Erin Yarwood is a journalism senior and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
As winter quarter kicks off, the search for college housing next year should be coming to an end. At least, that’s what most upperclassmen warn. Advice from seasoned seniors tends to be to get a head start of things and have your lease signed by week 5 of winter quarter. However, for many, the hunt for a house close to campus will continue into spring quarter.
Zillow, Facebook housing groups and open houses will be swarmed with first, second and third years alike in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, not all Mustangs will successfully complete their search. Why can’t you find your dream college home? The answer: nepotism of Cal Poly housing of course.
San Luis Obispo’s housing market is increasing each year, as is rental pricing. Landlords in the San Luis Obispo areas surrounding Cal Poly welcome students as tenants with leases starting mid summer in accordance with the school year. A typical one bedroom apartment in San Luis Obispo costs $2,160 per month, although many students share rooms or live in multi-bedroom homes to lower this price.
But with a secure market of continuously incoming students who need housing, and are willing to pay more to live with friends or closer to campus, these prices are only going up. It’s becoming more affordable in the long-term for some parents of students to buy a house for their student, and rent the rest of the rooms out to their friends or other students once their child has graduated.
Sixty-seven percent of Cal Poly students come from families in the top 20th percentile of income in the country. For some of these well-off families, a real-estate investment like this is an easy decision and a way to guarantee good housing for their college students, providing us with the first example of Cal Poly housing nepotism.
Eleanor Greene, a child development senior, lives in a house passed down by her sorority big. She moved in as a third year and plans to pass it down to her little. The house has been in her sorority family for the past six years.
Ben Galindo, an electrical engineering senior, lives in a four bedroom house owned by his roommate’s mother. The house is a ten minute walk from campus.
Syd Wilcox, an environmental engineering sophomore, lives in a house with her club sports teammates. They found the house after applying to different houses through Zillow and going on house tours. While the house is a bit further from campus, they all love living close to downtown and take advantage of the pet-friendly perk.
Another word for nepotism: connections. Team houses, Greek Life, and familial alumni all play a part in the housing competition. If you’re not in the right sorority, on the right sports team, or friends with someone whose parents have the means to buy property, your chances of securing the “dream house” are much slimmer.
While it is proactive that you and your 3 planned roommates are on Zillow everyday and showing up to house showings in your only suit, remember that all your classmates are doing the same thing. And there’s a lot of us.
While some students may luck out and sign the lease for their five bedroom house that’s half a mile from campus, other students may be left living out by the airport at a higher cost because they ran out of time. Still, others will end up subleasing come fall quarter when they cannot secure a full year’s worth of living.
At the end of the day, who secures their perfect college house often comes down to who (or who’s family) is willing to pay a higher rent or invest in owning a house in SLO. There’s a clear disparity in housing opportunities for Cal Poly students, where nepotism through family or friends and financial differences result in disappointing living situations.
My advice? Talk to people. Reach out to your coworker who’s graduating in the spring, your estranged cousin who lives on Slack, or even knock on a door or two (it’s worked before). As with much in life, connections will take you farther than you think.
