Housing Guide - FIRST Institute

AT F.I.R.S.T. INSTITUTE WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
It is that commitment that has lead us to create a Housing Guide for our students who are
making the transition to Orlando, FL to attend college. The housing guide offers information
on local apartments located in the Altamonte Springs/Maitland area of Orlando. This area is
approximately 12-15 minutes driving distance to F.I.R.S.T. Institute. We can not guarantee
the type of living experience you will have. This guide does not indicate all of the housing
providers in the Altamonte Springs/Maitland area, but it does have a few options for you to
explore as a starting point for you in your search.
Each start date we have many students moving to the area and looking for a roommate.
Your admissions representative can put you in touch with other F.I.R.S.T. Institute students
looking for roommates. However, F.I.R.S.T. Institute does not make any recommendations or
do roommate pairing, or matching. This is left to the sole discretion of the students, so
please take time to contact other students and ask plenty of questions when searching for a
roommate.
Congratulations on this new chapter in your life. We look forward to seeing you on
the F.I.R.S.T. Institute campus soon.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The material enclosed in this housing guide is for informational purposes
only. F.I.R.S.T. Institute makes no recommendations or endorsements of any particular facility, apartment
complex, management, staff, or service.
PG 2
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
Altamonte Springs/
Maitland are only a
12-15 min. drive to
F.I.R.S.T. Institute
PG 3
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
AREA INFORMATION
Maitland - www.itsmymaitland.com
Maitland, one of the oldest incorporated municipalities in
Central Florida, is a city rich in history. The area was once
called Fumecheliga (Musk Mellon Place) by the Seminole
Indians before it was established as Fort Maitland in 1838
by the U.S. Army. The fort was named after captain William
Seton Maitland, a hero of the Seminole Wars who, ironically,
was never in this area, having died in a battle near Tampa.
At that time, the only way of getting to Central Florida was
by boat from Jacksonville down the St. Johns River to Fort
Mellon (Sanford), then by horse or foot. Fort Maitland was
a small fort built on the west shore of Lake Maitland as a
rest stop between Fort Mellon and Fort Gatlin (Orlando).
What is now Maitland Avenue was part of the Old Black Bear
Trail which ran from Montreal, Canada to St. Petersburg,
Florida, and passed by the fort.
Altamonte Springs - http://www.altamonte.org
Altamonte Springs is a wonderful place to stay, offering a
wealth of fine hotels, shops, restaurants, spas, and
lakeside parks. Visit Altamonte Mall for the ultimate onestop shopping experience, offering more than 180
specialty shops, department stores, and restaurants.
Another must- see is the city’s newly developed Crane’s
Roost Park, a beautifully landscaped 37-acre lakeside park
featuring a floating stage and a 900-seat amphitheater.
Here you can
stroll along the boardwalk and enjoy concerts, art shows,
and festivals. There’s even a nightly fountain show, a
spectacular choreography of music, light and water.
For an equally impressive show from Mother Nature, visit
Lake Lotus Nature Park. Located on one of the area’s
wetlands, this park offers extensive nature trails to explore,
a fishing pier, picnic pavilions, and playgrounds for the
kids. A great time to visit Altamonte Springs is on Fourth of
July weekend, when the city hosts its annual Red Hot &
Boom celebration, promising even more excitement.
PG 4
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
APARTMENT SEARCHING 101
Step One: Star t the Search .
If you are making the transition to Orlando, FL, begin making plans immediately. New
students should plan to arrive in Orlando 15 to 30 days before the beginning of the
program start date to secure housing. By avoiding the rush, you will be more likely to find a living
arrangement that you will be pleased with. Housing is offered in Orlando year round. However,
you want to give yourself as much time as possible to find the best fit for you.
Step T wo: Plan Your Budget .
Budget
What will your expenses be? Include rent, utilities,
groceries, transportation, and dining out expenses;
use the budgeting form to the right to estimate your
expenses.
Roommates
Determine how many roommates you would like to
have and who they are. Be very careful in picking
roommates: you may not really know a person until
you move in; and once you sign the lease you are
forming a legally binding agreement. Renting an
apartment with several other people could help
defray costs, but also has disadvantages. Roommate
problems, which may be minor if you have one
roommate, can become quite complicated if they
involve three or four others. Be sure to take this into
account when you are considering roommates.
Step 3 : Visit Different Apar tments.
The best way to see an apartment is to visit it in
person. So, hit the road to narrow down the apartment you would like to live in. Walk or drive
through that complex to see the amenities and speak with a leasing specialist from the
apartment complex. They can assist you every step of the way from taking a guided tour to
signing your lease.
PG 5
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
10 ROOMMATE SEARCHING TIPS
1. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
Making a list of traits you are, or are not, looking for in a
roommate will help you to make a better choice for you.
Finding the right roommate is not easy, but this step can
make it a lot easier.
2. FURNISH THE ROOM
If you are looking for a roommate for a room you already
have, the first thing you should do is furnish the room.
By furnishing the room you make it easier to rent out and
increase the amount of money you can ask for as well.
3. USE CRAIGSLIST
Craigslist is a great place to find a roommate, either for that
room you are looking to rent out or to find a new place.
Plus, the search is free!
4. ROOMMATE LIST FROM F.I.R.S.T. Institute
There are many new students that are moving to the area,
or currently attend F.I.R.S.T. Institute, that are looking for a
great roommate. Make sure to ask your admissions
representative for a list of potential roommates to contact.
5. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
During the process of finding the right roommate you are
going to want to interview candidates over the phone and in
person. Be sure to have about 5 good questions prepared.
This will help you figure out who they are and whether or
not they will be a good fit for you.
6. TALK ON THE PHONE FIRST
When you are looking for the right roommate, one of the
best things to do is talk over the phone first. You may find
out everything you need to know on the phone, which can
help you weed out those who will definitely not work well as
your roommate.
PG 6
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
PG 7
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
PG 10
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
PG 11
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804
F.I.R.S.T. Institute • Accredited by ACCET | (888) 9FIRST1 | 2309 Silver Star Road Orlando, FL 32804