Mishal

My general advice - find a luxury apartment complex somewhere, and look for cheap apartments next door. From 2003 until 2007, I lived in a tiny apartment complex across the street from the Maroneal in Old Braeswood. I used to chuckle at the people who payed $1200 a month to live there when I was paying $675 a month for a 2 bedroom townhome in the same neighborhood.

If it were me I'd look specifically at apartments along Brays Bayou. Then I could leave the car at home for the wife to use, and commute by bicycle along the Hike & Bike trail. Just beware of construction along Brays Bayou.

On the matter of hurricanes: in Galveston they can be really devastating. But in Houston they're really no worse than a major ice-storm up north.

Anyway, welcome to Houston, and good luck with the PhD!

Point taken.

Thanks to TheNiche too.

I am looking forward to coming to Houston. Coming from up north, it's going to be a major shock to my system but I will enjoy that. In particular, I am slow in deciphering the Texan accent.

Thanks a lot to all of you.

I will come to Houston alone a month early, fix up a place, and then bring my wife and kid later. I will definitely look into the neighbourhoods you suggested.

It might be difficult to get an apartment for my budget in the Heights or near the Med Center. But I will try anyway.

Does any one live in the area of 77055 or 77080? The apartments are cheaper but the neighbourhoods seem safe.

Thanks to both of you for a lot of information.

Yes, I am looking to rent an apartment because a house is outside my budget. However, my kid is a new-born and I won't be needing a 2 bedroom for now. Also, it means that I am not concerned about quality of nearby elementary or high schools either.

I have a few more questions:

1. 77054 is the area around the Astrodome, correct? I heard most of the Katrina evacs crammed into there and hence crime is higher. Is this true?

2. Could you elaborate on why the area in 77089 'doesn't have a terrific reputation'? Is it because of crime or flooding or something else?

3. The Houston Police dept. crime stats report A LOT of car thefts. Does this mean car insurance is very expensive? I pay around $1000/yr for my 98 Toyota Corolla here in Canada. But car thefts are unheard of (at least here in Ottawa). What ballpark figure am I looking at in Houston?

Of all the neighbourhoods, Pearland seems the most attractive for me. Is there any other particular information about Pearland that you may want to give to me?

Thanks a lot again.

Hello,

I am moving from Ottawa, Canada to Houston for my Ph.D in Economics at University of Houston.

I have a wife and kid and my top priority is safety. However, living on university funding, I also cannot pay more than 700 bucks for rent. 600 would be more manageable but willing to go up to 700.

I read this:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...?showtopic=6863

and found out that many neighbourhoods are dangerous.

Can you make some suggestions regarding which neighbourhoods to look into?

Also, if I buy a car, is commuting from Sugarland or Pearland feasible in the long run?

Finally, how worried should I be about the hurricane season?

I am moving into Houston this July from Canada to study at University of Houston and what I read in this thread is quite worrying for me.

I have a wife and a baby to be born this May. Living on university funding, I cannot afford a $1200 townhouse. The max I can spend is $600 on a 1-bedroom unit and it seems that will not get me beyond apartments. The advice in this thread again and again has been to AVOID apartment buildings.

I am not quite sure which neighbourhood to check out and where to get safe but relatively cheap accomodation.

It seems every neighbourhood, starting from Gulfton in the Southwest to the Fifth Ward in the East is dangerous. The apartmentratings.com and HPD crime stats websites are not inspiring confidence either.

Any suggestions? Should I look in to the Clear Lake area? Is it safer?