When moving to Ft Wayne, one has 3 options: purchase a home (returning Sem IV could live in it while you are out on vicarage and pay the mortgage), rent a complex, or, rent a home. In this month's feature article, you will find information on all three.

Ft Wayne has the distinction of being the second most affordable place in which to reside. This is reflected in the purchase of a home. Near the seminary we have seminarians in purchased homes around $60,000. They are usually 3 bedroom, around 1100 square feet, on a slab(no basement), and one car attached garage. We, also, have seminarians living in homes of $80,000 of 1600 sq. ft. Three local Lutheran realtors are most helpful in this area.

If one decides that renting is the way to go, I have a list of 18 complexes from 1-4 bedrooms from 5-15 min from the seminary. Some of them are called subsidized housing; the rent is lower and because the main breadwinner's income is gone, most seminarians qualify. The cost ranges from $285-$700 per month (plus utilities). Some have the washer/dryer provided! I feel there is such a variety that one will fit the person's budget and will be to his/her liking.

Lastly, I have rental homes that seminarians live in during their seminary years. The price ranges per month from $400-$675 plus utilities. One that comes to mind across the street is 1065 sq ft, one car attached garage, and 3 bedrooms; it rents for $485 plus utilities. Sometimes I have 3 or 4 farm houses about 15 min from the seminary. They rent for $450 on the average. I have a picture and stat sheet on each seminarian's home. They are kept in a book according to the year. If you want information on the summer of 1999, I can send/fax the picture and information about the home, complete with the seminarian's phone number and that of the landlord. I let you take it from there.

In the two years that this position has been in place, I have noticed that everyone has a place to sleep on the eve of that first day of seminary.

Call if I can assist you further in any of the above areas. We are here to help YOU!

From Volume 3, Issue 1 January/February 1999