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General Information
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How to Buy a House/Condo in St. Louis
How to Buy a House/Condo in St. Louis
The decision to buy or rent is arguably more complicated than the actual process of buying. Buying, of course, has many advantages. You have a place to call your own (and show off to friends), you are part of a neighborhood, interest rates are low, and mortgages tend to be less expensive than rent. On the flip side, there are disadvantages that need to be seriously considered. You are making a 15- to 30-year commitment to pay off your loan, you are now the maintenance guy/girl, you need (expensive) homeowner's insurance, there are more bills (i.e. trash, sewer, water, condo maintenance fees), and bills tend to run higher. In the end, the most important question to ask yourself is: If I buy, will I have the time, energy, and maturity to handle all of this? If the answer is yes, then it is time to get a pre-approval letter from a local bank, find an agent, and start house hunting. Three handy websites to keep in mind: www.gundaker.com, www.realtor.com, and www.zillow.com. If you're as clueless as I was when I started and don't know what a mortgage is, get a book and do some research. Ilyce Glink's "100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask" teaches you all you need to know. Good luck!
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Moving to St. Louis
Moving to St. Louis
Moving to St. Louis was easy for some people; they packed up a few suitcases worth of stuff, hopped on a plane, and either bought all of their furniture or moved into the dorms. My roommate and I took a very different approach: renting a U-Haul/shipping a (very full) storage box. Renting a U-Haul/pod was a positive experience overall, but there were definitely a few downsides. 1: You have to recruit someone to help you if you also want to bring a car. 2: Moving 16 feet worth of shit out of a truck/pod when the heat index is 116 degrees is truly horrifying. But at least you don't have to buy new furniture.
Valary Raup, raupv@wusm.wustl.edu
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Living with Roommates
Living with Roommates
Some people really love living alone. You can walk around naked, leave your dirty dishes in the sink, and stay up as late as you want. Sure, you can do those things living alone. OR you can just live with someone who will let you do all those things anyways!!! If you live alone, who do you share tandem bike rides with? Who do you walk to class and all social events with? Who do you spend the night watching YouTube videos instead of studying with? Who can you count on for lap dances ... for free? Who do you share Thai food and two-hour conversations with after a hard night at the Library ... Annex? Who do you take family portraits in matching footie pajamas with? Who else will procrastinate studying with you by making late-night runs to pick up chick flicks and whipped cream? Who can you rehearse Nicki Minaj lyrics with? Above all, who do you spend an hour writing rhetorical questions for the Dis-O with? A roommate, that's who. In all seriousness, living with a roommate is awesome. You always have someone to talk to, remind you about assignments, and share household tasks with, and - if you're lucky - you may even kind of become friends with the person you're living with.
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Finding a Roommate
Finding a Roommate
Steve's perspective: Finding a roommate at Second Look weekend is definitely a good option. Even though I would have normally totally written off Greg (due to his previous attendance at Ohio State), meeting him during Second Look essentially solidified our friendship and more or less united the Big 10 conference. (I'm from Michigan.) One phone call later, we were best friends and roommates. Go Blue!
Grace's perspective: If you still find yourself looking for a roommate come May, the Facebook group for your incoming class is a great place to look. That's where I saw Elyse's post, and after a few Facebook messages, I decided she wasn't a closet psychopath who had fooled Wash U into accepting her. (She actually sounded really awesome.) I really couldn't have asked for anyone easier to live with!
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Living Alone
Living Alone
My favorite English proverb is "a man's home is his castle." Notice how the phrase uses a singular noun. Make no mistake, a castle isn't meant to be shared; there can only be ONE lord of the manor, which is why I'm always baffled by those who choose to have roommates. There are pros and cons to living alone, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Perhaps the greatest pro to living alone is that you can sit in your birthday suit at 2 am, eating Cheetos, and watching infomercials without being judged. (In other words, you have complete freedom to set your own rules.) Another positive is that you don't have to deal with drama when things take a turn for the worse and you realize that life isn't a Disney movie where opposites attract and everyone sings kumbaya in the end. As for negatives, there are a few, but you need not worry about them. You may feel lonely from time to time, but if you make an effort to be social with your classmates, it won't be a problem. Also, while living in a single is a bit costlier, St. Louis is a pretty cheap place to live (compared to the coasts), so it's still a reasonable rent - think $500-$800 per month. Welcome to your personal kingdom.
