Young Professional Female Moving to Memphis, Area Suggestions (Midtown: sublet, apartment complexes)

[belle14]

I am a 28 YO female moving to Memphis with my company. My company is located in Cordova, but I travel for work 3-4 nights so proximity to Cordova is unimportant.

I hear downtown and midtown are good options. HOWEVER, I'd like to stay within $800 for a 1 bedroom because I'm traveling so much. I'd like a safe area (with grocery stores nearby) but that isn't too far from the 'flair' of Memphis. I really don't want to pay $1,000+ for somewhere if I'm rarely there.

Does anyone have any suggestions within this budget? I surely don't want a dump or an unsafe area. Thank you so much!!

[CristenS]

I would suggest the island. However, there is no major grocery store in that area - you'd have to drive maybe 10-15 minutes to one. But a lot of people in Memphis have to drive that distance to get to an acceptable store, so that's not unheard of here. There is a small grocery store on the island, but it's a bit more pricey (Miss Cordelia's). A nice quaint place though. I think you could probably get a small 1 bedroom somewhere in the apartment complexes there. Riverset is the oldest and probably has the cheapest prices. The island is very safe. It is also near downtown, but still a drive away. It has a lot of young professionals who work downtown but don't want to be IN the mix of bars and all that. You'd also be close to the interstate so you could get out to Cordova, plus you'd be going the opposite way of most traffic thus not have commute issues. Here's some links:


Riverset Apartments | Apartments in Memphis, TN

Island Park and Harbor Town Square Apartments in Memphis, TN 38103

The Estates at River Pointe Apartments in Memphis, TN 38103

About - Arbors Harbor Town Apartments - Arbors Harbor Town - Memphis - TN

Belle Harbour Apartments in Memphis, TN 38103


Midtown is cheaper and has more options, but it's hard to pinpoint a really safe place. A lot of midtown is "safe" but not like mud island. Midtown has a lot of vagrants and bums milling about, and a significant amount of petty crime - the island has none of that. It's very hard to find a place in midtown if you aren't familiar with the city and are strictly wanting somewhere very safe as a single female.

[belle14]

Thank you so much for your suggestions! Some of the places I called and they didn't have availability. I believe Bell Harbour was about $1,100 however. I will continue to look around. You gave excellent advice. Thank you again!!!!

[CristenS]

People also rent small homes on the island (most likely more than $1000 though) and also sublet apartments and condos. If you really think that area is for you, check out Craigslist and other sites to see if people are renting homes/condos in your budget.

[CristenS]

This was posted yesterday...

https://memphis.craigslist.org/apa/4602872251.html

[katherineghampton]

I had the same question, except I'm 22! Evergreen Historic District is a nice area, right? I want to live in Midtown but I'm so lost.

[CristenS]

Evergreen is in midtown. Pretty much all of midtown is hit or miss. You can have a great street, then one street over isn't very good. It's impossible to give broad recommendations on midtown. Evergreen has some milion dollar homes. It also has some slummy homes.

I think the consensus on here has been, if you find a midtown rental that you are interested in, go ahead and post the address or nearby intersection on here for people to give opinions about the street.

[jabogitlu]

Yup, I agree -- post the address of something and we can offer our opinions.

To the OP, another good option would be East Memphis, around Poplar/Mendenhall, Poplar/White Station. This area is close to good groceries (Whole Foods, Fresh Market, the best Krogers in the area), close to Midtown, close to shopping out east. Pretty centrally located if you're traveling the metro for work. Not very close to downtown, though.

The Sea Isle neighborhood in East Memphis usually offers decent rentals, safe neighborhood, and good access.

[clobbersaurus01]

For security purposes, just as a habit, I wouldn't post addresses, but definitely the nearest intersections. An internet precaution, not a cd-specific precaution.

While East Memphis doesn't have the walkability of other areas, it's starting to buzz with a sprawly sort of nightlife. Some of the best restaurants/shops in the country have opened up over there (Muddy's Bakery, Hog and Hominy and the Brookhaven Circle restaurants, steak "row," all are very popular with young professionals and part of the "flair" of the New Memphis). But if you're downtown, Harbortown or South Main you're definitely in the midst of it there as well.

[belle14]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions and to CristenS! I called and set up an appointment for when I'll be in town. I'll look into East Memphis and Poplar as well. I don't have to be close to Cordova. Ideally, I'd like to live in a SAFE area where I can still go out for fun w/o having to drive 30+ minutes. Thank you all again!!