Question about those apartment walls (Houston, River Oaks: condos, mortgage, houses)

[Sonorio]

Hello.

I want to move to Houston (don't worry, I don't take up much space and I'm very clean) and will certainly start off in an apartment, maybe $700-800. I live a very comfortable life up here in the frozen north for a $700 mortgage payment.

Here's something that I need, though: Solid walls.

I really get grossed out listening to peoples private lives, but worse, I like to listen to music once in a while and play music more than once in a while. I never turn it up to rock and roll levels but I'll hit 85db or so -- about like a loud vacuum cleaner, or the tub filling and the toilet flushing at the same time.

Of course this would make everyone miserable if the walls are built like dry cleaners' bags, and at most places they are.

Are there any maybe older (or newer) places where the construction is a bit more solid? A reasonably burglary-free neighborhood would be a plus, too, if that's not asking too much.

Thanks

S

Waiting for the thought police

[houston-nomad]

Maybe look for a garage apartment. There are lots of them inside the loop and you'd have no shared walls. Nice way to get into a good neighborhood, too.

[modster]

Yes, I second the garage apt recommendation. Once upon a time in a previous life I worked in the apartment business and the walls are all paper thin pretty much everywhere.

When I sold my house in the northern suburbs I lived at the River Oaks Gardens condos while I was "between houses." Loved the location but hated the issue of being able to hear your neighbors and vice-versa. When you are used to a house, it is very disconcerting.