Very worried about moving to longview, tx. Help!!! (Houston, Mesquite: apartment complex, lease) - City-Data Forum

melibe4 · 12-13-2007, 11:39 AM

Well, my husband and I are planning to move because of his job, we live in Mesquite right now and is a very safe city; we were really excited about moving to Longview because we read some comments saying that it was a pretty good city to live and raise a family, and well, we have a little girl, and we want the best for her, including safety! But yesterday i read some reviews of some of the apartments we were planning to see, they are located in the north area of longview, because some people have told us that the north is the safest part of the city, but reading the reviews i didn't think it was too safe, because in every apartment there was at least two people who were robbed or someone broke into the apartment or the car, and the worst is that some of them talked about that like it was nothing unusal, like they're used to see that people get robbed.
I want the best place for my family, and well, the only option for us now is Longview, but please, if you do live in an apartment or if you know someone who does, which one is the safest? or maybe some other city outside of longview, but close to longview, the safest one; i know crime is everywhere, but i would want to live in a place where is not too much, if you have a baby you'll understand me.
Please any information you have will be helpful.
Thanks

Trainwreck20 · 12-13-2007, 11:59 AM

Apartment reviews are notoriously negative. I would not pay too much attention to them, they are often written by spiteful tenants that were unhappy with the managment. No one bothers to write a positive review....

Poltracker · 12-13-2007, 02:00 PM

The rent in Longview is fairly inexpensive, why don't you just rent a house? Try looking in the area along Hollybrook and 4th. Many beautiful homes and quick access to shopping, hospitals, and schools. There are a few apartments in that area along 4 th that are pretty nice but the houses are much better. Really, Longview is no more dangerous than Mesquite, probably less so.

tstone · 12-13-2007, 08:40 PM

Car break-ins are all too common in any medium size town or larger, esp if you have a stereo that cost $99+. Small cities are far from exempt from the so-called "big city" drug problems, and some smaller cities have worse per capita rates than Houston or DFW.

If someone is feanin' pretty hard and can get their hands on an item that will get them $20 cash or a trade for a single hit, trust me - they'll get it!

jm21 · 12-13-2007, 08:57 PM

Yep....the apartment reviews can be pretty deceptive...any reviews for that matter. Heard a saying a while back that went something like "if someone has something good to say, they'll tell 2 people. If they have something bad to say, they'll tell 200." Seems pretty accurate. I've heard of some apartment complexes paying people to write good reviews for their place, or bad reviews for others, but no idea if there's any truth to that.

The apartment complex I live in got horrible reviews, about all the drug addicts, break-ins, and pot smokers....it's in one of the most upscale neighborhoods in Portland and probably the safest place I've ever lived. But I suppose most of my apartments have been in slums or low-income housing so maybe I have low expectations.

I would definitely want a house instead of an apt if I could though, especially with a kid in tow...ESPECIALLY if she was older than 6 or 7 or so...too hard to regulate who she's hanging out with at an apartment complex.

Oh, had a friend whose car was broken into almost weekly by meth addicts...they stole the AM radio (old car) first, then kept breaking in just to check if he got a new one I guess...about a $600 car...kept having to jump it in the morning 'cuz they left the door open and it ran the battery down, lol. Amazing what people'll do.

txsizzler · 12-13-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm21

I would definitely want a house instead of an apt if I could though, especially with a kid in tow...ESPECIALLY if she was older than 6 or 7 or so...too hard to regulate who she's hanging out with at an apartment complex.

Ditto on that thought. With rent on housing being nearly what it is on apartments, you will be doing yourself and your family a big favor by moving into a house over an apartment. Not only are houses typically safer from petty crimes, they are so much more private, and you have alot more control on what is going on around you! Plus, you simply cannot beat having a yard, especially for your little one to play in!

Ian

ripley · 12-14-2007, 08:53 AM

Nothing is perfect, but the six or so complexes near the mall are fine. The name escapes me, but the complex at Bill Owens and H.G. Moseley is thought to be the best ... with Pine Knoll on Toler Road not far behind.

Not sure what your target rate is for a monthly payment, but there are several unfurnished homes for lease in the area. Check out The Longview News-Journal on-line (news-journal.com)for a decent list. Include White Oak and Hallsville in your search if looking for duplexes, homes, etc.

melibe4 · 12-14-2007, 10:50 AM

thanks for all your posts, i think i'll look for homes instead ^_^ , i just checked news-journal.com (thanks ripley!), found some duplexes and townhomes i'll go check, does anyone know any other webpage where i can search for more homes, duplexes, etc for rent?? also, i found several homes in Gladewater. is that city near longview, is it a good place? and what about White Oak? i can't seem to find anything for rent in White Oak :-s

ripley · 12-14-2007, 11:46 AM

Gladewater is about 10 miles west of Longview. Not a bad town at all, but like anywhere else ... you need to check out the neighborhood first.

There were one or two White Oak homes or duplexes in the news-journal.

If your daughter is school age ... most in this area would suggest first looking at Spring Hill ISD, White Oak ISD, Hallsville ISD. All schools are good, but these seem to be where more young families are moving.

JAMPAULHAM · 12-31-2007, 08:14 PM

go to apartmentfinder.com and type in Longview, Texas
It should bring up at least one of the townhouse duplexes in White Oak. There are two, but you are not allowed to give out apartment names on this thing. They are listed under Longview, but they are in White Oak.

You can also check out apartmentratings.com. Sometimes they have positive reviews.

I really hope this helps. We lived in Longview for a long time and have had no issues. I really do not know where all the people whose reviews you read lived, but I have lived a little bit of everywhere and have had no issues.