Moving from DC to Houston - Apartments? (Howe, Rice: apartment complexes, rental)

[DCNative]

tstone, thanks for your answer... so if I want to keep a budget of no more than $1000/mo, then I should look for a maximum of $850-900 for rent, because separate electricity/water bills will add to the cost. How much can I expect to spend for water each month? And how would electricity $$ vary from winter to summer?

[Texas Mack]

When I lived in Katy, my apartment charged about $10 / month for water (flat rate). Some places are as high as $30 / month. For a one bedroom apartment, it's pretty common to pay on average between $90 - $120 per month during the summer for electricity. Expect something similar for the winter months if you're the kind to use your central heating often.

[tstone]

How new is the apartment complex? When I was in college we were in a well maintained but older complex and the summer/winter electric bill ran $130ish. That was for a 1000 sq ft, 2/2 on the top floor. When I moved back to Houston I was in a newer, more efficient complex on the 1st floor (1/1 700 sq ft) and the summer/winter bill was about $70ish. The spring/fall will see lower costs (down to $40ish) when you don't run your heat nor AC.

Water bill was always about $10-15/mo, because you don't have any grass to water.

Your mileage may vary, but probably not more from these figures.

[DCNative]

Originally Posted by tstone

When I moved back to Houston I was in a newer, more efficient complex on the 1st floor (1/1 700 sq ft) and the summer/winter bill was about $70ish. The spring/fall will see lower costs (down to $40ish) when you don't run your heat nor AC.

Thanks again! And you too, TX Mack.

I can't tell you how new, because I'm still looking. I've narrowed down to the Midtown, Rice Village (med ctr), and Museum District. But I definitely can tell you that I want a 1/1 in the 600-700 sq ft range, so I can count on electricity bills ranging between $40-70 and water bills at $10-20. With cable/internet, I presume would be around $50 or so, I can expect to pay between $100-150 on top of the rent that I already would pay.

So as long as I can afford to spend up to $1150 a month on apartment related expenses, I can go up to $1000 in rent.

[tstone]

Cable TV and cable internet will be closer to $50 a piece. My DirecTV runs about $56 and DSL about $22 after all the hidden fees. Dish may not be an option for you though.

[DCNative]

Originally Posted by tstone

Cable TV and cable internet will be closer to $50 a piece. My DirecTV runs about $56 and DSL about $22 after all the hidden fees. Dish may not be an option for you though.

Do they deal both in a bundle, like they do here in MD? My roommates and I currently pay $60/mo for the cable and internet bundle from the same company, Comcast.

[Beto]

Originally Posted by DCNative

Do they deal both in a bundle, like they do here in MD? My roommates and I currently pay $60/mo for the cable and internet bundle from the same company, Comcast.

Some do depending on who the apartments have contracts with.

[tstone]

I don't see why they wouldn't bundle. Cable service is usually been between the customer and the cable company w/o involvement of the complex. Just like any other utility, the apartment is simply wired in for you to use or not.

I don't really know about Comcast so I'm not going to say anything for sure. I've been a rebel with a dish since 2001.

[Texas Mack]

I get my cable, internet service and even my local phone service on one bill and I pay roughly $160 mo combined after all the taxes and fees.

Like Tstone said, Satellite / Dish may not be an option for you depending on how your apartment complex is set up and where your particular unit might be located.

[DCNative]

yet another question, lol

As we know, in most apartments, electricity and water are billed separately from the rent. My question is, do I have a choice which electricity companies I want to go with, or does the apartment have deals with one of those utility companies?

Thanks for answering my questions, you all have been very helpful.