relocating to houston texas (Bellaire, Katy: apartments, house, to live)

[msgrimes]

I will be relocating to Houston Texas very soon. I have received a job with the Postal Service, from what I understand the station is right off of the beltway and it is very busy. I am looking to find a nice place not too far from work, but also enjoy what houston has to offer. I come from a city not to large but where it usually takes me about 15 minutes to get anywhere in the city that includes work.
I do not know alot about the city only how beautiful it is and I need some serious help on where to move. At this time I am debating if I want a house or an apartment. For now I will take an apartment but I really want to live somewhere in a nice part of town where I do not have to worry about being attacked or my car broken into. I have heard about these things happening as I look through apartmentratings.com. I am also worried about floods. Can anyone suggest somewhere for me to bring my search?????

[Poltracker]

The beltway goes completely around the city. You need to be more specific about the location for us to help you.

[msgrimes]

I believe it is rodgerdale road. I don't know the city at all.

[chris_ut]

That would be near Bellaire.

[HTownNearNative]

Rodgerdale is in Westchase 77042, between Westheimer and south of Westpark near Bellaire Blvd (not to be confused with the City of Bellaire).

Oaks of Westchase still has relatively high ratings. It has been a decent complex for many years. It is VERY close to your work location (5 min max).

Also check out the Quadrangle Apartments off South Gessner. They ARE very well managed (the complexes near it are NOT). It is in 77063. If you look at the the apartment ratings website, the reviews are decent. It would be about 10 minutes to your work and you'd be driving the opposite direction of the way traffic would normally flow.

[msgrimes]

Thanks for the response HTownNearNative. The information you gave helped me out especially the response on the direction of traffic because I was worried about that too. Now if you can tell me about the area or neighorhood. Is it close to shopping, entertainment and events. I am still somewhat young and would like to enjoy some of things that Houston has to offer. Thanks again for the info.

[HTownNearNative]

If you choose either complex and don't move any further west, you'll be within 30 minutes to downtown (weekends, no rush hour). The Galleria mall is about 15 minutes (20 minutes from Westchase max). Memorial City is about 10 minutes from the Quadrangle Apts. Plenty of shopping opportunities. The Museum District is likely about 30 minutes away at most. As long as you don't go off and live in Alief or Katy, you'll still be close-in enough to drive in after work/or weekends and enjoy the city.

I'm sure you've heard it said - there are no guarantees. Just reduce your risk as best as you can (hence my apt complex recommendations). Also, and don't move anywhere off of and south of Harwin Rd or off U.S. 59 within Houston city limits. Apartments there are cheaper for a reason.