LMU rentals under 5 minutes from campus: short drive options and prices

If a short drive matters most to you, this roundup of LMU rentals under 5 minutes from campus by car is a good place to start. Every home below is listed as under 5 minutes by car from campus, and you can find more like them among our current Westchester listings.

The mix runs from a whole-house setup for a big group to smaller homes that suit two or three people. Some are open right now for a January move-in, while others list summer start dates that line up with next fall.

Begin your search at Off-Campus Universe, where you can browse current listings near Westchester.

2 homes on 1 gated lot, 4 blcks from LMU is listed at $10,450/month for the full property: 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms across two homes on one gated lot in Westchester. It's available now, with the lease type listed as Through June 30. The owner says the two homes can also be leased separately, so ask which setup is still open and what each one costs on its own. The listing mentions in-unit laundry, off-street parking and a gardener included.

Furnished 6BR/5BA House Near LMU — Pool, is the largest home here, with 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, and it comes furnished. It's listed at $19,500/month for the whole house on a 12-month lease, with timing listed as Available now — flex. The listing says it has a private pool, spa and sauna, an in-unit washer and dryer, and driveway and garage parking. The address on the listing shows only Westchester, so ask the lister for the exact street before you tour.

The Westchester Nest - Close to LMU is a furnished 3-bed, 2-bath apartment on W 87th Pl, listed at $4,950/month on a 12-month lease. The owner describes it as being on a gated property with its own private laundry area and two off-street parking spots included. Lease timing is listed as December through November, which could work well if you're planning a move at the start of the new year.

2 Bed/2 Bath Kentwood Home is a 2-bed, 2-bath duplex on Denrock Ave, listed at $4,995/month. The listing describes a recently renovated home with an extra work room and says it's open to long-term or short-term stays. The room-type field says Private Room and the rent-by-room field is marked, while the title describes the whole home, so ask the lister whether that price is for one room or the full unit. Lease timing is listed as Mid July to mid Aug.

3 bedroom 2 bath furnished utilities inc is a furnished 3-bed, 2-bath home listed at $6,500/month on a 6-month lease, starting July 1st. The listing says it's furnished with all utilities included and has an open floor plan. Its address field shows only United States, so ask the lister for the street location and how the rent is split before you go further.

What these Westchester listings have in common

All five homes here are listed as under 5 minutes by car from campus, and four of them carry a Westchester address. That's where the overlap ends. The bedroom counts run from two to six, the lease terms run from six months to a full year, and three of the five come furnished.

Pricing is quoted mostly for the whole home. That makes the headline numbers look large, especially for the six-bedroom listings, so divide by the number of bedrooms you'd actually fill before comparing them. Two of the listings have rent-by-room marked, which is a sign to ask exactly what the quoted price covers.

Parking comes up in several of these descriptions, from off-street spots to a garage. If you're planning to drive to class, ask how many cars each home can fit and whether any spaces are shared with another unit.

Furnished versus unfurnished is worth thinking through, too. A furnished home saves you from buying a bed, desk and couch, which helps on a shorter lease or if you're arriving mid-year. An unfurnished place gives you more control over the space, but budget for moving costs and ask the lister what appliances stay with the unit.

LMU rentals under 5 minutes from campus by car: how to choose

Shortlisting LMU rentals under 5 minutes from campus by car is mostly about trade-offs between group size, furnishing and lease length. A short drive helps, but the right home depends on how many people you're bringing and when you need to move in.

For a big group, the two six-bedroom options are the obvious fit. The furnished house includes more bathrooms and extras like a pool, according to the listing, while the two-home property offers the flexibility of separate units. For three people, the furnished apartment on W 87th Pl and the furnished home with utilities included are worth comparing side by side.

Lease length matters more than it seems. A 6-month lease can suit a semester or a summer, while a 12-month term ties you in through next fall. If you're studying abroad or heading home for the summer, ask whether subletting is allowed before you commit.

It also helps to match the lease type to your plans for the next year. If your group isn't sure who's staying through next spring, a shorter or more flexible term can lower the risk of someone getting stuck with an empty room. If everyone's committed, a full-year lease can give you more certainty on rent. Either way, ask the lister what happens if one person needs to leave early and whether a replacement roommate can take over that spot.

Finally, think about timing. Several of these homes list summer start dates, which suits groups signing now for next fall. The ones open now are more useful if you're after a spring-semester handoff or a January move-in.

Before you sign near LMU

• Ask whether the listed price is for the whole home or a single room, and get the per-person split in writing.

• Confirm the exact street address if the listing doesn't show one, and tour the place or join a live video walk-through before paying anything.

• Check which utilities are included and which you'll set up yourself, especially on shorter leases.

• Ask about parking spaces, guest parking and whether any spots are shared with another unit on the property.

Ready to find your place? Browse all listings at Off-Campus Universe.

This article is provided by an independent housing resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Loyola Marymount University.