscription charges, Members may cancel their Membership through the app at any time prior to their next billing date. Cardholders who cancel their Membership will lose access to their Fizz Card and line of credit at the end of their subscription term. Closing a line of credit may negatively impact your credit score.


Fizz cardholders: Fizz reports your payment history on the revolving, open-end line of credit accessed by your Fizz Card. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Individuals in TikTok videos featured above are paid spokespeople. Selected customer reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of January 2025.


²Credit score sliding scale feature is for informational purposes only. Credit score ranges based on information available on RentSpree. Car loan figures assume a loan value of $30,000 over 72 months and based on information available on CNN. Student loan figures assumes a $35,000 private student loan with a 10-year term and based on information available on CNBC, NerdWallet and Credible. Apartment approval based on information available on BI and RentSpree.


Fizz is not a credit repair tool and does not offer any form of credit counselling services. Fizz makes no representation or promise that it will improve your credit score, history, or profile or provide you with any assistance in that regard. None of Fizz’s services, including your ability to check your credit report and/or score through the Fizz App, is offered or provided with respect to the extension of credit by third parties. Fizz and its affiliates are not credit repair organizations or credit services organizations, and are not offering to sell, provide or perform any service to you for the express or implied purpose of either improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating, obtaining an extension of credit for you, or providing advice or assistance to you with regard to improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating.


For people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, we accept messages via our in-app chat, emails at [email protected], and calls on our answering machine at (940) 260-2704. If you leave us a voicemail, please leave your name and number and a member of our customer support team will return your call.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


450 Broadway, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


All activities conducted by Fizz as program manager in connection with the Fizz Card and the corresponding line of credit are conducted by Fizz Technologies, Inc. (NMLS: 2522542).


Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. ¹Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary. To opt out of future recurring subscription charges, Members may cancel their Membership through the app at any time prior to their next billing date. Cardholders who cancel their Membership will lose access to their Fizz Card and line of credit at the end of their subscription term. Closing a line of credit may negatively impact your credit score.


Fizz cardholders: Fizz reports your payment history on the revolving, open-end line of credit accessed by your Fizz Card. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Individuals in TikTok videos featured above are paid spokespeople. Selected customer reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of January 2025.


²Credit score sliding scale feature is for informational purposes only. Credit score ranges based on information available on RentSpree. Car loan figures assume a loan value of $30,000 over 72 months and based on information available on CNN. Student loan figures assumes a $35,000 private student loan with a 10-year term and based on information available on CNBC, NerdWallet and Credible. Apartment approval based on information available on BI and RentSpree.


Fizz is not a credit repair tool and does not offer any form of credit counselling services. Fizz makes no representation or promise that it will improve your credit score, history, or profile or provide you with any assistance in that regard. None of Fizz’s services, including your ability to check your credit report and/or score through the Fizz App, is offered or provided with respect to the extension of credit by third parties. Fizz and its affiliates are not credit repair organizations or credit services organizations, and are not offering to sell, provide or perform any service to you for the express or implied purpose of either improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating, obtaining an extension of credit for you, or providing advice or assistance to you with regard to improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating.


For people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, we accept messages via our in-app chat, emails at [email protected], and calls on our answering machine at (940) 260-2704. If you leave us a voicemail, please leave your name and number and a member of our customer support team will return your call.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


450 Broadway, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


All activities conducted by Fizz as program manager in connection with the Fizz Card and the corresponding line of credit are conducted by Fizz Technologies, Inc. (NMLS: 2522542).


Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. ¹Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary. To opt out of future recurring subscription charges, Members may cancel their Membership through the app at any time prior to their next billing date. Cardholders who cancel their Membership will lose access to their Fizz Card and line of credit at the end of their subscription term. Closing a line of credit may negatively impact your credit score.


Fizz cardholders: Fizz reports your payment history on the revolving, open-end line of credit accessed by your Fizz Card. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Individuals in TikTok videos featured above are paid spokespeople. Selected customer reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of January 2025.


²Credit score sliding scale feature is for informational purposes only. Credit score ranges based on information available on RentSpree. Car loan figures assume a loan value of $30,000 over 72 months and based on information available on CNN. Student loan figures assumes a $35,000 private student loan with a 10-year term and based on information available on CNBC, NerdWallet and Credible. Apartment approval based on information available on BI and RentSpree.


Fizz is not a credit repair tool and does not offer any form of credit counselling services. Fizz makes no representation or promise that it will improve your credit score, history, or profile or provide you with any assistance in that regard. None of Fizz’s services, including your ability to check your credit report and/or score through the Fizz App, is offered or provided with respect to the extension of credit by third parties. Fizz and its affiliates are not credit repair organizations or credit services organizations, and are not offering to sell, provide or perform any service to you for the express or implied purpose of either improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating, obtaining an extension of credit for you, or providing advice or assistance to you with regard to improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating.


For people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, we accept messages via our in-app chat, emails at [email protected], and calls on our answering machine at (940) 260-2704. If you leave us a voicemail, please leave your name and number and a member of our customer support team will return your call.