Hi Erika,
Good question, Erika. Since I work in a college town-Shippensburg-- your question is not a suprise to me. Yes, you can rent a propety if you have decent credit and a job. A good place to start is with your local Real estate agencies, who handle rentals. Here in Shippensburg, for instance, if the owner lives more than 10 miles away they MUST have a local contact person to be responsible for the property in case of emergencies, so it is a no-brainer to hire a rental firm to manage their properties.

Ask around! Not all rental agencies are created (or are trained) equal. Who would other students reccommend? (Check with seniors or at least upper classmen. They are more likely to have a bit of experience to go on.)
Ask the rental agent if they specialize in rentals or if it is just a side line to their sales business. I specialize in sales, and would be glad to explore the possibilities of a purchase with you. If you are looking at renting, I would recommend working with an agent who focusses on rentals. like Leah Metzler, who is the rental agent that I refer to at my office. SHe knows the rental business in side and out, and I trust her judgement, as she trusts mine in the sales arena.
Hope that helps.
Please give us a call if you are in the SHippensburg area. We'll be glad to help.

MIM HEISEY
REALTOR, GRI
717-360-8808
HALE REAL ESTATE. 717-532-2814

If you prefer to search online, you can go to some of the real estate broker websites. Some list rentals, including my office. You can also try craigs list. Landlords should not discriminate based on age - if you have a good prior rental history as well as the credit history, that should help. As far as buying a home, the best thing to do is find a Realtor and a reputable lender. Once you get a pre-approval for a mortgage, you will know how much house you can afford. Then your Realtor can work with you to find a home that suits your needs and budget. With low interest rates and the $8000 tax credit, this is a great time to buy a first home!