Buying a Home in Auburn with a College-Age Child

Buying a home in Auburn with a college-age child can mean several very different things — especially when that child attends Auburn University.

Maybe your entire family is moving to Auburn, Alabama.

Maybe you live several states away and are considering buying an Auburn condominium, townhome or house for your student.

Maybe you want a place your child can live during college that also gives your family somewhere to stay when you come to Auburn for Homecoming, football weekends, Family Weekend, graduation and other Auburn traditions.

Or perhaps you’re hoping to keep the property long after graduation.

Before choosing a property, answer one question:

What does this Auburn home need to do for your family?

That answer can affect location, property type, bedrooms, parking, maintenance, association restrictions and whether the property still makes sense after your child’s Auburn years are over.

And after spending Auburn Homecoming weekend walking campus, photographing tailgates, watching alumni return and seeing Toomer’s Corner rolled after another Auburn victory, I think this is a particularly good time to talk about it.

If you’re just beginning your Auburn research, my Moving to Auburn relocation information is a good place to start.

What You’ll Find in This Guide

Buying for an Auburn University student

Moving your entire family to Auburn

Buying something your family can use too

Homecoming and Fall Family Weekend

Choosing a location near Auburn University

Parking and transportation

Condominiums and townhomes

Association and neighborhood restrictions

Planning beyond graduation

A realistic Auburn parent-buyer scenario

Auburn versus Opelika

Questions to ask before buying

Quick answers for Auburn parents

Start With the Purpose of the Auburn Property

Before looking at houses or condominiums, decide which description comes closest to your situation.

Is this primarily your family’s home?

Is it primarily housing for your Auburn University student?

Will parents and other family members use it regularly?

Do you expect to sell when your child graduates?

Could another child attend Auburn later?

Would you potentially keep the property for your own Auburn visits?

Are you considering future rental use if the property and applicable rules allow it?

You don’t have to know exactly what you’ll want five years from now.

But you should think about it.

A property selected solely around a freshman’s needs may look very different from something a family expects to own for ten years.

Homecoming Weekend Makes This Conversation Real

Auburn University Homecoming is one of those weekends when you can see just how important family connections are to Auburn.

This year’s Auburn University Homecoming ran September 25–27.

The weekend included the Homecoming parade through downtown Auburn, a pep rally on Samford Lawn, Auburn football at Jordan-Hare Stadium and other activities welcoming the Auburn Family back to the Plains.

And this year, Auburn’s Fall Family Weekend took place at the same time.

That’s particularly relevant when we’re talking about parents buying Auburn real estate.

Fall Family Weekend Brings Auburn Parents to the Plains

Auburn University’s Fall Family Weekend coincided with Homecoming this year.

Auburn describes it as an opportunity for families to experience Auburn traditions together.

The official Fall Family Weekend tailgate alone drew more than 3,500 family members.

Think about that for a moment.

Thousands of parents and family members were on campus during the same weekend.

They’re visiting their students.

They’re walking Auburn.

They’re tailgating.

They’re attending the Homecoming parade.

They’re going to the football game.

They’re spending time downtown.

And some of those families are undoubtedly thinking about housing.

Where is our student living?

Will that arrangement work next year?

Should we keep renting?

Should we consider buying something?

Would we want somewhere to stay when we visit?

Those are reasonable questions.

But buying an Auburn property is a much bigger decision than choosing where to stay for Homecoming weekend.

Walking Thach Concourse Gives You a Different Perspective

I spent part of Homecoming walking along Thach Concourse.

There were people everywhere.

Students.

Parents.

Alumni.

Visitors.

People heading toward tailgates.

People walking toward Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Orange and blue everywhere.

And this is something parents researching Auburn property from another state can’t completely understand from a map.

A listing may say a property is a certain distance from Auburn University.

That doesn’t tell you what your student’s daily routine would actually look like.

It doesn’t tell you what that part of Auburn feels like on a quiet weekday.

And it definitely doesn’t tell you what it feels like on Homecoming Saturday.

That’s why location needs more thought than simply:

“How many miles is it from campus?”

Haley Center, Campus Life and the Everyday Auburn Experience

Walking around Haley Center and the surrounding campus gives you another look at how students actually move around Auburn.

When parents tell me they want something “close to campus,” I want to know what they really mean.

Walking distance?

