Advice Needed!! Looking for a nice, inexpensive apartment in Houston-Have lived here for a year (Bellaire: apartment complex)

[Jessie0104]

Hi!

I have been living with family in Houston for almost a year, but I'm ready to find my own place. However, I'm new to renting and would like some advice/suggestions regarding complexes and locations.

I'm looking for a newer place located in a safe neighborhood. I work in the Museum District, so I don't want to be super far, but I know that being in the loop is expensive. So far, I've looked at Bellaire and Westchase, which look friendlier to my $800 max budget, but a lot of the places I found there had bad reviews on Apartmentratings.com which is very discouraging. I only need a 1 BR, 1 BA, preferably with a W/D inside the unit or at least a laundry facility on premises. Gated Access would be a plus. I want to start with a short lease, but if I like the place I would plan on staying longer.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for places? Anyone have any experience (good or bad) with complexes in that area?

Advice greatly appreciated!!

[txdemo]

I would take Apartmentratings.com with a grain of salt. You're going to find lots of bad reviews and not very many good ones. Generally the only folks that are going to take time to write a review on an apartment complex are the ones that had a bad experience. That said, you may want to find an apartment locator - they're free and they know the complexes.

[14Bricks]

Originally Posted by txdemo

I would take Apartmentratings.com with a grain of salt. You're going to find lots of bad reviews and not very many good ones. Generally the only folks that are going to take time to write a review on an apartment complex are the ones that had a bad experience. That said, you may want to find an apartment locator - they're free and they know the complexes.

Actually I find Apartmentratings.com to be very accurate of all the apartments I have stayed in. To the OP, you might want to try the Apartments along fountainview and San Felipe. Or Gessener and Briar Forest.

[Schumacher713]

Find some roommates.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by 14Bricks

Actually I find Apartmentratings.com to be very accurate of all the apartments I have stayed in. To the OP, you might want to try the Apartments along fountainview and San Felipe. Or Gessener and Briar Forest.

I'm not so sure even those are a good deal anymore. It seems everything east of Voss is becoming more insane by the day. I would be interested in finding out though just for fun.

[eastontracks]

i also agree to take apartments ratings with a grain of salt. best thing to do is narrow is down to 4-5 places and to see them in person. its more important about safety. where i stayed the rating is like a 55% but i never had any issues and its a very safe place.

agree though that rents going up like crazy. my old complex (remington park) my 1BR i rented for $900 in 2012. now its going for $1200! glad im buying a condo...

[Mandres]

Since you work in the Museum District be sure to ask around with your friends and colleagues. Odds are someone has or will eventually have a garage apartment or a room available, and would probably love to rent to an educated, employed person who they know and can trust rather than some random Craigslist stranger.