Many parents of JMU students consider buying a property in Harrisonburg for their son or daughter to live in while attending college. This can be a great financial alternative to paying several years of rent, especially if there is, or may be more than one student in a family attending JMU.
But you can't just come to Harrisonburg, buy any property, and put your students and all of their friends into it. Here's what you need to know about buying houisng for your JMU student to live in with friends:
- SINGLE FAMILY HOMES :: Almost all single family homes in Harrisonburg won't work --- if you're looking to house more than 2 people (including your son or daughter). Most single family home neighborhoods are zoned R-1 or R-2, both of which prohibit having more than two unrelated people living in any property. If your son or daughter has two (or more) roommates, then most single family homes will likely not work for you.
- GRANDFATHERED-IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES :: There are some single family homes that have been used as rental properties (for more than 2 unrelated people) since before the zoning code prohibited such a use. These properties are "grandfathered in" such that continuing to lease it to more than two unrelated people is acceptable. A transfer of the property (upon sale) does not limit the ability of the new owner to use the property in the same way. Of note, these properties don't become available very often, as most owners of such properties have held them for decades and will continue to hold them indefinitely.
- ANY TOWNHOME :: You might think that just about any townhome would work to hold 3 or 4 students, but many neighborhoods actually have restrictions in their "Restrictive Covenants" that prohibit an owner from leasing the property to more than two unrelated people. Adding this verbiage into the Restrictive Covenants in many cases was a requirement for obtaining a re-zoning to allow for the townhouses to be built.
- SOME TOWNHOMES :: There are some townhome communities where the restrictive covenants do not prohibit having 3 or 4 (unrelated) tenants living together. Some examples include one of the sections of Avalon Woods, Beacon Hill, Blakely Park and Wishing Well Estates.
- COLLEGE COMPLEXES :: Most off campus housing complexes are "corporately owned" --- that is that they are owned by one corporation or individual, and thus individual units, condos and townhouses cannot be purchased in those developments. There are, however, a few college student housing options where an owner can come in and buy one or two units and not have to worry about zoning, non-student neighbors, etc. These areas include Hunters Ridge and Madison Manor.
If you are considering buying a house, townhouse or condo for your student(s) to live in while at school, please be in touch (540-578-0102,
scott@cbfunkhouser.com). I have worked with numerous people in this situation, and would be delighted to meet you.
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