It all comes down to one game to see who will be crowned College Football National Champions. These student-athletes have navigated the media frenzy, pitting the tropical lifestyle of the University of Miami players against that of the Midwestern Indiana University athletes.
But where these players live couldn’t be further apart – and we’re not talking miles. The most important thing to understand: college football student-athletes do not have the same college experience or college life as an average student or as their predecessors.
“Today’s student-athletes are much more independent and professional than previous generations,” Jonathan Ayalabroker and founder of Real estate photographytells Realtor.com®. “Many see housing as an extension of their brand and therefore prefer units that offer privacy, content creation space and professional environments.”
For both universities, football is a defining part of the school budget, and in the age of NIL (name, image and likeness) money, recruiting the best footballers means enticing them by any means necessary to make them successful.
Miami and Indiana spend $78.1 million and $61.3 million, respectively, on their football programs. The Athletic and the U.S. Department of Education.
A big part of an athlete’s routine is where he finds peace after a long day: his home away from home.
“Compared to the average student, student-athletes lead more disciplined and routine-oriented lives,” Ayala explains. “Their residential preferences prioritize tranquility, proximity to training facilities and adequate recovery and rest.”
Miami atmosphere
Living in Miami offers the comforts of mild weather almost year-round and all the amenities a big city has to offer. The average list price for a single-family home is $500,000, but the area is full of multimillion-dollar mansions and people willing to buy them, often paying cash.
Student-athletes who want to call Miami their home will find housing that isn’t your typical dorm room. The University of Miami is constructing a 30-acre village consisting of 25 interconnected buildings and outdoor spaces, including a large courtyard, study areas, recreation areas and outdoor terraces.
It will be delivered in phases and many students are already enjoying the conveniences.
Each student-athlete can have their own apartment with a living room, kitchen, laundry room and their own full bathroom. Often, first-year students stay on campus and then choose to move elsewhere in subsequent years.
Ayala, who has worked with developers, property managers and real estate agents in South Florida, says some University of Miami football players move after their freshman year to off-campus areas that offer a mix of proximity and privacy.
“Coral Gables, South Miami and Coconut Grove are popular because they are all close to the university and offer more space and safety,” Ayala added.
Midwestern lifestyle
Indiana University (or IU as people call it) is located in Bloomington, about an hour south of Indianapolis. Freshman football players live on campus and usually in Briscoe Quad. The dormitory is located close to the school’s sports facilities and gym.
“Athletes in Bloomington, unlike Miami, where athletes may live like young professionals, are more aligned with the traditional college town archetype, albeit with a little more purposefully improved housing,” Ayala says.
IU is a major driver of the Bloomington economy. The average list price in Bloomington is $357,000.
“Bloomington’s housing market is more compact than Miami’s, which is why athletes tend to cluster in similar off-campus areas, rather than spreading out across several upscale neighborhoods,” Ayala adds.
He explains that popular off-campus housing includes neighborhoods along East 3rd Street, East 10th Street and the newer apartment and townhome developments on Bloomington’s southeast side.
“These specific areas are attractive because of the combination of convenience and a quieter environment. They better balance the demands of athletes’ schedules and training compared to the dense student corridors. They offer a more residential feel with larger units and parking.”
Ayala explains that housing in Bloomington is often better quality than typical student housing, but it is not ultra-luxury. “Athletes can live in modern apartments or rental homes in good condition, but the amenities are fewer than in Miami’s luxury condominiums.”
In contrast to the nightlife that Miami offers, Bloomington has a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere. The attention this year’s football team has brought to the city rivals the more usual success of the basketball team.
Off-campus opportunities
As their athletic programs grow, colleges and universities are building modern housing as a way to attract top talent. Developers capitalize on this by investing in student housing off campus.
The largest developer of off-campus student housing, according to Landmark Properties Student housing company. The company currently has a construction volume of $4 billion and $10 billion in the development pipeline.
Landmark has projects underway near numerous universities, including the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; the University of Maryland at College Park; and the State University of New York at Binghamton.
