Amy BrownETC Editor

Close to 300 students looked for places to live at the off-campus housing fair Nov. 23.

Outback Jacks has sponsored the fair for the last five years, but this is the first year Outback Jacks is holding a bi-annual housing fair, with the second fair set for March 1.

Seven property owners had booths in Peterson Recital Hall to show photos and floor plans and give rental rates to students.

Representatives from Skylight Apartments, Southland Court, Village Square, Campus View Townhomes and Moriarty Rentals answered students’ questions about monthly rent, lease start dates and availability of apartments.

Most apartment complexes have one, two, three or four bedroom units. Students can also rent a house.

Stacie Rath, a consumer affairs major, attended the fair to look for an apartment for next school year.

“It was helpful, though I thought it was probably too early in the year because people did not know what was available at the time,” Rath said.

Students and property owners requested the additional housing fair in March, Peters said.

Last year only 250 students attended the off-campus housing fair in the spring semester.

“We already had a big jump from last year,” Peters said.

She hopes this spring’s fair will draw at least 300 students, as well as more property owners.

Students who did not attend the housing fair can find listings for off-campus apartments and houses through the services page on the student union’s Website at http://coldfusion.sdstate.edu/StudentLife/DSUA/och.htm. Information about leases, subleasing and housing budgets are also available online.

#1.885562:2856116034.jpg:offcampusfair.jpg:Carrie Gallagher, a sophomore psychology major and Jason Simons, a sophomore comptuter science major, talk to a representative about off-campus housing.:Jerry Smith