Return to:
Housing
Jump to:
- Living Close to the University
- Rental and Temporary Housing
- Purchasing a Home
- Commuting to Work in the Metro Area
- Additional Resources
Living Close to the University
Living close to campus offers many financial and lifestyle advantages. You can save money and avoid the frustration associated with a long commute while having the benefits of being located in the heart of the Twin Cities. With a wealth of parks, lakes, and cultural opportunities, Minneapolis and St. Paul provide the rich diversity of a metropolitan area and the small-town feel of local communities and neighborhoods.
University District – Home Buyer Incentive Program
Beginning January 1, 2009, this program provides down payment or closing cost assistance through a $10,000 two-percent interest loan that requires no monthly payment and is forgivable over five years.
- University District Home Buyers Incentive Program (pdf)
- University District - Neighborhood Fact Sheet (pdf)
- University District neighborhood map (pdf)
- University District Alliance
Rental and Temporary Housing
Rental Experts
Qualified rental experts are available to help prospective renters find what they need. Specialists are also available to link area newcomers to particular communities and diversity resources. Contact RAP to obtain information on the University's contract vendors.
Note: University departments or colleges may fund this service as part of their recruitment costs; new hires should discuss this option with their hiring department or area.
Rental Tips
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Twin Cities area will cost about $775 per month.
- Landlords require a 60-day notice. For example, faculty and staff needing a rental unit in September should begin their searches around July 1.
The Relocation Assistance Program maintains a list sabbatical homes and regular rentals that are available only to faculty and staff and a list of short-term housing resources (e.g., two weeks to six months) (pdf).
The Office of Housing and Residential Life also has an off-campus housing search.
University-Owned Rental Housing: Pillsbury Court
Pillsbury Court is reserved for full-time faculty and staff and is the only non-student, University-owned rental housing available. It is located within walking distance of the Minneapolis campus. The complex consists of 48 two-bedroom townhouses, and faculty and staff members may rent for up to two years. New faculty members should apply early as there may be a waiting list. Pets are not allowed. Visit the Office of Housing and Residential Life Web site for Pillsbury Court details and an online application.
Purchasing a Home
The local housing market tends to be relatively stable, with homes appreciating at varying rates. Check with your department for realtor recommendations. If your department is unable to make a referral or if you need lender advice, contact RAP. The University does not offer any type of mortgage assistance.
University Grove
New faculty and staff may be interested in purchasing a home in the University Grove, an architecturally unique neighborhood across from the St. Paul Campus. The 103 University Grove homes are located on land owned by the University of Minnesota.
Commuting to Work in the Metro Area
These are approximate distances and average commuting times, based on rush hour traffic, from some of surrounding areas to the University of Minnesota-East Bank campus, Minneapolis.
Hennepin County
Northern tier
Western tier
|
Southern tier
|
Ramsey County
Northern and central tier
|
Southern tier
Eastern tier
|
Surrounding Areas
North
South
|
East
West
|
Additional Resources
Rental & Home Search |
Twin Cities Community Information |
Cost of Living |
|
Relocation Assistance Program
Dr. Mary Everley, Director
- 200 Donhowe Building
- 319 15th Avenue S.E.
- Minneapolis, MN 55455
- 612-626-0775
- 800-227-8636
- 612-625-2574 (fax)
- rapland@umn.edu