Houston apartment recommendations (eastern half inside the Loop, eastern regions outside the Loop) (League City: apartment complexes, lofts)

[levi415]

Hi everyone.

I'm researching apartments in Houston and would like some opinions, recommendations, warnings, or anything else to keep in mind.

INSIDE the Loop:

Price/size range: up to $1600 is fine, paying more just depends. "Luxury" apartment not necessary. Ideal is 2BR/1BA or 2BA, at least 1000-1100 sq. ft. Bigger is not necessary but again, can pay more $$$ for, well, more/better.

I'm starting by looking at everything east of the 45/59 junction.

Areas of focus thus far: Greater Eastwood, Greater Third Ward. Beyond that, either I can't find much info or there is information that suggests areas east/southeast are not great places to live (e.g., crime in Second Ward?, etc).

Although detrimental to my commute, also would consider Midtown, Hermann Park, Museum District.

No particular preference here (my assumption is that these places all offer "city living" with the convenience of shops, restaurants, culture, parks, etc.)

My final consideration will come down to weighing out cost/benefit of "niceness" of a farther west area vs. adding x amount of time to my commute, making it y-times worse.

OUTSIDE the Loop:

Price/size range: up to $1600 is fine (too ambitious?), paying more just depends. "Luxury" apartment not necessary (and seems out of my price range anyway). Ideal is 2BR/1BA or 2BA, at least 1000-1100 sq. ft. Bigger is not necessary but... can pay more $$$ for, well, more/better.

Pearland (where is "better", west or east or both?), Friendswood, Clear Lake, League City, Deer Park. No particular preference here.

I typically like craigslist but Houston craiglist apartment searching is... tedious or not helpful. Lots of agent postings or not a lot of postings (e.g. for Eastwood). I try not to use the typical apartment search sites but maybe will have to consider using them this time.

Google keyword search for "Midtown", shows me a multitude of apartments, many of which have bad reviews (although granted, many are outdated). Similar results for Hermann Park, Museum District, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[levi415]

Some examples to help encourage the ideas:

HERMANN PARK:

The Esplanade <-- bad reviews

Marquis Lofts?

Villas?

The Circle at Hermann Park?

MIDTOWN:

Metro Midtown <-- lukewarm reviews

Camden Midtown?

Ventana?

EASTWOOD:

Sawyer Heights?

Lofts at the Ballpark?


PEARLAND

Pearland is too huge... don't even know where to start.

[crl826]

I'm not sure exactly why you are avoiding typical apartment search sites, but I would recommend this one, at least for a first pass. It has way more apartments than most of the other apartment sites. It is map based so you can filter out things that aren't in your price range and see exactly where they are and what that might mean to your commute.

Every Last Apartment in Houston - a map of Houston Apartments

Might give you more options to research or ask about. Hopefully it helps.

[levi415]

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out.

[sketteroo]

www.parkatarmandbayou.com

Very nice complex next to Armand Bayou nature preserve, about a mile away from Red Bluff Road, which would take you directly into Deer Park. The smallest 2b/2b, 1127 sq ft, is around $1150, and largest is, 1393 sq ft, around $1350 (plus water and elect). All have attached garages and w/d.

[levi415]

Thanks, sketteroo. Nice to have some info about the apartments outside of the city.

[levi415]

I'm going to ask what is probably an overly asked question again so forgive my ignorance of living in cities where everything is spread out. I just want to confirm by providing a more specific framework, and also assuming for now I don't target those luxury apartment complexes that provide shuttle services.

I chose a random apartment in Midtown, near the museum district (Midtown Grove on Chenevert St.) and used google to check the walking time to the Children's Museum of Houston. 25 minutes. From the same apartments, it's a 29 minute walk to a Starbucks on Montrose (and what looks to be 1 of 2 closest Starbucks to that apartment complex). 28 minute walk to Randall's on Louisiana.

So, as I think all of you have told me here already, Houston is not very walkable... right? Even if you live smack in the middle of a "downtown" area, it's still not very walkable? (30 mins is not a bad walk but still considerable when you just want to get a coffee or groceries).

Just want to make sure because I realize relying only on the internet and using random apartments and locations isn't always a truthful indicator of convenience/lack of convenience. Definitely plan on doing some exploring when I'm in town next month.

Lastly, and purely by coincidence, it seems this random apartment I've chosen as a reference (Midtown Grove) is a 13 minute walk from the nearest Metro station (Ensemble). Another example is a complex called Lanesborough that is close to either Smith Lands Stn or TMC Transit Center Stn (within 10 mins walk). There are not many other apartments I'm seeing in other areas that are in the vicinity of the Metro line. But the two I've mentioned here are definitely walkable for me.

Does anyone have suggestions for apartments on/near the Metro line that maybe I'm just not finding yet?

[levi415]

Oy, Clear Lake is looking like a pretty good candidate right about now.

[crono_clone]

That's the thing about Houston -- pockets of the city, even in the urban core, aren't walkable simply because they're still undeveloped. Our lack of zoning is what gives the city a haphazard way of filling in. To me, walkable means that there's somewhere to walk to, not necessarily about walking distance.

For example, the apartments you mentioned -- Midtown Grove -- is far away from a lot of amenities because it's being built in a developing area that has nothing around it yet (check Street View to see what I mean).

Compare that to the Museum Tower which has a small park (Bell Park) and a popular bar (Grand Prize Bar) literally across the block from it. Half a mile south is the Museum of Fine Arts, while half a mile north is a bike share station, a library, several coffee shops and eateries (Eatsie Boys is a favorite of mine) and the University of St. Thomas campus. This location is very walkable (and bikable) and the metrorail station is half a mile to the east).

So yes, just walking distance alone on Google Maps isn't going to tell you the full story.

[LocalPlanner]

I haven't checked the rents or reviews, but Venue Museum District is only a couple blocks from a rail station. Very walkable to the museums of course, plus Hermann Park. You can also easily walk to the Bell Park / Chelsea Market area at the south end of Montrose where there's some eating / drinking places. There's a couple eating places within the Museum District itself, but the immediate area isn't rich with retail and dining. You solve that by hopping on the train to go to Midtown or Downtown.

There is a brand new complex on Richmond at Spur 527, a quick walk to the Wheeler light rail station - is it open yet? You could walk to the intersection of Montrose and Richmond, around which are a number of dining and drinking options, within 10-15 minutes. In the other direction, a Fiesta supermarket is within a 10 minute walk. Another complex in that general area is the Ventana at Midtown.

A couple Camden complexes, Camden Midtown and Camden Travis, are walking distance to McGowen Station in Midtown. Both are easy walking distance to other Midtown amenities for dining and drinking, and the Camden Midtown is within a block of the Randall's supermarket.