Off-Campus Housing UF

When To Start Searching For Gainesville Apartments & Houses

If you’re a student attending the University of Florida with hopes of finding houses for rent in Gainesville, FL you will definitely want to start your search, at the latest, right after winter break.

Late in the first semester, Gainesville houses for rent start to fill up for the next year when pre-leasing kicks off. If you need a four or five-bedroom house near UF, you’ll have to start before you head home for Christmas.

Upon returning to school in January, the number of searches for larger complexes near the University of Florida begins to climb and housing quickly starts to fill up all throughout the spring semester. With over 50,000 students attending UF, start looking for a place ASAP if you want to secure the best spot close to campus!

Rent Prices in Gainesville, FL

Rent prices for UF off-campus housing are overall affordable when taking a few factors into consideration. The larger student housing communities near the UF campus are generally going to be more expensive. However, these places often include a crazy list of amenities, and it is not uncommon for them to come furnished and have a swimming pool on the premises, while also offering fitness gyms and utilities wrapped into the rent price.

Opting to live alone is going to be more expensive, but if you get a few friends to live with, it will certainly help to save a considerable amount of cash each month. A lot of the places around campus even offer to help set you up with roommates based on your interests! Finding a house near campus also is a good route to go for saving money, and a lot of the homes are three and four bedrooms which certainly helps to cut back costs.

Here’s a breakdown of University of Florida off-campus housing average rents per person, per bedroom:

How much do 2 bedroom apartments near UF cost?
The average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in Gainesville, FL is $758.

How much do 3 bedroom apartments near UF cost?
The average rent for a 3 bedroom apartment in Gainesville, FL is $819.

How much do 4 bedroom apartments near UF cost?
The average rent for a 4 bedroom apartment in Gainesville, FL is $640.

Picture Credit: Spohpatuf

Activities in Gainesville, FL

There are tons of outdoor activities to do in Gainesville, so get out there and enjoy the sunshine state! UF owns Lake Wauberg, which is just right off-campus. Here students can gather and play volleyball, BBQ, kayak/canoe, waterski, wakeboard, and tube, all for FREE! Nearby, Bob’s River Place is a watering hole where you can swim, jump off platforms, and use the rope swings and waterslides. Camp at one of the many spots like Ginnie Springs or Ocala National Forest. Lake Chua Trail is a “must-do” in Gainesville. Hiking along this trail to the observatory deck you will encounter wild horses, alligators, bison, and over 100 species of birds!    

From the hyped-up sporting events, breathtaking outdoor activities, and the countless amounts of places to enjoy the nightlife, students at the University of Florida have endless ways to unwind and are always able to find an interesting way to have fun. Football is HUGE at UF. After all, this is Gator Nation and students bleed orange and blue. All of Gainesville comes together for Swamp Saturdays to cheer on their football team. There are also over 1,000 on-campus organizations students can get involved in, and if for some reason you can’t find something you like, start your own club! The registration process is fast and simple. Local outdoor activities let students soak up the sunshine all year round. Heading outdoors to one of the many nature parks is a great way to relieve stress and catch some off-campus views. UF even has its own lake for students to enjoy!

Highlights Include:

• Cheer on the Gators at “The Swamp”

• Visit the Butterfly Rainforest

• Go tubing at Lake Wauberg

• Hike La Chua Trail