REVIEWS AND ADVICE FROM CURRENT STUDENTS UH PHARMACY HOUSING GUIDE 2020
HOUSING DATA TOP PROPERTIES NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLAINED LANDLORD INFO APARTMENT RATINGS RENTER RESOURCES
Intelligent Apartment Search TABLE OF CONTENTS GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE GUIDE
Start with the Housing Facts section. This section should help you determine the type of apartment you'd 3 HOUSING FACTS like to live in and how much you should expect to pay Our data on housing in rent. Read about diferent neighborhoods and narrow down your search to parts of the city that you like most. 4 ABOUT VERYAPT Using the VeryApt site alongside this Use the Apartment Ratings section to identify the guide best apartment buildings across the categories (e.g. best amenities, highest rated) that matter most to you. 5 NEIGHBORHOODS OVERVIEW Most popular neighborhoods for Visit VeryApt.com to read reviews, get pricing, and set UHCOP students up appointments for the apartments you like most.
6 Macgregor 8 Downtown Houston 9 Midtown ABOUT THE DATA IN THIS GUIDE 10 Montrose All of the data in this guide are based on feedback from real renters in Houston. We asked students to rate their apartments on a scale of 1-10 across six categories: 11 DATA TABLE Compiled from UHCOP student reviews
13 APARTMENT RATINGS Top apartments, based on the feedback of UHCOP students
13 Most Popular Overall Value Management 14 Highest Rated 15 Best for Amenities 16 Best for Value
18 LANDLORDS Ratings for landlords and management Amenities Location Safety companies Based on their feedback, we compiled a list of the best apartment buildings for UHCOP students. If you are interested in additional data that is not in the guide or have a housing question, you can reach us at [email protected].
DISCLAIMER: The reviews and ratings presented throughout the guide and the VeryApt website do not refect the opinions, position, or endorsement of VeryApt. The responses and reviews presented are solely those of the survey respondents. VeryApt assumes no responsibility for readers' or users' interpretation of the data. The results do not in any way constitute a warranty or representation by VeryApt as to the quality, safety, or other features of a property. We encourage you to check all available sources of information about properties prior to renting. Where UHCOP students live Who UHCOP students live with
40% Macgregor 20% Alone 30% Downtown 25% Spouse/partner 10% Midtown 55% Roommate 10% Montrose (excluding spouse/ 10% Other (<5% each) partner)
22% of UHCOP students live with pets
What type of properties UHCOP What size residences UHCOP students live in students live in
75% Large property (50+ 5% Studio units) 35% One bedrooms 20% Mid-size property (20-49 units) 35% Two bedrooms 5% Small property (2-9 25% Three or more units) bedrooms
Distribution of property ratings Average rent by apartment size $1,150 Studio $1,300 1BR $1,550 2BR
15% 15% 25% 45% $1,730 0 - 6.9 7 - 7.9 8 - 8.9 9+ 3BR
Rent versus own Commute methods 95% Rent 5% Own
85% 10% 5% Driving Public Walking Transit 3 Rent with Confidence
Time Savers Intelligent Search
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4 NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLAINED An overview of the most popular neighborhoods for UHCOP students
1 Macgregor 2 Downtown Other Neighborhoods
40% of UHCOP students 30% of UHCOP students less than 5% each
MacGregor is a great place to live if Downtown Houston is the heart of the you’re a UHCOP student looking to live city. Locals love the area because it stays 5 Greater Third Ward as close to class as possible. Although true to its Texas roots, but it's not it's not the central nightlife/social spot outdated by any means. There is plenty for UH grad students, the easy access to of nightlife in the area as well and it 6 Museum District campus makes it a fair trade-of for makes for a fun place to be. some. 7 West University
3 Midtown 4 Montrose 8 Bellaire
10% of UHCOP students 10% of UHCOP students
Midtown is a jam-packed area that hosts Originally imagined as a strictly a lot of young professionals/ grad residential neighborhood, Montrose has students looking to enjoy the city's best morphed into Houston's most eccentric nightlife options. Renters here thrive on spot with neon-lit tattoo parlors, 24-hour living in a vibrant, exciting neighborhood drive-thrus, and covered bungalows. and you can really feel the energy when Renters love the area for being full of top- you walk the streets. notch restaurants/bars as well as arts & cultural venues.
