LOCAL REALTOR
Drew Burroughs
Broker Associate, Compass
SMU-area real estate guidance
The short answer
Yes. SMU continues to require first-year undergraduates to live on campus, normally in a Residential Commons.
Who is the local Realtor for SMU?
Drew Burroughs of Compass is the CollegeHousing.ai real estate contact for Southern Methodist University.
How can I schedule a callback with Drew?
Use Schedule a Callback and include your preferred day and time, housing plan and contact details. You can also call 214-207-0731. Appointment availability is confirmed with the professional.
How should I compare renting and buying?
Compare the complete housing arrangements, upfront cash, monthly costs, expected time near campus and plan after graduation. The rent-vs-buy calculator provides an editable illustration.
Who can help review financing?
Matt Dean of NEXA Lending, NMLS #227603, is the financing contact. Share the property, intended occupancy and your assumptions for an eligibility review.
Is CollegeHousing.ai affiliated with SMU?
CollegeHousing.ai and the local professionals are independent of Southern Methodist University.
How do I confirm current property availability?
Ask Drew for current properties that fit your budget and timing. Confirm availability, price, lease or sale terms, and the specific address before making plans.
Do first-year students have to live on campus at SMU?
Yes. SMU continues to require first-year undergraduates to live on campus, normally in a Residential Commons.
Do sophomores have to live on campus at SMU?
No for students entering in fall 2025 or later. SMU removed the second-year residency requirement while keeping optional sophomore housing subject to space.
When does the 2026–27 SMU housing application open?
SMU states that the 2026–27 housing application becomes available in February 2026.
When should an incoming first-year student apply for SMU housing?
SMU tells incoming first-year students to apply as soon as they pay the enrollment deposit and by May 10 unless admitted later.
Where does my student apply for SMU housing?
The student applies in the SMU Housing Portal using SMU credentials and multifactor authentication.
What happens if my student applies late for SMU housing?
Late applications may receive rolling assignments when space permits; preferred community, room type, and roommate are less certain.
Is on-campus housing available for transfer students?
Transfer housing is very limited and space-available. Transfers have had no residency requirement since fall 2023 and should maintain an off-campus plan.
Can returning SMU students live on campus?
Yes. Returning residents apply through reapplication and room selection; availability and eligibility rules control the assignment.
Can a current off-campus student apply to return to SMU housing?
The student may contact RLSH; SMU may open applications in April if space is available, with assignments made later on a space-available basis.
Does SMU have a housing waitlist?
Yes. SMU publishes 2026–27 returning-student waitlists in the Housing Portal beginning in late March.
Is the SMU Housing License Agreement binding?
Yes. SMU publishes formal cancellation and release processes with financial penalties, so families should treat acceptance as a binding commitment.
Is there an SMU housing deposit?
SMU cancellation guidance refers to a housing deposit and says certain non-required students forfeit it when canceling before assignment. The exact universal amount should be confirmed in the student’s agreement.
What are the fall 2026 SMU housing cancellation penalties?
SMU lists $1,500 for May 2–June 1, $2,500 for June 2–30, $3,500 for July 1–31, and full fall rent beginning August 1.
What are the spring 2027 SMU housing cancellation penalties?
SMU lists $2,500 for December 1–31, $3,500 for January 1–14, and full spring rent beginning January 15.
How does my student cancel an SMU housing agreement?
Submit the request electronically through the Housing Portal or in writing to RLSH; email requests must come from the student’s SMU email.
How can a first-year student request release from the SMU residency requirement?
Complete the housing application, then submit the portal release process with a written statement and proposed address. RLSH reviews requests on a rolling basis.
When should a first-year residency-release request be submitted?
SMU says students submitting by April 15 receive a response in May; decisions are sent to the student’s SMU email.
What happens if SMU approves a residency-requirement release?
SMU says approval forfeits the student’s guaranteed-housing position for the remainder of the student’s time at SMU.
What should a resident do if withdrawing from SMU?
Complete withdrawal or leave paperwork, notify RLSH, and check out. Cancellation penalties can still apply under the License Agreement.
How much does SMU housing cost for 2026–27?
SMU publishes room-specific annual rates. Families should use the student’s exact building and room type because there is no single universal housing price.
Are SMU housing charges annual or semester-based?
Published 2026–27 housing rates are assessed per academic year unless a line item states otherwise, while charges post to student accounts by term.
Does SMU charge extra for winter-break housing?
SMU’s 2026–27 rate page says RLSH does not charge for Winter Break housing, though approval and available building rules still apply.
Can special housing accommodations change the charge?
SMU notes that additional charges may apply for special accommodations, damages, or optional services. An approved disability accommodation and its billing treatment should be confirmed individually.
What housing and food allowance does SMU use for 2026–27?
SMU’s 2026–27 undergraduate cost of attendance uses $20,950 for on-campus housing and food, $11,336 off campus, and $4,222 living with parents.
Is on-campus housing billed directly by SMU?
Yes. SMU classifies on-campus housing and meal plans as direct costs; off-campus rent and utilities are indirect costs.
Can financial aid cover SMU housing?
Housing is included in cost of attendance, and aid may help cover it, but total funding cannot exceed the approved cost of attendance and the student’s award controls.
Can SMU charge for room damage?
Yes. SMU states that additional damage charges may apply, and the Housing Portal supports completion of the Room Condition Report.
How many Residential Commons does SMU have?
SMU states that first-year students typically live in one of 11 Residential Commons.
