Moving to NOLA early July (New Orleans, Jackson: section 8, sublets, apartment complexes)

[huckabac]

Hi. My husband and I will be moving to NOLA early July. This will be a permanent move, and we will eventually like to purchase a home, but will not be doing that for about 6 months. (My husband will be teaching at Xavier)

We need to find a 1 bedroom place to rent, no more that $1200.00 a month, that will take a short term lease. And we need to be able to rent from SF before we move. (leaving SF June 29 or 30th)

We have been looking at both The River Garden apartments on Felicity and The River Garden apartments on St. Andrew.

We have been to NOLA before and love the Garden District and Lower Garden District areas, but we are having a hard time finding a place.

Any help?
Thanks.

[rburnett]

I find it hard to believe you can't find a 1br down there on that budget. Is there some reason why you want to be in the River Garden complex? The Saulet has 1br units for $1000. There are a lot of large buildings and older houses that have been carved up into condos and apartments. 80% of these 1br units should be well under $1200.

A 6th month term might come with a higher price tag, though. 1yr is the new norm.

[awdoinger]

We're still working on moving to NOLA (I had a great job interview last week, so fingers are crossed). We almost moved right before Katrina, and though that didn't work out for us, we've gotten to know the city a lot better since then.

I'll give you the same advice I got from a friend a few years ago about renting in New Orleans - don't bother with the "complexes" like River Garden or the Saulet. It took me a lot to accept this info, cuz in all the places I've ever lived this type of rental was where I felt the safest. New Orleans is different - the River Garden complex meant well but has become a pretty tough neighborhood. Hubby and I looked at the Saulet BEFORE Katrina and it was already poorly maintained and falling apart.

Go private - look at craigslist and all of the local realtors - they handle a LOT of rentals, in the neighborhoods you might want to check out. And I've seen quite a few who will allow short-term leases.

This is what we're doing - I'm keeping an eagle eye on available properties and as soon as its a go that I got my dream job, I'm ready to call a realtor!

[Neworleansisprettygood]

Used to live in the Saulet, though after the storm... had been renovated. Was actually what I was going to recommend; in 2009 I was renting one of the larger 2nd units for a little over 1600. Is probably 30 years newer than any other complex of comparable quality.

[thepointykitty]

Originally Posted by rburnett

There are a lot of large buildings and older houses that have been carved up into condos and apartments. 80% of these 1br units should be well under $1200.

SO true! We live in a tiny "garden apartment" in an older building in Riverbend, but there are one and two bedrooms above us that rent for $800 - $1000. Yes, it's an older building, and there's no workout room like in complexes, but we do have a small, well-maintained swimming pool and a decent laundry room. I love this place, but I've never liked typical apartment complexes either - too generic for me.

We had a six-month lease in a double in a nice area of Broadmoor when we first moved here. I found it in the "sublets" section of Craigslist. It was a one-bedroom with all bills included for $750 a month. It was just what we needed to get us started here.

[alsidw]

Avoid the area you are looking at. It is a high crime area with many Section 8 residents that do not respect the beautiful area that was formerly an awful Hud housing area.

[rburnett]

Originally Posted by alsidw

Avoid the area you are looking at. It is a high crime area with many Section 8 residents that do not respect the beautiful area that was formerly an awful Hud housing area.

Why? The area around Coliseum square from Felicity to the expressway has some of the lowest crime in the city. The Lower Garden District, as a whole, is not a high crime area. The boundaries are debatable, but the River Garden Complex (which is only partially subsidized) and anything past Jackson Ave. are usually not included in anyone's definition of the LGD.

While there are areas in New Orleans that you should try and avoid, this isn't one of them.

[Abraham Walker]

What about a half of a double in Mid City close to the Canal Street car line?

Good luck with your transition. Please come back and let us know which area you choose.

[RelocatingATL]

If you are looking for an apartment....look at American Can in mid-city. It is close to XU and very charming and has modern amenities i.e. dining in the building, work out facility.