Relocating from Tennessee (Houston: apartment complex, rent, home)

[missy45]

Hi!
I'm new to the threads and to Houston as a whole. I am moving to Houston with my boyfriend. We are in our mid 20's, unmarried and with no children. I've been speaking to a realtor regarding apartments, but we are still trying to figure out what areas would be worth checking out. I will be working in the 77081 area. We'd like a walkable neighbourhood, with hopefully a park nearby. Somewhere with cafes, restaurants and bars close by. We're looking at renting an apartment complex. Our budget is around 1000-1100$ for a 1 bedroom/1 bath.

I was wondering if y'all could provide some information on:
- internet/cable providers in Houston?
- what are the best/local grocery stores in the area?
- what is the average gas/electric/water bill cost?
- what neighborhoods do you recommend for us?
- is an security alarm system a must?
- what areas should we avoid?

Thank you for your help.

[Willsson]

missy45, if you rent an apartment then the cable company will be the 'standard', like TimeWarner or Comcast. And they will probably offer internet as well, or you can use the phone company which will be AT&T.

The average utilities is going to vary by your demand, exposure to sun in the summer, or north in the winter. In an apartment you may not get a gas option. In many cases the water is included in the rent. So, your electric is going to vary by your use, for AC and heat.

A security system is not necessarily a 'must'. Keep doors and windows locked - unless you're upstairs and want open windows. In your home and car, don't leave valuables exposed to snoopers from outside.

Good luck