5 Macgregor Convenient and Afordable
ABOUT MACGREGOR
MacGregor is located just south of UH. With its distance from town, the prices for living in this area are much more afordable than Third Ward or living in Downtown Houston. The commute is also extremely quick.
Popular for students Residential
Peaceful
MEDIAN RENTS IN MACGREGOR $700 $860 $1,000 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT MACGREGOR
Review by UHCOP Student 5755 HERMANN Review by UHCOP Student VILLAS ON MACGREGOR Quiet and peaceful neighborhood. Centrally located I walk to and from school and have never had any issues which makes it easy to get around and get to classes. with people around here. Even has a trail that I can run on so I love that. The neighborhood is beautiful and I can even walk to class on most days.
6
Downtown Houston The Heart Of The City
ABOUT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
Downtown Houston is the heart of the city - you can fnd the newly constructed Central Business District, pro sports teams like the Astros and Rockets, as well as the renowned Houston Theater District all in this area. Renters here enjoy being close to the Market Square Park area where there are popular bars like La Carafe and the OKRA Charity Saloon. The area is still developing so new restaurants are constantly popping up.
Market Square Park Clean & Friendly
New Restaurants and Bars
MEDIAN RENTS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON $1,150 $1,450 $1,900 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
Review by Local Resident BLOCK 334 Review by Local Resident GATEWAY ON CULLEN There is never a boring moment when living in Lots of restaurants and bars in Downtown. The most Downtown. It is just like any other city so it is always social part of Houston with lots of college students crowded. living here because of all the nearby universities.
8 Midtown Happening Spot for Young Professionals/Grad Students
ABOUT MIDTOWN
Renters here thrive on living in a vibrant, exciting neighborhood and you can really feel the energy when you walk the streets. It provides easy access to downtown and most of Houston freeways are within a fve minute drive so commuting shouldn't be an issue. Students love this area because it is in a great location with it being near everything.
Popular Spot Good Nightlife
Young Professionals/Grad Students
Never a Dull Moment
MEDIAN RENTS IN MIDTOWN $1,250 $1,350 $2,000 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT MIDTOWN
Review by UHCOP Student 3800 MAIN Review by UHCOP Student CALAIS The area is really cleaning up. You are right down the On the edge of midtown so great access to restaurants street from HEB, Whole Foods, and Randalls. There are and main streets without the noise of the bars in the so many social spots in this area. This is the cheapest center of midtown. Also brand new Whole Foods across safest apartment in the area right now. the street. The people who use street parking, though, make getting out onto the big street a little annoying.
9 Montrose Houston's Most Eccentric Neighborhood
ABOUT MONTROSE
While Houston isn't known for being one of the most walkable cities in the country, Montrose is the exception. It's a four-square-mile neighborhood that is home to a young, hip crowd and ofers a lot to experience as well providing great access to campus.
Eccentric Lively Walkable
Not a bad Commute
MEDIAN RENTS IN MONTROSE $1,225 $1,410 $2,040 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT MONTROSE
Review by UHCOP Student 1419 HAWTHRONE Review by Local Resident THE SUSANNE Montrose is a very young and vibrant neighborhood. Lots of bars, cafe shops, and restaurants. You fnd There are lots of bars and restaurants. It can get a little people walking/jogging the streets. Close to Midtown. crowded on weekend nights. It is very centrally located for the city.