A short drive?

Access to transportation?

Close enough that the student can easily get home between activities?

Or simply convenient enough that getting to class isn’t difficult?

Those aren’t necessarily the same thing.

And the closer you get to Auburn University, the more important it becomes to understand the specific property rather than relying on a map pin.

The Homecoming Parade Shows Auburn’s Family Connection

The official Homecoming parade began at Thach Avenue and South College Street before making its way through downtown Auburn and back toward Samford Lawn.

Floats.

Performers.

Students.

Families.

Alumni.

It’s one of those Auburn traditions that makes a particularly good visual story.

But it also illustrates why so many Auburn parents become attached to this town.

Your child may arrive here for college.

Then suddenly you’re coming for Parents Weekend.

Football.

Homecoming.

Move-in.

Graduation.

And Auburn becomes part of your family’s calendar too.

The Alumni Tent Shows What Happens After Graduation

One of the things I photographed was the alumni tent.

I think that belongs in this story because it illustrates something parents don’t always think about when their child first starts college:

Graduation doesn’t necessarily end the Auburn connection.

Homecoming exists because people come back.

Students graduate.

They move away.

They start careers and families.

And years later, many still return to Auburn.

That doesn’t mean you should buy property because you assume your family will always come back.

It means that if you’re already thinking about longer-term ownership, it’s worth discussing before we choose the property.

Tailgating Near Jordan-Hare Stadium

Homecoming Saturday also meant tailgating all around Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Tents.

Food.

Televisions.

Shakers.

Music.

Friends.

Families.

Generations of Auburn people spending the day together.

For some parents, owning something close enough to participate easily in Auburn weekends sounds wonderful.

That may become part of the goal.

But again:

If the property is supposed to serve both a student-housing purpose and a family purpose, tell me that from the beginning.

A two-bedroom student-oriented condominium might solve one problem.

A different property could potentially fit a broader family plan.

The important thing is knowing which problem we’re trying to solve.

Live Music Near Plainsman Park

Homecoming wasn’t confined to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

There was activity all around campus, including live music and gatherings around the Plainsman Park area.

That’s another part of Auburn parents’ experience when they visit.

You’re not simply dropping your child off at a university.

You’re experiencing Auburn with them.

That can make parents begin thinking differently about owning property here.

But enjoying Auburn is one question.

Determining whether purchasing property makes sense for your family is another.

Those decisions shouldn’t be confused.

Auburn Wins — and the Auburn Celebration Continues

Auburn defeated Vanderbilt 21–15 in Saturday’s Homecoming game.

It was Auburn’s 35th consecutive Homecoming victory.

And in Auburn, the end of the football game doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the evening.

After an Auburn win, people start heading toward Toomer’s Corner.

Toomer’s Corner Gets Rolled

This is one of those Auburn traditions that’s hard to adequately explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it.

Auburn wins.

People head downtown.

Toilet paper starts flying.

Before long, Toomer’s Corner is covered.

Trees.

Sidewalks.

Signs.

People.

White toilet paper everywhere.

If your college-age child attends Auburn University, there’s a pretty good chance Auburn traditions will become part of your family’s experience too.

And for some parents, that connection eventually becomes part of why they want to own something here.

And Then There’s Aubie

One of my favorite pieces of Homecoming footage was Aubie dancing around Toomer’s Corner after the Auburn victory.

Aubie.

A rolled Toomer’s Corner.

Auburn fans celebrating.

It’s difficult to create a more Auburn scene than that.

And that’s exactly why original photographs and videos matter when I’m talking to relocation buyers and Auburn parents.

You can look at listings anywhere.

I want you to understand the place too.

But Don’t Let an Auburn Weekend Make the Real Estate Decision for You

This is where I put my REALTOR® hat back on.

Homecoming can make you fall in love with Auburn.

That’s fine.

But don’t let the emotion of a great Auburn weekend substitute for evaluating the property.

Buying real estate is still buying real estate.

We need to look at:

Price.

Condition.

Location.

Property type.

Parking.

Association dues where applicable.

Maintenance responsibilities.

Restrictions.

Financing.

Insurance.

Your expected ownership period.

And your actual intended use.

The Auburn experience can be part of why you want to own here.

It shouldn’t replace proper due diligence.

Are Auburn Freshmen Required to Live on Campus?

No.

