Got a new job in Houston. Need apartment advice. (Briar: extended stay, apartments)

[kkamakasi]

I start in the next week or two and have to move to Houston.

My workplace is very close to the intersection of Beltway 8 and I-10 (Memorial Mall/Citycentre area).

I need somewhere relatively close, ~15min or less of a commute.

I'm looking to rent for only 3 months to get a feel for the city and the apartment and do some more research and then either move to a better place or sign a longer contract to stay at the same place.

Amenities I'm looking for:

1). Complex must have either an attached garage or an option to rent a detached garage. I love my car too much for it to be handled and molested.

2). Hardwood flooring (or that fake wood stuff..) would be nice but carpet isn't really a deal breaker.

3). Patio/balcony is a must.

4). Safety. I'd like to move into a complex where no one was killed in the past few years.

5). <$1000/month.

Sq.Ft doesn't matter for me since I will be living alone. As a matter of fact, smaller the better since it'll be less for me to clean

I've been looking at

- Marquis on Briar Forest
- Park Place Apartment on Park Row Blvd.

I like the Marquis on Briar Forest because of the hardwood flooring.

I like the Park Place because the unit comes with an attached garage. But the reviews online of both places aren't really that positive.

I've been reading apartmentguides.com ratings of apartments near by but all those negative comments aren't really reassuring when trying to pick a place to live. Any ideas or suggestions?

[EasilyAmused]

Alexan at Memorial Bend is very nice, but I don't know the rent these days.

Your work area is probably one of the most expensive in the city to get a nicer apartment,especially if you are looking for a three month contract. You may want to expand your search west to Eldridge, but I personally wouldn't rent on Briar Forest in General unless it was east of Gessner.

[Seoid]

Reviews should also be taken with a grain of salt. Only those people that are on the extreme sides of the opinion spectrum will leave reviews.

[Malvie]

"3 months" is your deal-breaker.

There are a very limited number of apartments (much less those which meet your -many- requirements) that will even rent for 3 months.

Suggestion: lower your expectations on what you can get in a 3 month lease complex, or keep expectations where they are and plan a 7 month least at the lowest.

[kkamakasi]

Park Place is able to do 3 months with everything I'm looking for except hardwood flooring.

Any comments about Park Place on Park Row?

[kkamakasi]

No one?

[eric3781]

Originally Posted by kkamakasi

No one?

Sorry man. I was going to suggest an extended stay hotel, several of which are along I-10 btw. Barker Cypress and the Loop. But they wouldn't have all the amenities you are looking for. Three months is too short term for most places. If you found a place that meets most of your criteria that will do 3 month leases, then jump on it.

[kkamakasi]

Originally Posted by eric3781

Sorry man. I was going to suggest an extended stay hotel, several of which are along I-10 btw. Barker Cypress and the Loop. But they wouldn't have all the amenities you are looking for. Three months is too short term for most places. If you found a place that meets most of your criteria that will do 3 month leases, then jump on it.

Gotcha. Thanks for the comment

[txstate]

Elridge area has the best set of apartments in the city

[14Bricks]

Why not live in City Centre, they have apartments and condos there.