Amir Esmaeeli, esmaeelia@wusm.wustl.edu
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Furnishing your Apartment/Condo
Furnishing your Apartment/Condo
The bad news: There is no Ikea within a three-hour radius of St. Louis. The good news: There is a very viable substitute: Weekends Only. As its name suggests, it is only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and specializes in purchasing overstock furniture from several reputable retailers. Although the quality and prices vary wildly, you get the most bang for your buck if you know what you're looking for. I personally purchased an entire bedroom set from this store, as well as two counter stools. Other people have bought dining tables, couches, TV stands, mattresses, and bookshelves and been pleased with the quality. The selection varies from store to store, but there really is something for everyone, so save yourself the trouble of buying furniture and transporting it down here and hold off until you arrive. You'll probably have a classmate with an SUV or van, but even if you don't, delivery from Weekends Only is only $69 per load. Renting a U-Haul also works in a pinch. If Weekends Only doesn't fit your bill, there are also more upscale furniture outlets for people looking for higher-end furniture, and Craigslist/Goodwill are good options for people on a very tight budget.
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Neighborhood Guide
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Clayton
Clayton
I live in the DeMun neighborhood, kind of on the edge of Clayton, just on the other side of Forest Park from the Wash U med campus. Living here is great. It's far enough from the Central West End that I can go home and not feel like I'm still trapped in the med school bubble, but close enough that I have a pretty short (seven-ish minute) drive to school. People are still willing to come visit every once in a while, so I don't feel isolated at all. I'm also right near the Wash U Danforth Campus and all of its scholarly amenities, right next to Forest Park, and about a five-minute drive from downtown Clayton (and the boatload of awesome restaurants over there). I'm also down the street from Schnucks, Walgreens, Kaldi's Coffee, Sasha's Wine Bar, a cute little candy store, and ... I could go on and on. Sure, it's kind of a pain to have to drive to and from school every day. But I have a sweet apartment at a good price in a beautiful neighborhood, so it's totally worth it.
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Dogtown
Dogtown
I'll admit it, Dogtown is not a particularly appealing name for a neighborhood, and, as far as I can tell, doesn't have more dogs than your average neighborhood. There are some major plusses to living in Dogtown: Irish pubs (think Pat's Bar & Grill and Seamus McDaniels), cheap rents, a convenient commute to Wash U and the Saint Louis Zoo pretty much in your backyard. While I enjoy the separation from school, Dogtown is farther away from campus than some students want to live, but the commute couldn't be easier. When the weather is nice, I ride my bike through Forest Park (~15 minutes) and when the weather is not as nice, I take the bus (paid for by Wash U) from right outside my apartment to right on campus (also ~15 minutes). Dogtown is very residential compared to the Central West End (CWE), but it does have some fun places to grab a meal or a drink. If safety is a concern, rest assured: Dogtown is one of the safest neighborhoods in the vicinity of Wash U.
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North of the Park: DeBaliviere Place and Skinker DeBaliviere
North of the Park: DeBaliviere Place and Skinker DeBaliviere
So you've decided to be bold and live outside the Central West End! Good for you! What makes DeBaliviere awesome? On a stroll through the quiet, tree-lined streets of DeBaliviere, you will see brick houses and apartments, your neighbors (often affiliated with Wash U) walking their dogs, and THE SKY. You'll probably even stumble upon a few of your classmates. If you're a runner, Forest Park is only a few blocks away and offers multiple scenic routes. The zoo, the Muny, the art museum, and the history museum are all a short run (or drive) away. A legitimate concern of living in this area is isolation from your classmates who cluster in the CWE, but this fear need not become reality! If you have a car (and we recommend it), it's a mere five- to 10-minute drive to the CWE and campus. But for our daily commute, we rely on the MetroLink. It's only one stop away, and with practice and proper timing, you can beat your classmates walking from Del Co or the other CWE apartments to campus. We love it here and hope you'll be our neighbors next year.
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South City
South City
South City is most famous for the "The Hill" - an Italian neighborhood with a reputation for delicious Italian food. Even if pasta isn't your style, South City is a great place to live. If you're looking to rent, Hampton Gardens has great units and a responsive staff at little more than half the price of CWE housing. If you're looking to buy, you can have a nice home of your own for around $140k. It's one of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis City, and it's also just a 10-minute drive to the medical school. If you don't have a car, the #14 bus will drop you off right on campus. Schnucks and Walgreens are within walking distance, and you can check out non-medical books and get 200 pages of free printing every month at the nearby Buder St. Louis Public Library. If you're tired of studying indoors, you can always camp out at Sublette or Tilles Park. Or, just visit Tilles Park during the holidays, and enjoy a carriage ride through Winter Wonderland. All in all, as a med student in South City, you'll be pretty safe and pretty active!
