Skip to Content

Opening Doors for Growing International Student Populations

International Students Holding the Flags of their Respective CountriesAs an international student arrivals in the U.S. grow each year, this creates new opportunities for Georgetown rental property owners. If you own or would like to own rental property near one of the many universities that attract international students, you may be wondering how to go about renting to them. International students have different needs than local renters. To make a successful deal with this renter demographic, it is very important to know their needs well.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about renting to international students is that they often search for accommodations before they arrive in the United States. The most logical thing to do to increase your chances of renting to international students is to provide more information about your rental online.

Consider creating a simple website, complete with many up-to-date photos of your rental property. Plus, a way of accepting applications online would also be very helpful. To widen your reach, list your property on rental websites, and draw attention to what makes it ideal for international students.

International students generally would prefer if you rent your property at least partially furnished. Few international students would want a house fully furnished when they arrive in the U.S. Furnishing your rental home with a few basics can create a much more appealing option for these renters. You should choose furniture that is simple but sturdy, leaving room for the students to add personal touches.

One way to attract international students to your rental property is to offer them short-term or month-to-month leases. While some international students may be planning to stay for at least a year, maybe more, others might only be visiting for a semester at a time. With flexible leases, the situation is a win-win. Your vacancies are filled while meeting your tenant’s needs.

Once the applications start coming in, you’ll need a way to screen them. This process will be different from local renters since international students won’t have a Social Security number or U.S. driver’s license. A few things you can do is to request financial information, such as bank statements, and run their name through criminal databases in their home country.

It is an important point to consider that since international students have spent a lot of time and money just to be able to study in the U.S., it is most unlikely that they engage in destructive college student behaviors (throwing big parties, for example). Many property owners prefer to rent to international students instead of local students because they tend to be more responsible and conscientious renters.

There are over 1 million international students in the U.S., which presents ample opportunities for rental property owners looking to tap into a new rental market. But to do so, you will need to take steps to position your rental property accordingly.

If you’re looking for someone to take over the hard work of advertising, tenant screening, and more, consider speaking to Real Property Management Longhorn. Our Georgetown property managers are experts in the industry and can make owning rental properties a hassle-free experience. Contact us online or call us at 512-580-3099 and let us take the work off of your shoulders today.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details