We are relocating from Tampa and will be flying out next week to look for apts to rent for the 1st year. The office is on Loops Central Dr. Is the Galleria area good? What about Sugarland??

The Galleria area is a great area. Houses in the area are very expensive though. As well as any townhomes or condos that you are wanting to buy. Renting in the galleria is not that bad. Youcan find something between 600-1000 a month. Sugarland is more of a suburb and very beautiful. there are many new homes being built out in that area.

Galleria is an awesome area but always need to use precaution because there are SO many people that visit that area. Crime does tend to be high. I highly recommend an apartment complex which you can probably find online called Westcreek @ River Oaks. It sits 1 block off of Westheimer and two blocks from the Galleria. Awesome location, easy to get around, older complex but very well maintained. Mostly mid 20's to late 40's. In 2000, it was running around $ 600.00, I have no clue what it is now.

Sugarland is a great area, out in the suburbs a bit. Lots of traffic if you need to come into town for anything.

You might also consider an area called Westchase which is at the opposite end of Westheimer. More economical, relatively safe and lots of things to do yet still close enough to town to do anything that you want.

Hope this helps.

In terms of crime, I would say that the Galleria area is safer than Westchase. See if you can find something near Woodway/Voss. There are groupings of apartments in that area and privately-owned condos that are usually for rent. In particular, use a local real estate agent to see if you can find something off of Ripple Creek. It is a fantastic area - quiet, green, near shopping/restaurants, etc.

Some of the complexes you'll want to check are Bayou Glen, Woodway Glen, etc. I lived in this area twice - once with a roommate and then with my wife (our first apartment). Kerry Glen, for example, is right along the bayou and behind a church. Most of the residents have been there for a long time so it is very stable. Hakeem Olajuwon used to own two condos there and we would sometimes see him or Charles Barkley.

I drive by it every day and it is safe and very community-oriented. Trust me - you can't go wrong. If you need a realtor, let me know. It's worth the extra effort to get one of these places.


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