HOUSINGS
General Recommendations
It is recommended that you look for an apartment with heat included in its rental rate. Heating can cost you a lot during winter (December-March).
Make sure that you will not have problems with your rental contract, for example, you may need to leave before the lease ends. Sometimes it is possible to negotiate with the apartment managers about the length of the contract before you sign it, so you should plan ahead.
Sublet is a cheap way to find a short-term housing. The rent is usually 10-30% lower. You can find several sublet posting on local newspapers, bulletin boards on campus and online search, for examples:
http://www.campusbb.com/wisc/
http://madison.sublet.com
http://www.madison.com/rentals/
Parking
availability should also be considered if you plan to purchase a car. In downtown area, parking spaces can cost you a few hundreds dollars per month. Indoor parking lots usually cost additionally to your rent but it is very convenient during snowy season, i.e. December to early April.
Something you should consider when you choose an apartment: bus lines, weekday/weekend bus schedule, bike path, grocery stores in walking distances. When there is a heavy snow, the best way of transportations is taking a bus.
RECOMMENDED HOUSINGS
Here is the list of housings where a number of Thai students live or lived before:
Housing – West
West side of Madison is where the majority of Thai students are living. On this side of the town, apartments are newer and more spacious compared to those in the downtown or on campus.
Sheboygan Avenue
People in this area live quietly which is good for your study time. On Sheboygan Avenue, there are several apartments where many Thai students live.
Price: Along Sheboygan Ave., there are about 7 apartments, which the rent ranges from $800 to $900 for two-bedroom apartments and from $600 to $750 for one-bedroom apartments. The rent usually includes water and heat.
Facilities: Most of these apartments provide outdoor pool and weight-training room, although not as good as the ones provided in university facilities. Another advantage of living in this area, especially for those who love working out is that there is a public park, which has one standard soccer field, one basketball court, 6 tennis courts and BBQ shelter, within a walking distance. You can use these facilities for free. Besides, there are two grocery stores nearby.
Transportation: The major drawback of living in this area is that it is quite far from campus (about 2 miles). However, traffic jam is not the problem of a small city like Madison. You have to spend about 15-20 minutes to go to university by bus or less than 10 minutes by driving. Since the bus system in the US is much better than that in Thailand, it is the most preferable way of traveling for students here. Also, each semester all UW students receive a bus pass with unlimited rides for a minimal fee. There are more than enough bus routes passing through Sheboygan Ave. During rush hours, there are buses coming almost every 5 minutes. However, during off-peak hour, the interval is about 15 minutes, and the wait is longer during the weekend.
If you plan to have a car, there are a lot of free parking spaces on campus during weekend. On the other hand, a lot of students living in this area own a car, and they usually are kind enough to give you a ride. They can also help you buy some necessary stuffs when you first move in or can take you to the grocery store on a regular basis. It is a bit inconvenient to do grocery without a car.
Contact Information:
Carolina Apartments (608) 274-7077
1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath From $662
2 Bedroom/ 1 Bath From $810
Chapel Hill Apartments (608) 274-7060
Efficiency From $550
1 Bedroom/1 Bath From $690
2 Bedroom/1 Bath From $835
Hillsdale Towers Apartments (608) 274-7055
1 Bedroom/1 Bath $636-641
2 Bedroom/1 Bath $757-762
Monticello Apartments (608) 233-9299
1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath From $720
2 Bedroom/2 Bath From $835
Normandy Apartments (608) 233-5393
Park Tower Apartments (608) 274-7066
Efficiency $570
1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath $685
2 Bedroom/ 2 Bath $800
Sovereign Apartments (608) 274-7070
1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath $660
2 Bedroom/ 1+1/2 Bath $825
Housing – East
There are also a number of Thai students living on the east side. The costs of the apartments are a little cheaper than those on the west. Camelot is one of the best places to live on east.
Camelot Apartments:
1614 Fordem Avenue (corner East Johnson St. and Fordem Ave), where Tenney Park and Lake Mendota are just steps away.
Room Available: Efficiency from $530
1 Bedroom/1 Bath From $615
2 Bedroom/1, 1 1/2, 2 Bath From $665
3 Bedroom/1 3/4 or 2 Bath From $880
On the Bus Line: 2, 5, 10, 27, 28
Underground parking: $45 a month (free parking spaces available outside the building)
Washer/Dryer or Laundry Facilities: Included. It is inside the apartment for some floor plans, and can be shared on the same floor for the others.