10 KEY APARTMENT •••• Excellent for a category $$$$ $1530+ per renter ••• Great $$$ $1260- $1529 •• Average $$ $1110- $1259 RATINGS • Below average $ < $1110 * Prices subject to change and may vary signifcantly by room type
Property Type Rating Price Range Most PopularBest for PetsBest for FamiliesManagementAmenities Value Social Safety 3800 Main Apt 7.5 $$ •• •• ••• •••• •• 5755 Hermann Park Apt 9.0 $$$$ ••• ••• • •••• ••• 7100 Almeda Apt 6.0 $ • •• ••• ••• •• Advenir at the Med Center Apt 6.0 $$$ •• •• • ••• ••• Arium City Lake Apt 7.0 $$ • ••• •• •• •• Avanti Cityside Apt 6.0 $$$ •• •• •• ••• •• Broadstone Toscano Apt 9.3 $$ ••• •••• •••• •••• •• Camden Vanderbilt Apt 9.0 $$ •• •••• •• •• •• Concord at Allendale Apartments Apt 9.0 $ •••• •••• •••• • •• Connection at Bufalo Pointe Apt 8.0 $ ••• •••• •••• •• •• Discovery at Shadow Creek Ranch Apt 6.0 $$ •• •• •• • •• Elle at The Medical Center Apt 9.0 $$$ ••• ••• •••• •• ••• Equinox Apt 8.0 $$$$ •••• ••• ••• ••• ••• Gables CityWalk Waterford Square Apt 9.1 $$ ••• •• •••• •• ••• Gateway on Cullen Apt 6.0 $$$ • •••• ••• •• •• IMT at the Medical Center Apt 9.0 $$ •••• •••• •••• •••• •••• Jackson Hill Apartments Apt 9.0 $$$$ ••• ••• •• •• •••• Lakeside Place Apartments Apt 9.0 $$$ •••• •••• •••• •••• •••• Marquee Uptown Apartments Apt 9.6 $$$ •••• ••• ••• •••• •••• Melia Medical Center Apt 8.8 $ ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• Memorial Heights at Washington Apt 8.3 $$ •• •• •• ••• ••• Metro 5514 Apt 8.0 $ •••• •• •••• •• •• Monarch Medical Center Apartments Apt 7.5 $ ••• • ••• ••• ••
** Buildings with fewer than 3 reviews are not listed in this guide but reviews can be found online at VeryApt.com.
11 APARTMENT RATINGS
Property Type Rating Price Range Most PopularBest for PetsBest for FamiliesManagementAmenities Value Social Safety Pearl Midtown Apt 9.5 $$$$ •••• •••• •• ••• •••• Plaza Museum District Apt 9.9 $$ •••• •• •• ••• •••• Scotland Yard Apt 6.5 $ •• •• •• •• •• Stella at The Medical Center Apt 7.8 $$ •• •• ••• •• ••• Sterling Crossing Apartments Apt 7.0 $$ •• • •••• •• •• The Circle at Hermann Park Apt 8.9 $$$$ ••• ••• •• •••• ••• The Daphne Apt 9.0 $ ••• ••• ••• •• •• The Lanesborough Apt 6.0 $$ •• ••• • •• •• The Marquis Lofts at Hermann Park Apt 6.0 $$ • •• • •• ••• The Millennium Kirby Apt 8.6 $$$ ••• ••• •• •••• •••• The Millennium High Street Apt 8.7 $$$ ••• ••• ••• ••• •••• University Lofts Apt 8.0 $$ •••• ••• •• •• •••• Upper Kirby Apt 7.0 $$$$ •• •• •• •• •• Vantage Med Center Apt 9.2 $$$$ •••• •••• •• •••• •••• Verdir at Hermann Park Apt 8.7 $$$ •• •• ••• ••• •••• Vie at The Medical Center Apt 5.0 $ •• •• •• ••• •• Villas at Hermann Park Apt 8.7 $$$$ ••• ••• ••• •••• •• Vue on MacGregor Apt 8.0 $ •• •••• •••• •••• •••• Weston Medical Center Apartments Apt 8.0 $$$ •• • •• •• •••
ABOUT OUR CATEGORIES Living Situation Ratings Property Type Families How students with partners and/or children rated the building. Pet Owners How students with pets rated the building. Apartment (Apt) Properties with one building manager. Often have consistent pricing/features. Building Quality Ratings Condo Properties with multiple owners. Lease terms and features can vary signifcantly by unit. Management Maintenance and service quality. Amenities In-room and building features beyond the basics. Key Building Factor Ratings Value Building quality given cost of rent. Overall Rating Overall feedback on building quality. Social Building community and social scene. Popularity Estimated # of students in the building. Safety Building neighborhood safety.
12 1st MELIA MEDICAL CENTER 25+ $ PEOPLE MOST Southwest Houston POPULAR Buildings with the most UHCOP students
READ MORE REVIEWS AT VERYAPT.COM
Review by UHCOP Student "Very close proximity to UHCOP and the Houston med center, What students typically look for: about a 7 minute drive each way. Spacious apartment with updated appliances, and lots of closet space. Beautiful pool and the gym is nice and empty most of the time. My only complaint is there are not many good grocery stores or restaurants nearby Excellent location in this location.” Reasonably-priced apartments 2nd ELLE AT THE MEDICAL CENTER 15+ Solid amenities $$$ PEOPLE Southwest Houston
Review by UHCOP Student “Super close to campus. Nice property, very quiet.”