According to the official Auburn University Undergraduate Admissions housing information, freshmen are not required to live on campus.

Auburn also says on-campus housing is limited and provides information for students interested in off-campus housing.

That’s one reason some parents eventually begin looking at off-campus housing choices.

But “my student can live off campus” and “we should buy real estate” are two completely different conclusions.

Whether purchasing makes sense depends on your family’s circumstances.

Is Your Entire Family Moving to Auburn?

If your entire family is moving to Auburn, Alabama, don’t let one child’s college experience dictate the entire search.

Suppose you’re relocating for work and your son or daughter happens to attend Auburn University.

Wonderful.

But what happens when they graduate?

If you’re planning to stay, the property still needs to work for everyone else.

Think about:

Your commute.

Number of bedrooms.

Home-office needs.

Yard preferences.

Maintenance.

Parking.

Your comfortable budget.

How close you really want to be to Auburn University.

Whether you expect to remain in the home long term.

You can also explore different Auburn subdivisions and neighborhoods instead of limiting the search to student-oriented areas.

Is the Property Primarily for Your Auburn Student?

Now we’re having a very different conversation.

If your child will be the primary occupant, I want to know:

How will they get to campus?

Will they have roommates?

How many bedrooms do you need?

How many vehicles need parking?

How much maintenance do you want to manage from another state?

What do the applicable property restrictions allow?

What happens when your student graduates?

Those questions help determine whether we should be looking at a condominium, townhome, house or something else entirely.

Parking Is More Important Than It Sounds

Parking isn’t exciting.

Until there’s not enough of it.

Suppose you’re considering a three-bedroom property because your student may have roommates.

Three bedrooms don’t automatically mean three convenient parking spaces.

Depending on the property, you may need to investigate:

Assigned spaces.

Guest parking.

Number of permitted vehicles.

Garage capacity.

Driveway space.

Association rules.

Other applicable parking requirements.

Investigate that before buying, not afterward.

Read the Restrictions Before You Buy

This is especially important with condominiums, townhomes and association-governed communities.

Never assume that owning a property means you can use it however you want.

If roommates are part of the plan, investigate the applicable rules.

If future rental use is part of the plan, investigate the applicable rules.

If parking matters, investigate the rules.

Understand association dues.

Understand maintenance responsibilities.

Understand what belongs to the owner and what belongs to the association.

My guide to Auburn condo communities frequently researched by out-of-state parents gives parents another place to begin learning about this particular segment of Auburn real estate.

Think Beyond the Next Four Years

This is probably the biggest point I want parents to remember.

Four college years sound like a long time when your child is a freshman.

In real estate, four years isn’t necessarily a long ownership period.

So let’s talk about graduation before freshman year.

What happens afterward?

Sell?

Keep it?

Use it yourselves?

Another child attends Auburn?

Consider renting it if permitted?

You don’t have to know.

But if longer-term ownership is a real possibility, that should influence the search.

A Realistic Auburn Parent-Buyer Scenario

Imagine parents living in Texas with a daughter attending Auburn University.

They call me wanting a two-bedroom condominium as close to campus as possible.

Simple enough.

Their daughter can live there.

Another student may occupy the second bedroom.

The parents assume they’ll sell when she graduates.

Then we talk.

They plan to come to Auburn frequently.

Football weekends.

Homecoming.

Family Weekend.

Maybe basketball games.

Graduation.

They’d like somewhere comfortable to stay when they’re here.

They also have another child who may eventually consider Auburn.

And when I ask whether they’re absolutely certain they’ll sell after four years, the answer is:

“Well…maybe not.”

Now the search changes.

Maybe two bedrooms aren’t enough.

Maybe parking matters more.

Maybe they want something with a little more flexibility.

Maybe association restrictions become a bigger consideration.

Maybe they prefer a townhome.

Maybe the closest property to campus isn’t necessarily the best property for their overall plan.

The family didn’t change.

We simply figured out what they actually needed.

What Are You Really Buying?

Your Goal	What Deserves Attention
Family primary residence	Does it work for the entire family beyond college?
Student housing	Campus access, parking, maintenance and restrictions
Student + family use	Bedrooms, parking, visitor use and long-term flexibility
Possible longer ownership	Would you still want it after graduation?
Potential future rental	Are your intended plans permitted?
Likely sale after graduation	Does the purchase still make sense without assuming appreciation?

