Working in Spring Branch. Where should I live? (Houston, West: apartments, loan)

[Htown Newcomer]

I'm moving to Houston this summer and will have to be moved in an apartment by mid-July. So far, most of my searches are done online (so I haven't gotten a real feel of the communities or what the apartments really look like-- bit only price ranges). I will be working in the Spring Branch area and I'm not sure what community I would want to live it. I'd like a commute to work that's less than 30 minutes, and a commute to downtown less than 30 minutes. Is this possible? What I'd really like is a two bedroom apartment not much more than $1000 in a safe community. Is this reasonable? Please tell me your thoughts on neighborhoods that fulfill my stated desires... And also if you know any good apartments that fit my description, price range, etc, please please please let me know.

Thank you so much!

[jerbear30]

--It is totally possible to live in or around Spring Branch and have a 30 minute commute to downtown. Alternately, you could commute from downtown to most of Spring Branch within 30 minutes. I live in Spring Branch and work in midtown, which is actually south of downtown. In good traffic, the drive is about 20 minutes. The morning commute is usually about 35 minutes in heavy traffic and for some reason the evening commute is the worst, at about 45 minutes. I usually take the I-10 to the Studemont exit and drive directly south to Westheimer and then East into midtown.

--It will be unlikely to get a 2br in your price range anywhere between Spring Branch and downtown. In general, you're looking at about 1200/month, minimum for a decent, safe 1br. I would suggest looking in Montrose/Midtown for a more active nightlife but the prices will be highest there. In Spring Branch, you might look at apartments around the Memorial City Mall. There are some apartments north of the I-10 that will be very cheap but also will be more dumpy and unsafe but not all of them north of the I-10 are bad. For instance, the apartments just north of the HEB off of Blalock seem very nice. I can't think of the name right now. I hope this helps. I know it's hard coming into town without having a place lined up.

[ipuck]

I actually saw some white people jogging on blalock and longpoint the other day. The area is getting gentrified slowly with those asian supermarkets and people getting priced out of the south side but want to live close to the city.

[innirski]

Originally Posted by ipuck

I actually saw some white people jogging on blalock and longpoint the other day. The area is getting gentrified slowly with those asian supermarkets and people getting priced out of the south side but want to live close to the city.

There is an older (50s) white guy riding his bike down the sidewalk here on Hammerly all this week, taking in the sunshine. I think you may be right.

[ipuck]

No i actually saw 3 people jogging. One was a 30s white female and 2 other older white male jogging. I was quite surprised at that sight as the only people i use to see around that area was hispanics and day laborers on the streets.

[timtemtym]

Originally Posted by ipuck

I actually saw some white people jogging on blalock and longpoint the other day. The area is getting gentrified slowly with those asian supermarkets and people getting priced out of the south side but want to live close to the city.

Originally Posted by innirski

There is an older (50s) white guy riding his bike down the sidewalk here on Hammerly all this week, taking in the sunshine. I think you may be right.

Ok can you two go over to the other forum currently in the Houston strands where the lady is asking about the area by zip code? It really is a great area and is SO poised for huge gentrification with Houston's red hot economy and housing market. But the old stereotypes persist.

[ipuck]

I don't know the area that well. I just drive by there once every couple of weeks for the asian supermarket and korean food.

[Kiovo]

Originally Posted by jerbear30

--It will be unlikely to get a 2br in your price range anywhere between Spring Branch and downtown. In general, you're looking at about 1200/month, minimum for a decent, safe 1br. I would suggest looking in Montrose/Midtown for a more active nightlife but the prices will be highest there. In Spring Branch, you might look at apartments around the Memorial City Mall. There are some apartments north of the I-10 that will be very cheap but also will be more dumpy and unsafe but not all of them north of the I-10 are bad. For instance, the apartments just north of the HEB off of Blalock seem very nice. I can't think of the name right now. I hope this helps. I know it's hard coming into town without having a place lined up.

If you're talking about the apartments right behind the HEB off Bunker Hill, they were the Alexan but I think recently had a name change. The Villas at Bunker Hill, and yes they're very nice but one bedrooms start in the $900s. If OP wants to stick to their budget, they might want to try apartments off Gessner, north of I10. There are a few complexes but they are older and more run down looking.

I've always been a fan of the homes off Westview and the side streets. Big yards, ranch style homes and beautiful huge shady trees in the yards. I was in the area the other day and noticed McMansions starting to pop up in those lots, what a shame.

[PinkLadyK]

Originally Posted by timtemtym

Ok can you two go over to the other forum currently in the Houston strands where the lady is asking about the area by zip code? It really is a great area and is SO poised for huge gentrification with Houston's red hot economy and housing market. But the old stereotypes persist.

LOL . . . I'm reading. But the sight of 3 white people is noteworthy and we're calling that "poised for huge gentrification"? Isn't that just an example of how gentrified it still is?

[jerbear30]

Kiovo is right, I meant Bunker Hill, not Blalock. And I would not recommend most of the apartments off of Gessner north of the I-10. I would recommend the op slightly reconfigure the listed budget. And as for all the discussion of gentrification of Spring Branch, yes I think it's coming, but it's already been there too. People think of Spring Branch mostly based on their limited drives down Long Point and Gessner, which sometimes look rough (lots of instant loan places). But in truth, the area is pretty middle class already.