3rd MEMORIAL HEIGHTS AT WASHINGTON 10+ $$ PEOPLE Montrose
Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $1,150 $1,300 $1,550 $1,730 TOP 5
Review by UHCO Student st MELIA MEDICAL “Nice area with fairly cheap pricing, somethings can be better 1 PEOPLE CENTER 25+ though. No major complaints though.”
nd ELLE AT THE MEDICAL 2 PEOPLE CENTER 15+
rd MEMORIAL HEIGHTS 3 PEOPLE AT WASHINGTON 10+
th VILLAS AT HERMANN 4 PEOPLE PARK 5+
th IMT AT THE MEDICAL 4 PEOPLE CENTER 5+
13 1st PLAZA MUSEUM DISTRICT 9.9 $$ OVERALL HIGHEST Museum District RATING RATED Buildings with the best overall ratings
READ MORE REVIEWS AT VERYAPT.COM
Review by UHCOP Student What the highest-rated properties typically ofer: “The museum district itself is an amazing place to live in Houston. It provides a level of safety that many other areas can't. The apartment itself is very spacious with large foor plans but, some of the appliances are a little outdated. The management and maintenance team are very kind and responsive. The High-end amenities location is also a quick drive to University of Houston even during rush hour back roads only take 15 minutes.” Close proximity to work/ school 2nd Nearby stores/grocery MARQUEE UPTOWN APARTMENTS 9.6 $$$ OVERALL Excellent management Galleria/Uptown RATING
Review by UHCO Student “Love it here, very safe and within walking distance of Galleria. Located on side road so very quiet. Free espresso and fruit water every morning + Love the plants and the pool area's great. We have two cats with us as well.”
3rd PEARL MIDTOWN 9.5 Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $$$$ OVERALL $1,250 $1,400 $1,650 $1,830 Midtown RATING TOP 5
1st PLAZA MUSEUM OVERALL DISTRICT 9.9 RATING Review by UHCO Student nd MARQUEE UPTOWN OVERALL "It can be a bit expensive, but well worth it. The apartments are 2 9.6 RATING APARTMENTS spacious and beautiful and also come with great amenities."
rd OVERALL 3 PEARL MIDTOWN 9.5 RATING
4th BROADSTONE OVERALL TOSCANO 9.3 RATING
th OVERALL 5 VANTAGE MED CENTER 9.2 RATING
14 1st VUE ON MACGREGOR 9.8 $ AMENITY BEST FOR Macgregor RATING AMENITIES Highest-rated properties for amenities
READ MORE REVIEWS AT VERYAPT.COM
Review by UHCOP Student What top amenity properties typically ofer: “I love the apartment. Good room sizes, good management and parking, love that I can walk to school so I don't have to buy a parking pass.”
Great common spaces 2nd Convenient location CAMDEN VANDERBILT 9.5 $$ AMENITY Braeswood Place Excellent management RATING Newer construction
Review by UHCO Student “Love the area, feels very safe due to its gating throughout entire property, great apartment.”
3rd LAKESIDE PLACE APARTMENTS 9.3 $$$ AMENITY West Houston RATING
Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $1,350 $1,500 $1,750 $1,930
TOP 5 Review by UHCO Student “Everything has been great here. I love living here and our apartment is a lot bigger than many people’s who live closer to st AMENITY school. I also know I live in a safe area which is really important 1 VUE ON MACGREGOR 9.8 RATING to me. However the commute can be tough.”