 

What If You Want to Keep It After Graduation?

Then tell me.

That can change everything.

If you’re already imagining coming back for Auburn football, Homecoming and other university events years after your child graduates, you may evaluate properties differently.

Would you stay there yourselves?

Would you want more bedrooms?

Would you want something less student-oriented?

Would you prefer different parking?

Would you want a different location?

Would you still choose this property if your student weren’t living there?

That’s a very useful question.

What About Opelika?

If the purchase is specifically about a student’s daily access to Auburn University, location may naturally narrow the search.

But if the entire family is relocating — or the property needs to serve a longer-term purpose — neighboring Opelika may also deserve consideration.

You can explore my Opelika subdivisions and neighborhoods and compare them with Auburn.

Auburn and Opelika are neighboring communities.

The goal isn’t to declare one “better.”

It’s to understand which locations fit your particular needs.

Questions to Answer Before We Start Looking

Who will actually live in the property?

Your student?

Student and roommates?

Your entire family?

Parents and student?

How long do you realistically expect to own it?

Four years?

Five?

Ten?

You don’t know?

That’s okay too.

How often will parents visit Auburn?

Homecoming weekend makes this question especially relevant.

If you’re planning frequent visits, tell me.

Will your student have roommates?

That may affect the property type, bedroom needs, parking and rules you should investigate.

How important is proximity to Auburn University?

Essential?

Preferred?

Or simply one factor?

What happens after graduation?

Sell?

Keep?

Use personally?

Consider another permitted use?

Would you still want this property without the Auburn student?

That’s one of the most useful questions you can ask yourself.

Quick Q&A About Buying an Auburn Home for a College-Age Child

Are Auburn freshmen required to live on campus?

No. Auburn University says freshmen are not required to live on campus. University housing is limited, however, and Auburn encourages students interested in university housing to apply early.

Can Auburn University students live off campus?

Yes. Auburn provides students with information about off-campus housing options.

Is buying an Auburn condo automatically better than renting?

No. Ownership period, purchase expenses, financing, taxes, insurance, maintenance, association expenses and eventual selling costs should all be considered.

Should parents buy as close to Auburn University as possible?

Not automatically. Campus access can matter, but parking, property type, maintenance, restrictions and longer-term plans may matter too.

Can my student have roommates?

That depends on the property and applicable rules. Don’t assume. Investigate the specific restrictions relevant to the property and your intended use.

Should I buy based on what I think the property will be worth after graduation?

Future appreciation isn’t guaranteed. The purchase should make sense without relying on a specific future selling price.

What if we love coming to Auburn for Homecoming and football?

Then tell me that. If family use is genuinely part of your longer-term plan, we should consider it when evaluating properties.

Homecoming Shows Why Auburn Becomes More Than College

This may be my favorite connection between Homecoming and this real estate topic.

Your child may initially be the reason you come to Auburn.

Then Auburn starts becoming part of your family’s story.

You come for move-in.

Parents Weekend.

Football.

Homecoming.

You walk Thach Concourse.

You tailgate near Jordan-Hare.

You hear live music near Plainsman Park.

You watch the Homecoming parade.

You see the alumni come back.

Auburn wins.

You walk downtown.

Toomer’s Corner is rolled.

Aubie is dancing.

And one day your child graduates.

That’s when the question becomes:

Was this property only about four years of college?

Or did Auburn become something your family wants to keep coming back to?

You don’t need to know the answer today.

But it’s worth thinking about before you buy.

Local Auburn Experience Matters

I’m Laura Sellers, an Auburn University alumna who has lived in the Auburn–Opelika area since 1988 and has been a REALTOR® for over 20 years.

I’m an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate — the Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers.

I work with buyers and sellers throughout Auburn and Opelika, including relocation buyers and families trying to understand housing options around Auburn University.

And because I actually live here, I can help you understand more than the listings.

I can help you understand Auburn.

Buying an Auburn Home with a College-Age Child?

Let’s start with the purpose of the property.

Tell me who will live there.

How long you think you’ll own it.

How often your family expects to visit Auburn.

What your student needs.

And what you might want after graduation.

Then we’ll build the property search around your actual goals.

Call or text Laura Sellers at 334-332-7263.

Visit AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com.

Homes, y’all!