Moving to SA from Austin... (Houston, Dallas: apartment complexes, renters, crimes)

[minxniee]

I am a young 20's female moving to San Antonio August 2008 for college. I have only visited the city a couple of times and have mixed feelings about how safe I would be living on my own out there. I will be going to Palo Alto for their Vet Tech program. I drove around the Palo Alto area, and wasnt too impressed. Does any one have any opinions about the areas around town? I dont mind commuting, since Ill be driving back and forth from Austin on the weekends any way.

[Steel Man]

You might try looking at apartments along SH151 in Westover Hills area (near Sea World). Most of them are new and may be a little pricey, but its a safe area. You can take SH151 to Loop 410 and then head South to Palo Alto College.

[traveler guy]

I'd go with Steel Man on this cause the South side has developed a bad rep. And I know you Shouldn't always use media as a source. But... the south side has been getting a lot of media attention these couple of weeks I mean a lot.

[Steel Man]

If you're thinking at getting an apartment along Loop 410 (West and Northwest area), I wouldn't. Most of them are older and there have been different crimes at some of those apartment complexes.

[Paka]

AS the mom of 5 girls, I was always "worried" about them when they were on their own, young and single.

I think the 151 or 1604 area is better for apts for a single woman. Like a previous poster said, a little newer, and probably just a little more expensive than some of the older areas.

Look for one that has a gated entry. I also had my girls ask if they have police officers that live in the complex (many do and I always felt good about that...if it was such a bad place, figured they would not choose to live there). One of my daughters even was lucky enough to get the apt right across from a policeman. Never really saw much of him, but we both felt better.
Before you sign the lease, walk to the pool/laundry/gym area and see what is going on...the type of folks hanging out there can give you a good/not so good feel about some of the other renters. If you walk into the office and don't see any of the other renters, you only know what they tell you. I always told my girls to go back on a Sat/Sunday if the office was open both days, just to get another prespective...if other renters are having "issues" with repairs/maintenance, that is probably a good time to see them trying to get with the management folks, and gives you a heads up.

Hope this helps!

[mikey1984]

Originally Posted by minxniee

I am a young 20's female moving to San Antonio August 2008 for college. I have only visited the city a couple of times and have mixed feelings about how safe I would be living on my own out there. I will be going to Palo Alto for their Vet Tech program. I drove around the Palo Alto area, and wasnt too impressed. Does any one have any opinions about the areas around town? I dont mind commuting, since Ill be driving back and forth from Austin on the weekends any way.

San Antonio is no different than any other major city. San Antonio has good parts and bad parts of town. You might not see the same kind of griddy areas in Austin as you would in big cities like Houston, S.A. or Dallas. Austin is still sorta a small town. The Palo Alto area is not the worse, but certainly not a good side of town. The closest area would be the Sea World area or maybe even the lackland area. Lot's of military personnel living in the area.

[ChrisSA_wxatUIW]

Originally Posted by Steel Man

You might try looking at apartments along SH151 in Westover Hills area (near Sea World). Most of them are new and may be a little pricey, but its a safe area. You can take SH151 to Loop 410 and then head South to Palo Alto College.

This guy knows what he's talking about. That's definately a good idea- there's reason you weren't to impresed: the South San area is not a good area. If you were to live in a nice appt on 151, or maybe even 90, it would not be that long of a commute on 410 around to Palo Alto.

[minxniee]

Thank you all so much for your help. I just recently drove around the Sea World area, and yeah, i felt way better about the whole move. Does any one have an oppinion about the North Central/West areas? Thanks Again!

[ryneone]

Originally Posted by minxniee

Thank you all so much for your help. I just recently drove around the Sea World area, and yeah, i felt way better about the whole move. Does any one have an oppinion about the North Central/West areas? Thanks Again!

Can't go wrong those areas except the traffic.

[tops]

Try somethingthing around southtown or central in general. You'll have the most austiny (young) feel and your commute to the south side will be very short compared to anything along the north loops. I know it can be hard figuring out this city at first, so let me know if you need help.