REVIEWS AND ADVICE FROM CURRENT STUDENTS LAW 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 Houston Law students up appointments for the apartments you like most.

7 Montrose 8 Midtown 9 River Oaks ABOUT THE DATA IN THIS GUIDE 10 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 Houston Law student reviews

12 APARTMENT RATINGS Top apartments, based on the feedback of Houston Law students Overall Value Management 12 Most Popular 13 Highest Rated 14 Best for Amenities 15 Best for Value

17 LANDLORDS Amenities Location Safety Ratings for landlords and management companies Based on their feedback, we compiled a list of the best apartment buildings for Houston Law 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 Houston Law students Who Houston Law students live live with

40% Montrose 40% Alone 25% Midtown 35% Spouse/partner 15% River Oaks 25% Roommate 5% Downtown Houston (excluding spouse/ 10% Other (<5% each) partner)

39% of Houston Law students live with pets

What type of properties What size residences Houston Houston Law students live in Law students live in

60% Large property (50+ 5% Studios units) 55% One bedrooms 30% Mid-size property (20-49 units) 30% Two bedrooms 10% Small property (2-9 10% Three or more units) bedrooms

Distribution of property ratings Average rent by apartment size $800 Studio $1,100 1BR $1,505 2BR

5% 15% 40% 40% $2,000 0 - 6.9 7 - 7.9 8 - 8.9 9+ 3BR

Rent versus own Commute methods 80% Rent 20% Own

90% 5% 5% Driving Walking Public Transit 3 Rent with Confidence

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4 NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLAINED An overview of the most popular neighborhoods for Houston Law students

1 Montrose 2 Midtown Other Neighborhoods

40% of Houston Law students 25% of Houston Law students less than 5% each

Originally imagined as a strictly Midtown is a jam-packed area that hosts residential neighborhood, Montrose has a lot of young professionals/ grad 5 Greater Third Ward morphed into Houston's most eccentric students looking to enjoy the city's best spot with neon-lit tattoo parlors, 24-hour nightlife options. Renters here thrive on drive-thrus, and covered bungalows. living in a vibrant, exciting neighborhood 6 Museum District Renters love the area for being full of top- and you can really feel the energy when notch restaurants/bars as well as arts & you walk the streets. cultural venues. 7 University Place

3 River Oaks 4 Downtown Houston 8 West University

15% of Houston Law students 5% of Houston Law students 9 Macgregor River Oaks is a residential community Downtown Houston is the heart of the that's home to many grad students. The city. Locals love the area because it stays apartments here are very nice and there true to its roots, but it's not are plenty of dining options nearby. outdated by any means. There is plenty of nightlife in the area as well and it makes for a fun place to be.

5

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

Bars and Restaurants Friendly

MEDIAN RENTS IN MONTROSE $1,225 $1,410 $2,040 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom

WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT MONTROSE

  Review by UH Law Student  THE SUSANNE Review by UH Law Student  THE SUSANNE If you are a student at U of H , then the commute is Lots of bars, cafe shops, and restaurants. You fnd about 15 minutes even in moderate trafc. Public people walking/jogging the streets. Close to the law transport isn't great, but that's Houston in general. The school. Close to Midtown. area is great for a night out with cofee shops, bars, and restaurants nearby. Specifcally, the Pit Room and Patio bar are right next tot he complex and great for a quick night out.

7 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 Local Resident  POST MIDTOWN SQ. Review by UH Law Student  MIDTOWN ARBOR PL. Gentrifed about 15 years ago, Midtown is rapidly Great place to live that’s close enough to school. Stop becoming a favorite for urban-oriented young and mid- afordable overall if you have a roommate despite being career professionals who seek a balance between a next door to downtown walkable community and easy access to lots of entertainment options.

8 River Oaks Residential Area & Home to Many Grad Students

ABOUT RIVER OAKS

River Oaks is a residential community located just west of Montrose. Renters here typically enjoy the peacefulness of the area, quality apartments, and the fact that it's not too much of a hike to get to the popular nightlife spots in other neighborhoods. River Oaks is a common choice for UH grad students.

Residential Nice Shops

Nearby Restaurants

Lots of Grad Students

MEDIAN RENTS IN RIVER OAKS $1,200 1,390 1,890 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom

WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT RIVER OAKS

  Review by UH Law Student  33THIRTY THREE Review by UH Law Student  CAMDEN GREENWAY Love the area, very safe, has plenty of shopping, grocery Very upscale and safe area. Lots of great food and stores, banks, and restaurants. Anything I could possibly nearby shopping for anything you need from H-E-B to need is often no more than a block or two away (except the Apple Store. Also is only 10 minutes Target which is like 2 miles away) away. Levy Park is right next to the complex and is great for dogs and kids.

9 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 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  THE HAMILTON Review by Local Resident  CONDO Plenty of places to eat at. Free events to attend. Festivals Great variation of lunch restaurants and hip bars for happening throughout the year. Picture worthy places all happy hour and the best part parking is usually free after around. Festivities during the holiday time. 6. On weekends, parking is cheaper but so many diferent events make up for that cost because when entire families can have fun, you cannot put a price on that.