2 Swimming Pools, Walk-in Closets, Patio or Balcony, Cats Welcome
Additional information:
My apartment is a 2-bedroom with 2-full-bathroom apartment with the rent of $750 per month. The rooms are relatively new and spacious. The apartment includes living room, balcony, kitchen, air conditioner, heater, dishwasher, and washer-dryer. Free storage room on underground floor is available upon request. However, the apartment is unfurnished. All bus lines will get you to campus, but #10 and #28 will be the most convenient. The Tenney Park nearby is a wonderful place for recreational activities, such as tennis (3 tennis courts), basketball, jogging, walking, picnic in a big shelter, and ice skating on the pond during winter. For grocery shopping, the closest store is about 10 minutes by driving. The closest Asian store is only 5 minutes by driving. For more information about the floor plans, please visit www.aptshowcase.com (Search for Camelot). Telephone number: (608)-241-4179.
Housing – Downtown/Campus
Living downtown or on campus is the choice for many people. It is very convenient when it’s just a walking distance from your house to school, lab or office. Most people also use bicycles. Fewer people own cars because of the pricy parking fee. Groceries can be purchased from smaller grocery store like Walgreen or Open Pantry. Farmer market and Capital Food are also not far from downtown. Living near campus could be very noisy, especially in fall when there is a football season.
2020
2020 apartments are on Old University Avenue. The apartments are close to engineering department which is very convenient for engineering students. There are also several bus lines running past. Parking spots are available as well.
2020 University Ave.
Phone: (608)-256-5436
Efficiency $500
1 bedroom $650
Master Hall
Master Hall is next to State Street where you can find a lot of restaurants, bars and shopping places. The rent is inexpensive for a downtown area apartment. Only 5 minute walk to Memorial Union and Red Gym. Fully furnished and all utilities included.
www.mullinsapartments.com/415wgilmanstudio.html
415 W. Gilman St.
Phone: (608)-257-2127
SURF
SURF apartments are next to Lake Mendota and are very close to Memorial Union and State Street. Many undergrad students live there. You can have a lake view from your apartment and the wireless internet connection is included.
630 N Frances St
Madison Wisconsin 53703
Phone: (608)-256-3013
Eagle Height
Eagle Height is a university housing for graduate students. The rent is relatively cheaper than private apartments, especially for one bedroom and two bedroom suits. There is one bus line (number 80, free ride) that runs every 10 minutes and passes almost every UW building on campus. Because of the cheap rate, there might not be available units left if you apply late. The priorities are given to students with families.
www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/eagle_heighs.php
One bedroom $580
Large one bedroom $605
Two bedroom $660
Large two bedroom $760
Three bedroom $785
Small Three Bedroom w/Laundry $770
Large three bedroom $890
Three bedroom townhouse $920
UW Residence Hall
For undergrad students, there are many campus housing available at low price. For many of them, you may need to share the room with American students or students from other countries. Living that way is fun and is a nice chance to learn different cultures and lifestyles. There are several building listed on the websites below. It should be noted that if you stay in the residential hall, you need to move out during the breaks (in December and also during summer). Then you might have to find a sublet to stay temporarily if you don’t plan to go back to Thailand or to somewhere else.
www.housing.wisc.edu/assignment/welcome.html
Useful Links
APARTMENT SHOWCASE
www.aptshowcase.com
START RENTING
www.startrenting.com/madison.asp
RENT.COM
www.rent.com
APARTMENT RATING
www.apartmentratings.com
ON CAMPUS HOUSING
www.housing.wisc.edu
MORE ON HOUSING - UTILITIES
Telephone
Local services:
Long-distance services:
Electricity
- MG&E |
o Tel: (608) 252.7222 |
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o Toll Free: (800) 245.1125 |
Cable TV
- Charter Communication |
o http://www.charter.com |
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o Toll Free: (800) 581.0081 (Customer service) |
- Direct TV |
o http://www.directv.com |
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o Toll Free: (888) 238.7177 (Getting Direct TV) |
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o Toll Free: (800) 347.3288 (Customer service) |
