Internship Housing (Seabrook, Webster, Kemah: extended stay, apartment complexes, leases)

[luigi3]

Hello all,

My wife and I are moving to Clear Lake for a 4-month internship this summer. It is just us two, and we are looking for something cheap. We're currently living in Idaho and rent is pretty cheap in our college town. We've made the mental adjustment to the fact that rent will be a LOT more there than what we pay now ($625, all utilities paid) for our 2-bedroom flat.

In all the research I've done, most places don't offer a lease of any shorter than 6 months. The following complexes that do offer short-term leases, month-to-month, or day-to-day are what we've narrowed down to so far:

-University Forest Apartments
-Retreat of Clear Lake
-Wolf Creek Apartments
-Candlewood Suites Clear Lake Nasa
-Extended Stay America
-"Nasa Living" apartment on Egret Bay Blvd, next to The Towers of Clear Lake

The first four are really close to each other on Bay Area Boulevard. The Nasa Living ones (website: https://sites.google.com/site/nasaliving/) I'm a little skeptical of. We found their posting on craigslist: FURNISHED APARTMENT ---- RENT for $1099 per month ---- ALL BILLS PAID (http://houston.craigslist.org/sub/2841341427.html - broken link). Their website is a google site, and there's no way to find reviews, manager information, or any other proof of legitimacy.

We would rather not pay more than $1200/month. Any suggestions?

[timtemtym]

I'm a Clear Lake native. I've watched the area decline and revive in several cycles. Most apartments are decent. Stay off El Dorado or anything in Webster.

One hidden gem is the small apartment complexes off Repsdorph in Seabrook. They're not pricey at all and they're older but quiet and safe. You're close to the bay, close to great walking/biking trails, parks and a clean little city with an oppressive police force to keep things nice. You're not far from NASA or the medical center (wherever your internship would be). You're also close to Kemah (boardwalk touristy area with rides, games, restaurants, and a huge marina).

And the rent ranges in that area would be 600-800 no bills paid. Really when you see all bills paid, it attracts people with no credit and possible criminal activity.

[Oskar_Z28]

Originally Posted by timtemtym

I'm a Clear Lake native. I've watched the area decline and revive in several cycles. Most apartments are decent. Stay off El Dorado or anything in Webster.

Funny you mention Webster / El Dorado. That's where I lived when I was interning at Nasa back in the 1990s. It was sketchy back then.

[luigi3]

Thanks for the info. Do you know the complex names of the ones off of Repsdorph?

[timtemtym]

Bar Harbour usually rents around 600 for a one bedroom. Two other complexes right near there rent about the same. use apartments.com or another site and put in seabrook. I like the feel of the area, lots of marina, seaside restaurants and fun around there and good security.

If you want fancier, Villas at Edgewater (technically in Webster) rents for 900-1100. They're brand new and right off the new NASA freeway, close to JSC and a safe area, new upscale neighborhood right there.

Depends on the lifestyle and newness factor you want. I like the seabrook ones because there's just neat little independent places around there (Coffee Oasis, Arlen's Market for groceries, Boondoggles Pub is really good food right on the lake) Webster is either hood or generica.