10 KEY APARTMENT •••• Excellent for a category $$$$ $1590+ per renter ••• Great $$$ $1380- $1589 •• Average $$ $1260- $1379 RATINGS • Below average $ < $1260 * 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 2121 Midlane Apt 9.2 $$  ••• •••• •••• •••• ••• Aspire at 610 Apt 8.0 $$  •• ••• •• ••• ••• Bayou Park Apt 8.0 $  • •• ••• ••• ••• Broadstone Post Oak Apt 8.0 $  ••• •• •••• •• •• Broadstone Toscano Apt 8.5 $ •• ••• ••• ••• •• Calais Midtown Apartments Apt 7.5 $$ •• •• •• •• •• Camden City Centre Apt 9.7 $$$  •••• ••• • •••• ••• Camden Greenway Apt 9.4 $$$  •••• •••• •••• •• •••• Camden Plaza Apt 8.0 $$$ •• • ••• •• •• Estates at Bellaire Apt 7.0 $ •• ••• •••• •• •• Foresters Pond Condominiums Condo 9.0 $$ •• •• •••• ••• •••• Lincoln Medical Center Apartments Apt 8.0 $   ••• •• ••• ••• •• Midtown Arbor Place Apt 8.0 $$$$ •••• •••• ••• •••• •••• Midtown Grove Apartments Apt 9.2 $$ ••• •• •• ••• •• Muse at Museum District Apt 9.3 $$$$ •••• •••• ••• •••• •••• North Post Oak Lofts Apt 8.0 $$  • •• ••• ••• •• Residences at Gramercy Apartments Apt 8.0 $$$ •• • •• ••• ••• The Millennium Kirby Apt 8.6 $$$ ••• ••• •• •••• •••• The Millennium High Street Apt 8.7 $$$ ••• ••• ••• ••• •••• The Susanne Apt 9.0 $$$$ ••• ••• •• •••• •••• Vantage Med Center Apt 9.0 $$$ ••• •• ••• ••• •••• Village on the Lake Apartments Apt 9.0 $$$ •••• •••• • •• •••

** Buildings with fewer than 3 reviews are not listed in this guide but reviews can be found online at VeryApt.com.

11 1st CAMDEN CITY CENTRE 25+ $$$ PEOPLE MOST Midtown POPULAR Buildings with the most Houston Law students

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Review by Houston Law Student “I have lived in some slummy places and fnally got tired of it and What students typically look for: moved to a Camden place. I don't regret it at all. It's pricey, sure, but the maintenance is very responsive and they will pretty replace anything you ask them to.”  Excellent location  Reasonably-priced 2nd LINCOLN MEDICAL CENTER APARTMENTS 20+ apartments $ PEOPLE  Solid amenities

Review by Houston Law Student “I've lived at Lincoln Medical Center for about a year and a half and haven't had any major issues. The complex is very quiet and the common areas are well-kept. Maintenance is quick to fx any problems in my unit. The leasing ofce staf are helpful and professional. Although I don't have pets, the complex is very dog-friendly. My only complaint is that the foorplan of my unit is a little strange - it's very difcult to maneuver furniture into the second bedroom because the hallway is pretty narrow.”

3rd Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR CAMDEN GREENWAY 15+ $$ PEOPLE $800 $1,100 $1,505 $2,000 River Oaks, 3800 Audley St TOP 5

1st CAMDEN CITY CENTRE 25+ PEOPLE

nd LINCOLN MEDICAL Review by Houston Law Student 2 20+ PEOPLE CENTER APARTMENTS “The location is great – very central to everything. I live 12-15 minutes from campus is 7-10 minutes from downtown. Lots of great restaurants in the area, many within walking distance on 3rd CAMDEN GREENWAY 15+ PEOPLE Richmond Ave. Super quiet complex, mostly young professionals or couples."

rd BROADSTONE POST 3 PEOPLE OAK 15+

5th ASPIRE AT 610 10+ PEOPLE

12 1st CAMDEN CITY CENTRE 9.7 $$$ OVERALL HIGHEST Midtown RATING RATED Buildings with the best overall ratings

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Review by Houston Law Student What the highest-rated properties typically ofer: “I have lived in some slummy places and fnally got tired of it and moved to a Camden place. I don't regret it at all. It's pricey, sure, but the maintenance is very responsive and they will pretty replace anything you ask them to.”  High-end amenities  Close proximity to work/ 2nd CAMDEN GREENWAY 9.4 school $ OVERALL River Oaks RATING  Nearby stores/grocery  Excellent management

Review by Houston Law Student "Very nice, updated apartments with large balconies and pretty courtyards. Safe area with good police/security presence and parking is always easy. Maybe a little pricier than some other places but worth all the pros. I have two cats and they really enjoy the balcony as well.”

