Royal Oak Apartments (Detroit, Ferndale, Berkley: hardwood floors, section 8, foreclosure)

[msu2010]

I need to move to the Metro Detroit area for work in May and I am having trouble finding a decent apartment in Royal Oak.

I am looking for at least 700 sqft under $850 a month 1 bedroom. It does not have to be right in the downtown area but I would like to to be an updated apartment.

Anyone know of any good places near RO that fit that description?

[ROfan]

You will have plenty available to you for $850. But, as you mentioned, there are a lot of outdated apartments in Royal Oak. I know Urbane has quite a few updated properties (most on Crooks Rd.) but you will pay more than the un-updated ones, which are so plentiful.

I saw an apartment listed on Craigslist recently that is in the upper level of a house. It looks very nice and is on Catalpa, near Trader Joes, and just in an overall nice part of Royal Oak.

But I wouldn't limit myself to apartments. A lot of people are upside down and trying to sell condos and houses and renting them out as a last ditch effort. Yes, you might be able to find a small house for that amount. If you expand your search just outside Royal Oak, like to Berkley, there will be more to choose from.

[the_muse]

There are many posted on Craigslist, some with photos.
You might also consider looking at Ferndale, which is just south of Royal Oak, and has a lot of houses converted into apartments.

[Ohio248]

Don't move to the 13 Mile Road apartments, near Beaumont (east of Woodward). There are drug and violence problems along that corridor. Lots of subsidized tenants (Section 8).

I think one complex is called Northwood Apartments. I forgot the name of others.

Generally speaking, you will pay more the closer to downtown Royal Oak.

I would stay away from "Urbane Apartments". They take normal apartments and charge you more because they try and "hipsterize" them, by putting in a few funky colors, or adding an artwork or something. Not exactly worth paying an extra $100-$150 a month because your walls are painted some weird color.

[NYCBound1]

Originally Posted by Ohio248

Don't move to the 13 Mile Road apartments, near Beaumont (east of Woodward). There are drug and violence problems along that corridor. Lots of subsidized tenants (Section 8).

I think one complex is called Northwood Apartments. I forgot the name of others.

Generally speaking, you will pay more the closer to downtown Royal Oak.

I would stay away from "Urbane Apartments". They take normal apartments and charge you more because they try and "hipsterize" them, by putting in a few funky colors, or adding an artwork or something. Not exactly worth paying an extra $100-$150 a month because your walls are painted some weird color.

While I can sort of understand what you are saying I do think Urbane does more than slap a funky color on the walls. My buddy lived at the one on Washington and it was very nice. Granite countertops, hardwood floors, a pretty view, and stainless steel appliances. You get what you pay for. If you want cheap, you are going to most likely wind up in a place with formica cabinets from the 70s and raggedy old appliances, ugly architecture, etc. Be very careful about renting a house. You don't know if that house is in foreclosure. While the laws have improved recently for renters on that note, it is still a nightmare scenario you could very easily avoid. If Urbane downtown is too pricey, look a touch further out. You might find something there. Good luck!

[Wingnatic]

I was able to find something through the Royal Oak and regional newspaper The Daily Tribune
Daily Tribune : Breaking news coverage for southeastern Oakland County, Michigan (http://www.dailytribune.com/web_search/?query=Apartments+for+rent+Royal+Oak+Michigan&star t=0&submit=Search - broken link)

[michiganmom72]

NYC doesnt urban though charge a buttload for rent

[Siduri]

Originally Posted by Ohio248

Don't move to the 13 Mile Road apartments, near Beaumont (east of Woodward). There are drug and violence problems along that corridor. Lots of subsidized tenants (Section 8).

I think one complex is called Northwood Apartments. I forgot the name of others.

I live in Woodward North...the people on my north wall play music all day and night (and the bass shakes my whole unit), the people south of me are constantly having loud sex, and I've called the cops on the people beneath me for domestic violence at 3am. I won't even get into the management practices!

I'm paying up the remainder of my lease and getting out of here as soon as I can find a free weekend to move everything out. I've not had a problem with security myself, and it's livable if you've got no other options but I'd leave this as a last resort.

[ForStarters]

I hesitate to say this only because it seems like you are pretty set on Royal Oak, but if you aren't, $850/mo could score you a great place (with an awesome view) in downtown Detroit. Most of these places have pools and nice gyms. All of them have security and Kales even has a uniformed doorman.

In your price range I'd look at:

Kales Building (Kales may or may not have available units)

Lofts at Merchants Row

Millender Center

Washington Square Apartments

The Pavilion (Lafayette Park)

You're going to get far more bang for your buck downtown than in Royal Oak. I also happen to know the above buildings pretty well and I'd be stunned if you have neighbors like the above poster living in any of these buildings. Most downtown residents are not in college anymore and work M-F.

[Siduri]

Originally Posted by ForStarters

You're going to get far more bang for your buck downtown than in Royal Oak. I also happen to know the above buildings pretty well and I'd be stunned if you have neighbors like the above poster living in any of these buildings. Most downtown residents are not in college anymore and work M-F.

Care for some irony? I'm still a college student (Spent the last year of my undergrad here, working on the post-grad currently), and the rude neighbors making noise definitely are NOT. In this instance, being a college student does not equate to being a loud or rude neighbor, and I'd suggest that the OP find a community based upon what will suit their needs and not which complex has the fewest number of college students (or most M-F workers).