Finding an off-campus apartment just got simpler for Gainesville residents.
RentGainesvilleApartments.com, a new site created by a local student, allows renters to search for apartments based on price, location and amenities, among other features. The website launched earlier this month and lists 15 apartment complexes.
Mat Houchens, the Santa Fe College business sophomore who launched the site, said he designed it to streamline the apartment-hunting process.
“I felt there was a need for better interface for people to find apartments,” the 28-year-old said.
Residents can use the site at no charge, and complexes can list available apartments for free during the first quarter of this year, he said, adding that he’s not sure what the price will be after that.
Some of the apartments featured on the website are managed by a business called Contemporary Management Concept. Social media and marketing director Melanie Ling said the company chose to list on the site because of its clean design.
“We really liked that (Houchens) was able to customize our suggestions and implement our needs,” she said.
Emily Ankus, a 19-year-old UF biology sophomore who lives in a residence hall on campus, said she would use the site if she decides to move off campus.
“It makes the difficult process of apartment hunting consolidated into one easy process,” she said.
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 1/28/2014 under the headline "SFC student creates apartment-hunting site"]
Mat Houchens, 28, poses for a photo Thursday. Houchens developed and is managing a site for people searching for apartments to rent.
