Peter K.

I'm lazy by nature, so for me the hardest part about moving is making the effort to make new friends.

I'll be starting UM this fall. I have not secured off campus housing yet in Ann Arbor. Earlier I was told this was craziness on my part, as the housing market there is crazy competitive, with some places being rented within hours of posting. But now since UM will be announcing in a few weeks whether they will have students return to campus, or be online-only for the year, I'm wondering if I should wait even longer to rent an apartment with the hopes that if it's online only, rents will go down? Does it not seem likely that rental prices might drop a little? I'm one of the millions who would prefer to live alone, so as not to share the germs during this time - and that is the more expensive way to go - though worth it to me. Has anyone rented an apartment online and then actually liked the place once they saw it in person? In Michigan it's important to have a place with windows and lots of light, as the winters can be dark and depressing - light helps! (Someone should give landlords photography lessons.) I'd like to live in Ann Arbor whether students return or not - I have to live somewhere. I'm over 30 so living with mom and dad is not going to happen. Plus I figure I'll at least be able to meet some of my professors in person this way, from a safe social distance of course. Do you think rents near a university will drop if it goes online only? Is it possible to find a decent place just by looking at photos? Thanks.