Students say living off campus can be an exciting experience for those who have never done so, but caution that there are certain factors to look at before signing a lease.

For those who are used to quiet study rooms, making sure the complex has a quiet atmosphere is a good idea.

"I'd want a place where I could study at home just as easy as I could study at school," said Carl Nissly, an optical engineering junior.

Nissly, who has been searching sporadically on the Internet and through magazines for apartments since February, said location is also important in terms of living close to campus.

"If I don't have to buy a parking pass, I'd rather not," he said.

Christina Gallardo, a political science senior, who has lived three years at The Springs, 4900 E. Fifth St., said she also considers location to be important.

Gallardo said she enjoys living at her complex, but having a high school next to it can be bothersome at times.

"It sucks," Gallardo said. " I don't go anywhere between eight in the morning and three in the afternoon when school gets out. It's either crazy moms or bus drivers everywhere."

Gallardo said she could also hear the school's intercom in her bedroom.

Aside from finding the right location, some students suggest observing the surrounding area and the staff on the property.

Jesse Miller, an atmospheric sciences graduate student, said he came from New York and leased his apartment through the phone before seeing it.

"It's good to get to know the landlords to see if they care about taking care of the place," Miller said.

Angie Pena, community director at Jefferson at Star Ranch, 41 S. Shannon Road, said the way the staff treats the prospective renters should be an indication of how they will be treated in the long run.

"It's not just the outside, it's the inside of the building as well," Pena said.

Pena said students should weigh in all the amenities and find out what's important for them.

For others, having the right roommates is the key to a tension-free living environment.

Brian Hudson, a material science engineering sophomore, said he would rather live by himself if given the choice, but living with roommates is not so bad.

"It's all about being respectful when you have roommates. If you're not respectful, that's when the fights happen," Hudson said.

Having one's own space is important when it comes to living with roommates, Hudson said, because after a rift with his roommates, he can go to his room to calm down.

Hudson said other than the occasional nit-picking with his roommates about cleaning up the house, he's never had a serious problem with them since he knows their personalities well.

Denise Herrera, a family studies and human development graduate student, said lack of space was one of the reasons she did not enjoy living with her roommates.

"All three of us were T.A.'s, so we had papers to grade. It was too congested," Herrera said.

Off-Campus Housing Assistant Rian Satterwhite said getting to know the person before moving in together avoids potential personality clashes.

"If you're choosing a roommate yourself, it's really important to meet at least two or three times beforehand in a public space if it's someone you don't know well," Satterwhite said.

Satterwhite said the Off-Campus Housing Guide offers forms with questions that allow students to interview their potential roommates to get a better idea of their personality.

Looking for the right place to live may be a hassle, but students may bypass that by going to the UA Off-Campus Housing Services, said Satterwhite. Housing Services offers a weekly housing list of apartments, houses and condos as well as roommate service.

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona's legal service departments, which has records of complaints lodged against managers or apartment complexes, is also a good source for students who want to check out the history of a complex, said Satterwhite.