What happens if なの is used, but not at the end of a sentence?

Question

大学から歩いてニ十分ぐらいの所に適当なのを見つけた。

What does it mean when なの is used in a sentence like the one above? The を that comes after it is really throwing me off.

I came across a similar question on here but all the examples and explanations relate to なの being used as a way to end a sentence. What confuses me the most is なの in the sentence I came across isn't being used to end it. Should I just apply the answers provided in the link I found to this sentence or is there something more to it?

Edit: I was asked to provide more context to the sentence above, so here's the whole sentence:

キャンパスの近くには,安くていいアパー卜がなくて、結局、大学から歩いてニ十分ぐらいの所に適当なのを見つけた。

Answer 1

It's not なの but adj-な + の

You might remember this construct from your (very) early Japanese lessons:

赤いのをください

Please give me the red one.

This is the same, except it's with a 'na-adjective'.

[簡単]{かんたん}なのをください

Please give me an easy one.

Hence, 適当なのを見つけた。 means 'I found a suitable one.'

'In a place twenty minutes' walk away from the university, I found a suitable one.' We need more context to know what 'one' refers to here.

Answer 2

The を still has the same meaning: it marks the direct object. Are you comfortable the のを？Probably would help to think of it as the same thing.

既に読んだのを買っちゃいました。 (I bought one I had already read).

The sentence above is saying they found a 適当な所. を is still necessary to mark the direct object. Think of the の as connecting a な adjective and を. Does that help?