Some have been waiting for the opportunity to move off-campus since they set foot in a communal bathroom freshman year.

Others have pushed it out of their minds and are only now coming to terms with the fact that they did not receive a good housing lottery number this year.

Because there are so many students in the area, and because of a somewhat limited number of affordable housing options and quirky township zoning laws (in Haverford, for example, no more than three unrelated people can live together and the dwelling must be zoned as “student housing”) finding a place to live on the Main Line can be difficult.

If you are considering living off campus next fall but have not yet signed a lease, secured roommates, talked to your parents, or at the very least skimmed the apartment and student approved housing listings on Villanova’s Residence Life website, consider this your introduction to lease agreements, utility bills and landlords. In other words, welcome to the real world.

Moving into your first apartment takes time and planning. It is a right of passage; a step toward adulthood. You need to choose a location and building, decide whether or not to have roommates, understand the terms of the lease agreement and learn how to budget your money.

For more information, visit the Office for Residence Life’s website on off-campus housing at www.villanova.edu/studentlife/reslife/offcampus.

Riverwalk at Millenium

Riverwalk at Millennium in Conshohocken is a new housing option that caters to urban hipsters and college students looking for slightly more luxurious accommodations. The apartments feature high ceilings, large bedrooms, state-of-the-art kitchens and ample closet space.

With a club house, resort-style pool, fully equipped fitness center and much more, living at Riverwalk at Millennium isn’t cheap.

But while the minimum $1350 monthly rent (for a 783 square foot one-bedroom apartment) is a bit steep for the average college student, many will find the deluxe accommodations well worth the extra dough

Kingswood Apartments

Located four miles away from campus and minutes from King of Prussia and I-76, Kingswood is a comfortable, modern complex that is a favorite with local students.

Featuring high speed internet access, a new fitness center, swimming pool and 24 hour emergency maintenance, an apartment at Kingswood is a good option for one or several students per unit.

With water, heat, hot water, sewer, gas, trash and pest control included, and prices ranging from $710 per month for a small studio to $1700 for a three bedroom two-story townhouse, these apartments are more than reasonable by Main Line standards.