When will incoming students receive their SMU housing assignment?
SMU says assignments are made in June and communicated in mid-July; later applicants receive rolling assignments when space permits.
Where is the SMU room assignment sent?
Assignment communication goes to the student’s SMU email address.
When will an incoming student know whether the room is single or double?
SMU’s application timeline says incoming students are notified of their community and room type in July.
How does my student request an accessible housing assignment?
Indicate the accommodation need in the housing application and complete the disability-accommodation process with SMU.
Is there a deadline for returning-student disability housing requests?
For the published reapplication cycle, SMU lists February 15 as the deadline for a new disability-accommodation request with DASS.
Can my student loft or bunk the bed?
Yes, through SMU’s Housing Portal and the current loft agreement. One request is permitted per academic year, and summer lofts are unavailable.
When is the incoming-student loft request deadline?
SMU’s 2026 timeline lists July 31 as the loft-request deadline.
Can incoming students request a roommate?
Yes. SMU opens the incoming roommate-request process April 1 in the Housing Portal.
When is the incoming roommate request deadline?
The deadline for incoming students is June 1, regardless of admission date.
Does an SMU roommate request have to be mutual?
For returning residents, the request must be sent and accepted in the portal; both students need completed applications.
When is the returning-student roommate deadline?
Returning residents must match by March 1 at 11:59 p.m. to participate together in room selection.
Can a returning student request an incoming student as a roommate?
Generally no. SMU publishes a sibling exception.
Can a student change a roommate request after the deadline?
Changes are not guaranteed and are handled space-available; SMU directs students to housing@smu.edu and may use a waitlist.
Does SMU offer gender-inclusive housing?
SMU’s first-year living FAQ identifies gender-inclusive options. Students should follow the current application prompts and contact RLSH for assignment details.
When is fall 2026 move-in for new SMU students?
SMU’s application timeline lists August 14 and 15, 2026, based on the student’s selected move-in timeslot.
Does my student need an SMU move-in timeslot?
Yes. SMU distributes move-in information and opens timeslot selection in the Housing Portal beginning in late May.
Can my student request early arrival?
The Housing Portal supports early-arrival requests. Approval, timing, and any charge depend on the specific request.
Where does my student schedule check-in?
The SMU Housing Portal supports check-in and check-out appointments.
Should my student complete a room condition report?
Yes. The Housing Portal provides the Room Condition Report; completing it promptly preserves a record of move-in condition.
When does my student move out after spring semester?
SMU’s timeline places resident move-out in May. The exact closing deadline comes from the current move-out instructions.
Can my student stay after spring closing?
Students may request a late stay in the Housing Portal during the published April 1–May 1 request window.
How does my student request winter-break housing?
Submit a Winter Break request in the Housing Portal during the published November 1–December 1 window; approval and continuing spring assignment rules apply.
Does SMU offer summer housing?
Yes, for registered students on a space-available basis. Students who did not live on campus in 2026–27 should contact RLSH.
Can my student stay for Jan Term 2027?
Eligible 2026–27 Residential Commons residents apply through the portal; SMU says no additional residential cost is assessed, while dining can cost extra.
What are SMU residence-hall quiet hours?
Initial quiet hours are 10 p.m.–10 a.m. on weeknights and midnight–10 a.m. Friday and Saturday; communities may extend them.
Are residents expected to limit noise outside quiet hours?
Yes. SMU community policies require sensitivity to noise and allow communities to establish longer quiet-hour periods.
Can my student have overnight guests?
Yes, within policy: roommate or suitemate agreement is required, and overnight stays are generally limited to three nights per week unless approved.
Are overnight guests allowed near the end of the semester?
SMU says overnight guests are not allowed during the final two weeks of the semester.
Is a meal plan required in SMU residence halls?
Yes for Residential Commons and traditional Smith-Perkins residents. Meal plans are optional in certain other communities.
Can residents choose their meal plan?
Residents select among eligible options after enrolling; available plans can depend on grade level and residence hall.
How does my student change an SMU meal plan?
View options at mealplans.smu.edu and submit a Help Desk ticket or email help@smu.edu for a change request.
What happens if my student does not select a meal plan?
SMU Dining assigns a plan when a required resident does not make a selection.
How much are SMU meal plans for 2026–27?
SMU publishes plan-specific 2026–27 prices. The exact cost depends on the student’s eligible plan, grade level, and housing community.
Is dining available during academic breaks?
SMU says intersession dining is limited: mainly retail during Jan and May terms, with dining commons and retail options in June and July.
How does my student request room maintenance?
Submit a work order through SMU’s STABLE system. Submission gives staff permission to enter and make the repair.
Does my student need to be present for maintenance?
No. SMU says the resident does not need to wait in the room after submitting a work order.
Can SMU enter a room for an emergency without a work order?
Yes. Staff may enter without a work order to address an emergency and prevent further damage.
What should my student do about mold, pests, or a leak?
Report the condition promptly through STABLE; treat an active leak or immediate hazard as an emergency so staff can prevent further damage.
Sources & editorial context
University housing information is organized from the linked sources, with its original review date shown. Rates, deadlines and availability can change; use the applicable academic year and check the source before committing. CollegeHousing.ai is independent of Southern Methodist University.
Get help with your next decision
Drew Burroughs, Broker Associate at Compass, is the local real estate contact. Matt Dean, NEXA Lending, NMLS #227603, is the financing contact.