3rd MUSE AT MUSEUM DISTRICT 9.3 $$$ OVERALL Montrose RATING Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $900 $1,200 $1,605 $2,100 TOP 5

st OVERALL 1 CAMDEN CITY CENTRE 9.7 RATING Review by Law Student “The building is fairly new with great amenities: gym, pool area with BBQ, conference room, and computer lab. Rooms have high nd OVERALL ceiling with wood foors in the main room and carpet in the 2 CAMDEN GREENWAY 9.4 RATING bedrooms. Appliances are new and A/C control is very responsive. Floor layout is very spacious with even the closets being large walk ins. For internet, you can get AT&T high speed 3rd MUSE AT MUSEUM OVERALL DISTRICT 9.3 RATING fber. Management staf are fantastic and extremely helpful."

4th MUSE AT MUSEUM OVERALL DISTRICT 9.2 RATING

th OVERALL 5 VANTAGE MED CENTER 9.0 RATING

13 1st CAMDEN GREENWAY 9.8 $$$ AMENITY BEST FOR River Oaks RATING AMENITIES Highest-rated properties for amenities

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Review by Houston Law Student What top amenity properties typically ofer: “The location is great – very central to everything. I live 12-15 minutes from campus is 7-10 minutes from downtown. Lots of great restaurants in the area, many within walking distance on Richmond Ave. Super quiet complex, mostly young professionals  Great common spaces or couples."  Convenient location 2nd  Excellent management MIDTOWN ARBOR PLACE 9.7 $$$$ AMENITY Midtown  Newer construction RATING

Review by Houston Law Student “Overall it’s a great apartment complex. 20 minute commute to UHLC. Plenty to do closeby in Midtown but the complex is still tucked away a few blocks from all the restataunts/bars so it’s not noisy. The only negative is that the cost has gone up over the past two years when we renewed our lease.”

3rd MUSE AT MUSEUM DISTRICT 9.5 $$$ AMENITY Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR Montrose RATING $1,000 $1,300 $1,705 $2,200 TOP 5

st AMENITY 1 CAMDEN GREENWAY 9.8 RATING Review by University of Houston Law Student "Management staf are fantastic and extremely helpful. Some nd MIDTOWN ARBOR AMENITY kind of community event is always being put on. The Building is 2 9.7 RATING PLACE well maintained and maintenance issues are resolved very quickly. You can feel safe returning late at night since the property and parking are well lit with secure access with a rd MUSE AT MUSEUM AMENITY 3 9.5 RATING resident Houston Police ofcer patrols the complex. Finding a DISTRICT parking spot is not difcult. Overall, I would give this place a 5/5, especially if you someone who is looking for spacious rooms th AMENITY with new appliances, responsive staf, an active social scene, a 4 CAMDEN CITY CENTRE 9.4 RATING well maintained building with nice amenities."

th AMENITY 5 THE SUSANNE 9.1 RATING

14 1st LINCOLN MEDICAL CENTER APARTMENTS 9.7 $ VALUE BEST FOR Southwest Houston, 7200 Almeda Rd RATING VALUE Highest-rated properties for value

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Review by Houston Law Student What top value properties typically ofer: “I've lived at Lincoln Medical Center for about a year and a half and haven't had any major issues. The complex is very quiet and the common areas are well-kept. Maintenance is quick to fx any problems in my unit. The leasing ofce staf are helpful and professional. Although I don't have pets, the complex is very  Great price-to-space trade dog-friendly. My only complaint is that the foorplan of my unit of is a little strange - it's very difcult to maneuver furniture into the second bedroom because the hallway is pretty narrow.”  Good location  Solid amenities and basic 2nd features ESTATES AT BELLAIRE 9.5 $ VALUE Bellaire RATING

Review by Houston Law Student “No food, quick response to maintenance request, lots of parking places, good common area. The outside road towards the gate is very very rocky and food a lot, but inside is fne.”

3rd LINCOLN MEDICAL CENTER APARTMENTS 9.0 Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $ VALUE $700 $1,000 $1,405 $1,900 Southwest Houston, 7200 Almeda Rd RATING TOP 5

1st LINCOLN MEDICAL VALUE CENTER APARTMENTS 9.7 RATING Review by Houston Law Student nd VALUE “I've lived at Lincoln Medical Center for about a year and a half 2 ESTATES AT BELLAIRE 9.5 RATING and haven't had any major issues. The complex is very quiet and the common areas are well-kept. Maintenance is quick to fx any problems in my unit. The leasing ofce staf are helpful and rd LINCOLN MEDICAL VALUE 3 9.0 RATING professional. Although I don't have pets, the complex is very dog- CENTER APARTMENTS friendly."

4th MUSE AT MUSEUM VALUE DISTRICT 8.9 RATING

th VALUE 5 THE SUSANNE 8.6 RATING

15 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 Houston Law students opt for larger properties in order to WHY YOU MAY WANT TO AVOID A TOWNHOME live closer to other students and simplify the housing search. That said, there are plenty of wonderful townhomes - be prepared to NO DOORMAN LESS CONVENIENT LOCATIONS visit 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 A+ 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 Berkshire Communities 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+ Camden 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. A+ Lincoln Property Company 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 A+ Morgan Communities 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 Rockstar Capital Management 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+ Roscoe Properties 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+ The Finger Companies 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.

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