nd AMENITY 2 CAMDEN VANDERBILT 9.5 RATING
3rd LAKESIDE PLACE AMENITY APARTMENTS 9.3 RATING
th AMENITY 4 PEARL MIDTOWN 9.1 RATING
th AMENITY 5 VANTAGE MED CENTER 9.0 RATING
15 1st CONNECTION AT BUFFALO POINTE 9.8 $ VALUE BEST FOR South Main RATING VALUE Highest-rated properties for value
READ MORE REVIEWS AT VERYAPT.COM
Review by UHCOP Student What top value properties typically ofer: “This place is SO nice and a great price. Management was great and responsive. Front desk people are great and so is the maintenance crew. This complex did NOT food at all during Harvey, while surrounding areas did. Great price-to-space trade I lived here for 3 years of pharmacy school. Very much worth it.” of nd Good location 2 IMT AT THE MEDICAL CENTER 9.5 $$ VALUE Solid amenities and basic Southwest Houston RATING features
Review by UHCOP Student “Apartment is great. Primely located 5 minutes walk from the metro rail and 15 minutes from both UH and TMC. Management is very nice. Apartments are nicely upgraded and afordable. The complex is gated and they manage high security”
3rd VUE ON MACGREGOR 9.4 $ VALUE Macgregor RATING Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $1,050 $1,200 $1,450 $1,630 TOP 5
1st CONNECTION AT VALUE BUFFALO POINTE 9.8 RATING Review by UHCOP Student "Apartment comes with great amenities at a great price. It is so close to school and the price is unbeatable." 2nd IMT AT THE MEDICAL VALUE CENTER 9.5 RATING
rd VALUE 3 VUE ON MACGREGOR 9.4 RATING
4th LAKESIDE PLACE VALUE APARTMENTS 9.1 RATING
th VALUE 5 METRO 5514 9.0 RATING
16 Townhomes Smaller properties and how to fnd them
ABOUT TOWNHOMES
Townhomes are apartments in older buildings, typically a few stories tall. They Finding a townhome usually do not have a doorman, an elevator, Townhomes can be challenging to fnd because they tend to be or many amenities, but can be cheaper and individually owned and do not have full time leasing managers. more spacious than the apartment and Townhome listings are typically available ~60 days in advance. You condo units in high-rises. can fnd a townhome by searching online listings, contacting a
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A TOWNHOME landlord directly, or by working with VeryApt's Concierge Team who can help identify some options. CHEAPER LARGER FLOOR PLANS
3+ BEDROOMS AVAILABLE MORE PRIVACY Preparing for a townhome search Most UHCOP students opt for larger properties in order to live WHY YOU MAY WANT TO AVOID A TOWNHOME closer to other students and simplify the housing search. That said, there are plenty of wonderful townhomes - be prepared to visit NO DOORMAN LESS CONVENIENT LOCATIONS more properties to fnd that perfect home, carefully examine the pros/cons, and move quickly if you fnd a unit you love. OLDER CONSTRUCTION LIMITED AMENITIES
MORE MAINTENANCE ISSUES
TIPS AND ADVICE
Reliable Landlords Noise and Neighbors Lease Terms
Check online reviews and talk to Sounds often travel well through Leases with independent landlords previous tenants to fnd out about townhomes and you can easily be are negotiable. Check your lease for your landlord. Look for one that disturbed by barking dogs, music, or restrictions on sub-letters and visitor responds quickly to maintenance construction. Check out the policies. You may be able to avoid a requests and has a history of surrounding area to get a sense for rent increase by locking in a longer returning deposits. what it may be like. lease. LANDLORD GRADES and the Renting Process
GRADE LANDLORD Understanding THE RENTING PROCESS B Alliance Residential Company If this is your frst time renting, here is a heads up on what the process is like: Application process A- AvalonBay You will be asked to fll out an application for an apartment. Likely this will include an application fee ($30-50) and potentially a deposit (up to one month’s rent). If you’re an international student, you A+ BH Management Services may have to provide alternate information - in the absence of a social security number, bank accounts, etc., often landlords will accept your visa documents and acceptance letter. Landlords will use your information to approve you based only on your credit A+ Berkshire Communities history and income. In the event where there are issues, a landlord may grant the application on the condition that a guarantor cosigns the lease. B Camden After you're approved A landlord will often ask for a security deposit and prepaid rent. A landlord typically charges up to two months' rent as a security deposit and will ask for up B+ Gables Residential to two months in prepaid rent. Anything beyond this is more than normal. At the end of your lease and after you give proper notifcation that you are moving out (typically 60-90 days), the landlord has Greystar 30 days to return the security deposit at the end of A the lease. The landlord may not return the deposit in full if there are claimed damages to the property or other charges outstanding. A- Lincoln Property Company What to look out for Check for additional charges or obligations that could cost you more than the listed price of a property. This could include move-in/move-out fees, renters A- Roscoe Properties insurance requirements, condo fees, common electrical fees, etc. Defnitely ask about what previous electrical/utility bills have been to get a feel for any additional monthly costs there may be. Be sure to research the landlord and management company Landlord Grades before placing any sort of deposit. If you have any Grades were assigned to landlords by using a specifc questions, feel free to reach out to us at combination of management ratings and overall [email protected]. ratings for the properties they manage.
18 FOR DETAILED REVIEWS AND PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS VISIT WWW.VERYAPT.COM