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Apartment + Olin Guide
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Olin
Olin
On the MASH scale of residences, Olin is your typical dorm. Pros: cheap!, convenient (no other place has 30-second commutes!), safe, basketball court, gym, pianos, single rooms, and the Penthouse (featuring post-exam parties, pool, foosball, Ping-Pong, and great memories) on the 11th floor. Many first-year activities are centered around Olin, so that adds social convenience as well. Cons: older facilities and furnishings, not the most spacious rooms, communal bathrooms, kitchens only on odd-numbered floors, either A/C or heat mode depending on the month, and leaving the window open while you shower down the hall can lead to the wind current locking you out of your room and requiring you to take the elevator down to the front desk in only a towel for a spare key. My favorite parts of Olin, you ask? The people: Danina (the overnight security guard) cuts my hair, has great late night conversations, and quizzes us for candy around exam time. Ivory (the housekeeper on my floor) is 85, incredibly hard-working, and cleans my room once a week "in case any ladies come over." If you want to be "rollin' in Olin," submit your forms soon because it fills up fast. You'll be mailed information in late spring.
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Buckingham
Buckingham
The Buckingham is by far the best place I have ever lived. My single (occasionally referred to as my bachelor pad) is downright spacious, and combined with the rent, at $675 (single), $800 (double), it is obvious why getting an apartment here is so difficult. Call Noelle about vacancies *often* if you want to be among the lucky few! Free street parking is easy for those willing to occasionally drive five minutes, although the 10-minute walk to class makes it so that there is no need to drive. Located right near Del Co, you never feel left out of the shenanigans that ensue there, and Wildflower is a minute away. The only pet peeves: heating costs are somewhat high since the building is rather old, and maintenance can take a while for non-urgent issues. Best parts: The location is essentially unbeatable, and the price is reasonable. Also, Buckingham isn't a normal apartment complex; I have just one neighbor on my floor, and one above/below me. This means I can have friends over late, and my apartment is big enough to (tightly) host a dinner party of 30 people.
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Del Coronado
Del Coronado
I like to think of the Del Coronado (or "Del Co" as it's affectionately called) as the grown-up Olin. I would say that the number of medical students who live here is second only to Olin. And that's because Del Co boasts some wonderful advantages at a decent price. Del Co has a great location on West Pine between Kingshighway and Euclid Avenue. It's just a short walk down Euclid (past a lot of nice restaurants) to the medical school and less than a block away from Forest Park. Once you look past the bamboo wallpaper by the elevator and the 80s-style cabinetry in the kitchen, you will see spacious, comfortable apartments. If you want to have a roommate to save money, having two full bathrooms is a huge plus. There are laundry machines on every other floor, which is a nuisance if you hate doing laundry like I do, but most of the places with a washer/dryer in unit are much more expensive than Del Co. At Del Co, you get a large apartment close to school for a good price. If you're considering it, I would call right away!
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Hawthorne
Hawthorne
For whatever reason, this is the first year that the Hawthorne has gotten a spot in the Dis-O, but you should definitely check this place out! Located on Taylor and West Pine, the Hawthorne is a 10-minute walk from campus and has a ton of character. The building was built in the 1920s and used to be a hotel, so it is fully equipped with mail chutes, dials above the elevators, manual freight elevators (with a real, live operator), nine-foot ceilings with old-fashioned millwork, and the most adorable doormen in the world. Plus, the rent is SO cheap: $670 for a studio, $750 for a one-bedroom, and $980 for a two-bedroom (yes, only $490 a month). Parking is underground and very secure, totaling a modest 50 bucks a month. In case you aren't already sold, check out the view from the 17th floor and go fill out an application immediately.
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Jackson Arms
Jackson Arms
4482 Lindell Blvd. (Lindell and Taylor)
Room Options: Studios (can be "converted" into doubles through use of dividers).
Rent: $518/mo unfurnished + $1 for each additional floor above floor two.
Utilities: Water/sewer/trash provided; all-electric heating + stove + A/C.
Laundry: Basement coin washers and dryers, $1.25 each for one cycle.
Pets: Cats allowed.
Parking: Free streetside (easy to find a spot within one block) or $50/mo for underground garage (but this is REALLY hard to get; it is always at full occupancy and you WILL be put on a wait list). Garage includes free bicycle racks.
