I'm a PhD student at UGA, and my apartment complex recently notified all residents that they're selling the property. Our leases won't be renewed, and everyone has to be out by the end of December at latest.
I'm really torn about what to do.
Part of me wants to just move now and get it over with. It feels like ripping off the Band-Aid, and then I wouldn't have this hanging over my head for the next several months. The downside is that it's happening much sooner than I planned, and there aren't many apartments available right now that check all my boxes. I'm looking for a nice upgraded 1- or 2-bedroom apartment with a balcony that's pretty close to campus since I'm there all the time.
The other part of me wants to stay in my current apartment as long as possible because I genuinely love living here. It would also give me more time to see if the "perfect" apartment becomes available. I've also heard that rents in larger apartment complexes (which is mostly where Im looking cause I would love to have some amenities this time) can sometimes be lower in the winter, which could be a plus.
My concern is that Athens housing seems to revolve around the academic calendar. I'm worried that if I wait until December, there will actually be fewer options because most leases start in July or August.
For anyone who's lived in Athens (or has been in a similar situation), what would you do? Is the winter rental market really that limited, or do good apartments still become available? Would you move now to avoid the uncertainty, or stay put and hope something better opens up over the next few months?
I'd really appreciate any advice or experiences. This whole situation has been unexpectedly stressful.