One of the biggest problems college students face is where they are going to live.  For many students, the first choice is the residence halls. But for others, the answer isn’t so simple. Should students rent an apartment, or buy a condominium?With recent economic news getting more and more grim, it seems renting is becoming a better and better option.Unless students’ parents will be providing the money for a living space, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to obtain money for a condo. Without a parent to co-sign the loan, it’s very unlikely students have enough credit to obtain a sufficient mortgage.And, as the housing market tightens with the recession, the requirements for obtaining these vital economic resources are only getting tougher to meet. In addition, some buyers are having to pay as much as 15-20 percent on a down payment.Although it’s true that rent payments never bear returns, investing in a condominium is a risky prospect. Whereas an apartment renter is not responsible for repair and maintenance costs, a condo owner must account for these costs themselves — and collectively, these costs are often underestimated. Depending on housing prices rising in the future seems a risky proposition, considering the short time students will be residing on the property. With only a few years of residency, there is little time to wait for an opportune shift in the market, so the chances of being stuck with minimal return — or even loss — are greater. And there seems to be no evidence that prices will be rising in the future. We think, until economic conditions improve, renting is the best course of action for students. Buying a condo is too great a risk.- – – -Contact the Editorial Board at [email protected]