The Grand At Upper Kirby: Multifamily At 4100 Southwest Fwy.

[Pinhead80]

Greetings to all and happy Saturday.

I'm a young man still living currently at home, recently finished college etc etc. The time has come to venture out on my own. Primary reason for this is that I live in Kingwood, and drive daily to Meyerland (35-40 minutes) and it is driving me insane. I've paid off my debts, saved a reasonable amount (thank you Dave Ramsey) and am ready to go.

I thought it would be a good idea to find an apartment for a year or two and then consider a house. When I noticed construction nearing completion for the Millenium Greenway on 59, I got really excited. Internet searches on properties in that area showed reasonable rates, and that particular area is both close to work and exciting. Finally a week or so ago the Millenium released prelimary rates, and it was a punch in the stomach.

Basically I really want to find an apartment complex that is relatively new and relatively upscale. Maybe it's the wanna-be yuppie or Kingwood snob in me, but I'd like to spend a year or two living in a "nice, modern" place. Searching apartment review sites and the lot, it seems that those places are only sounding boards for disgruntled renters and paint very negative pictures of practically every building. Then the ones that do seem resistant to negative feedback, their rates are through the roof (Museum Tower, Parklane).

I have a roommate option, so my budget is < 1000 for a 1BR and < 1800 for a 2 BR.

To all you seasoned renters out there, do you have any wise words for someone becoming more and more apprehensive about the task at hand?

When a website lists rates like those the Millenium released (starting at 1250 for a 1BR), are there usually specials involved which will lower those to more justifiable levels?

If there are any property recommendations I would very much appreciate it. Browsing this forum has taken me to a number of properties, and I was intrigued by the Lofts at Hermann Park/The Ballpark, some of the Alexan properties, etc.

I should be touring some of these places, but I feel like I could be pressured into something foolish and don't want to jump at the first offer that appears attractive.

Thanks for any advice.

[TheNiche]

Greetings to all and happy Saturday.

I'm a young man still living currently at home, recently finished college etc etc. The time has come to venture out on my own. Primary reason for this is that I live in Kingwood, and drive daily to Meyerland (35-40 minutes) and it is driving me insane. I've paid off my debts, saved a reasonable amount (thank you Dave Ramsey) and am ready to go.

I thought it would be a good idea to find an apartment for a year or two and then consider a house. When I noticed construction nearing completion for the Millenium Greenway on 59, I got really excited. Internet searches on properties in that area showed reasonable rates, and that particular area is both close to work and exciting. Finally a week or so ago the Millenium released prelimary rates, and it was a punch in the stomach.

Basically I really want to find an apartment complex that is relatively new and relatively upscale. Maybe it's the wanna-be yuppie or Kingwood snob in me, but I'd like to spend a year or two living in a "nice, modern" place. Searching apartment review sites and the lot, it seems that those places are only sounding boards for disgruntled renters and paint very negative pictures of practically every building. Then the ones that do seem resistant to negative feedback, their rates are through the roof (Museum Tower, Parklane).

I have a roommate option, so my budget is < 1000 for a 1BR and < 1800 for a 2 BR.

To all you seasoned renters out there, do you have any wise words for someone becoming more and more apprehensive about the task at hand?

When a website lists rates like those the Millenium released (starting at 1250 for a 1BR), are there usually specials involved which will lower those to more justifiable levels?

If there are any property recommendations I would very much appreciate it. Browsing this forum has taken me to a number of properties, and I was intrigued by the Lofts at Hermann Park/The Ballpark, some of the Alexan properties, etc.

I should be touring some of these places, but I feel like I could be pressured into something foolish and don't want to jump at the first offer that appears attractive.

Thanks for any advice.

If you work in Meyerland, I would strongly recommend that you check out the Verandah, which is at the northeast corner of Braeswood and the 610 Loop. It'll be close to where you work, but since they aren't in a posh neighborhood like Greenway Plaza or River Oaks, their prices are tend to be pretty reasonable, even on their highrise units, and if I recall correctly, they're running some pretty attractive specials.

You are correct about the apartment review sites. Happy tenants will only rarely go out of their way to express that they are happy...they have to be asked about it by somebody else. I suspect that even the good reviews that you see on those websites are frequently from people that have cognitive dissonance about what they're paying for their home, and that they're just trying to justify it to others so as to feel better about themselves.

Don't be put off by anybody's pricing. Everything in this world is negotiable, and an apartment owner would generally prefer making only enough revenue to cover their costs to no revenue at all. And always ask what their specials are and how they will be administered. Say that you're looking for a target price of $1,000 for a one-bedroom unit; if they're giving away two months free on a 13-month lease, and pro-rated, you can afford a unit at a street rate of $1,153. They may also be willing to waive the security deposit, application fee, administrative fee, or to give you a free plasma screen and/or flat screen television. But bear in mind that when your lease comes up for renewal, they will have leverage because you already live there and would have to pay moving expenses if the renewed lease isn't to your liking. If that concerns you, you can always negotiate a longer lease with today's concessions in place...or perhaps even better concessions.

[rps324]

Generally apartment complexes will not negotiate prices. They are too afraid of fair housing problems created by offering one person a special they did not offer to another. What they offer to one, they have to offer to all.

You are not going to live in the club house, or the model, but those things will be used to..."create a sense of value" or in other words, make you pay more. I would be cautious about being "taken in" by amenities you won't use.

The leasing agents are trained to "close" on you. They will ask you to fill out an application and leave a deposit at least two or three times. They will if they have been trained anyway, and they will use assumptive phrases and other subtle closing techniques, it's their job. While this may sound like a put-off, I would be more concerned if they didn't. If they don't do that part of their job, where usually a leasing bonus is involved, how eager are they to do the rest of their job?

aptratings.com is usually just bitter people who are mad because they wanted to break their lease & the management wouldn't let them. People who barely ran a vacuum over the carpet when they left and wonder why their $150 deposit won't cover extensive sheet rock repairs and a whole apartment worth of carpet their puppy ruined. Stuff like that. Of course their are legitimate complaints too. I would look for patterns on their. On the flip side the positive comments are often times the Manager or leasing agents going on their and giving themselves glowing remarks.

Check different locations, not just the latest and greatest, although properties in the "lease up" stage may offer good initial deals, but they will hit you at renewal time.

[Highrise Tower]

This has been rebranded to The Grand at Upper Kirby.

https://www.thegrandatupperkirby.com/

Sad to see the Greenway Plaza moniker being changed to Upper Kirby.  I would classify the immediate area as Greenway Plaza myself.  UK is the next freeway exit! 

Marketing wise, this makes more sense. Upper Kirby has more development action than the old Greenway Plaza.  A trendier neighborhood for sure! 

The naming history of this apartment complex is:

- Original developed by The Dinerstein Companies - Millennium
- Metro Greenway
- The Grand at Upper Kirby

[Highrise Tower]

Temporary signage for The Grand at Upper Kirby.

[Highrise Tower]

What's going on with the exterior facade facing the Southwest Freeway? Looks like artwork, but it could be temporary painting methods.  Blue tape or something?

I personally like it.  I don't think it will stay this way.