Although relatively few students know of Jackson Arms (they don't advertise online), this is one of the best studio options within a short distance from campus (~10 min on foot, 5 min by bike). The rent is very reasonable for the location and room size, and it will get you a decently spacious bedroom + living room and kitchen combo with a GORGEOUS full-wall window panel. The manager, Debbie, is very responsive to tenants' concerns, and maintenance issues are generally dealt with within 12 hours. Also, the occupants are mostly grad students who respect each other's schedules (and sometimes erratic sleep schedules), making the building VERY quiet. Not convinced yet? As a Jackson Arms resident, you enjoy an outdoor swimming pool open from May through September, Debbie's ADORABLE gray cat who loves company, and occasional complimentary barbecues and dinner gatherings. My only true complaint pertains to insects; it is not uncommon to find minor infestations of fruit flies or tiny speckled flying bugs, but to counteract this, the apartment does contract with an exterminator business that visits a few times per year. If you think Jackson Arms sounds like an option, be sure to stop by the on-site office and speak to Debbie directly; tenants tend to stay for years at a time, and openings fill quickly!
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Montclair on the Park
Montclair on the Park
Rent: Studio $700 or 720/mo (540-560 sq ft), One bedroom $800 or 865/mo (~725 sq ft), Two bedroom: $1,170/mo (910 sq ft). One year contract; if shorter, pay $75/mo premium.
Utilities: Heat and water included. Must pay for electric and cable.
Parking: Free surface parking, $35/mo assigned spot, $90/mo garage. Waiting list, so no guarantee for parking, but then just get a parking permit somewhere else close-by.
Pets: Allowed with a monthly pet deposit.
Living in Montclair has its pros and cons. It is one of the closest buildings to campus, and many residents are affiliated with the hospital. There's a rooftop with great views of the park and space for parties. Next to the washers and dryers in the basement, there's a small gym with some cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, tanning bed, and sauna. The doormen love to talk to you, and a magnetic key is required to enter the building and elevators for safety. The rooms are spacious and have thick walls, even though the doors don't block sound and the rooms aren't as nice as the lobby. If maintenance is required, response is very slow. Overall, I enjoy living in Montclair and would live here again.
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Park 44
Park 44
Rent: Studio $635, Lofts ~$700.
Park 44 is the hipster indie band of CWE apartments. It has a solid rep amongst its diehard fans and limited mainstream appeal. I get the inevitable quizzical look every time I tell my classmates where I live. Conveniently located on West Pine between Taylor and Newstead avenues, Park 44 is a nice 10-minute walk (12 if you like to strut and stroll; five if you - like me - use a bike) to campus. It is also very close to all the local attractions of the CWE, including most of your classmates' apartments, meaning you can very easily walk (or bike) over to parties, raves, game nights and impromptu Dis-O writing parties. Now let's talk a bit about money. Rent includes most utilities - heating, A/C, water, trash - and I only pay for cable and electricity. Management is very helpful, and maintenance requests get answered within minutes. My studio is very comfortable and comes with a fully equipped kitchen. Lofts are available as well.
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Tramore Castle
Tramore Castle
The historic Tramore Castle is unknown to most. Located at 4525 Lindell Blvd. (just west of Taylor Ave.) it is super conveniently located with a 14-minute walk to class and a six-minute walk to the Central West End bars and restaurants. Tramore's biggest plus is its affordability. A 1,230 sq. ft. apartment for three is only $950. Yes, you read correctly, about $315 per person. Built in the 1920s, the 11-story Tramore is no Ritz-Carlton, but it has everything you need, is clean, and has a certain 20s charm. There are drawbacks like no central heating or cooling (window A/Cs and radiators work fine), but the price, location, and size make these apartments worth it. Plus, you get to say that you live in a castle! You will need to find two roommates (there may be doubles) and call Monica at (314) 367-2144 or visit leerealtyproperties.com. I truly don't know how Tramore has been kept a secret, but I'm revealing it now to everyone. You are welcome.
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West End Terrace
West End Terrace
Rent: Studio $729-749, One Bedroom $829, Town Home $1,234-1,275, Two Bedroom $1,037.
Utilities: All included (must pay separately for cable/internet),
Parking: Free surface parking.
Pets: Yes.
Pool. Parking. Privacy. Pets. Parties. Potlucks. Pillow fights. Porterhouse steaks. Ok, I'm out of Ps. But all of these and more are possible at West End Terrace. West End Terrace is a gated community with an outdoor pool, grills, a small gym, free parking, and utilities all included in the rent. Although it is a little farther than the other apartments where students more commonly reside (about a 20-minute walk to class), it makes up for it with other perks. The spacious two-bedroom apartments are equipped with their own washer/dryer units (free!). West End Terrace is also close to FroYo, Drunken Fish, Coffee Cartel, and Bar Louie. I would say having a car (or being able to mooch rides off of your generous classmates) contributes a lot to my happiness. Living further from campus definitely gives me an excellent excuse not to walk to class every day. Or it's a nice way to get some exercise when you're not feeling lazy. Plus living in a gated complex gives you that extra sense of security whether you're coming home late from a night out or a night of cramming!
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