Coming to Houston from Toronto (Spring, Center: apartment, lease, how much)

[ewara19]

Hey guys! I'm going to be moving to Houston next month for a year while I complete my clinical rotations. I will be doing them throughout the Hermann Memorial network of hospitals, but the main hospital will be Hermann Memorial City Medical Center. I was wondering what the best place for me to live would be. I'm a 26 year old man looking to be around other young, single people. I would like to be in a lively, safe, walkable area with bars, clubs and restaurants. Preferably I am hoping to be within 20-25 minute drive from Hermann Memorial City Centre. Any suggestions on areas for me to live would be greatly appreciated. My budget is $1200/ month.

Thanks

[chris_ut]

City Centre if you can find something for $1200.

[Failed Engineer]

City Centre is exactly what you are looking for but probably not budget friendly. If it was me, considering your future earning potential, I'd stretch the budget to live there.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by ewara19

Hey guys! I'm going to be moving to Houston next month for a year while I complete my clinical rotations. I will be doing them throughout the Hermann Memorial network of hospitals, but the main hospital will be Hermann Memorial City Medical Center. I was wondering what the best place for me to live would be. I'm a 26 year old man looking to be around other young, single people. I would like to be in a lively, safe, walkable area with bars, clubs and restaurants. Preferably I am hoping to be within 20-25 minute drive from Hermann Memorial City Centre. Any suggestions on areas for me to live would be greatly appreciated. My budget is $1200/ month.

Thanks

About three miles from City Centre, nice safe, (I jog by there often) great move in specials and the YMCA is within walking distance.


1 Bed / 1 Bath Apartment in Houston TX | The Lodge at Spring Shadows

[ewara19]

Thanks for all for the feedback guys. Much appreciated. Based on your feedback, I think I'll probably stretch my budget and consider CityCentre.
Just our of curiosity, I have heard a lot about the Midtown neighbourhood. Is this area less desirable than CityCentre an is the social scene in CityCentre similar to that of Midtown?

[chris_ut]

Midtown would make for a long commute versus 5 minutes from City Centre

[jerbear30]

CityCentre is pretty much a brand new "multi use" development. I've gotten used to it, but it can seem strangely new to folks who are not used to how it is set up. There's a lot of shopping/dining/consumer space and relatively little public meeting space. It does have a gym and several bars for socializing. It feels like a mashup of a suburban strip-mall and a more conventional downtown.

Midtown has more bars, more public meeting spaces and a lot more going on in terms of events. It also has coffee shops, record stores, and other more conventional kinds of consumer spaces that one would expect in a city. Midtown is a real part of the city, whereas CityCenter is a space that was made to feel like you're still in the city even when you're not quite there.

My vote would be for midtown. I think you'll probably be able to find slightly cheaper rent in midtown than in CityCentre. I live very close to the hospital where you'll be working and commute to midtown for work. I'd say on average I drive about 20-25 minutes each way in average traffic and 40 in heavier traffic. The drive is not ideal but it is manageable and living in midtown will give you a lot more opportunities to socialize with a wider variety of folks.

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

Midtown would make for a long commute versus 5 minutes from City Centre

This. OP, stay in the City Centre area and try and get a one year lease. Remember your focus is to do your prelim year (at least I presume it is based on the way you described it..maybe you're still a student?) and you will be working very long hours.

You can easily go to Midtown, Montrose, Washington Corridor for socializing, if your schedule permits. Unless you are reasonably sure you might stay in Houston for the duration of your training and/or you will be spending significant time at Memorial Hermann in the Medical Center, live as close to your training site (City Centre) as possible. But, budget is important, as you will be stretched quite thin for a number of years while in training. Of course, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

[ewara19]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

This. OP, stay in the City Centre area and try and get a one year lease. Remember your focus is to do your prelim year (at least I presume it is based on the way you described it..maybe your still a student?) and you will be working very long hours.

You can easily go to Midtown, Montrose, Washington Corridor for socializing, if your schedule permits. Unless you are reasonably sure you might stay in Houston for the duration of your training and/or you will be spending significant time at Memorial Hermann in the Medical Center, live as close to your training site (City Centre) as possible. But, budget is important, as you will be stretched quite thin for a number of years while in training. Of course, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Thanks! I think you guys have convinced me. While an active social life is important to me, my schedule will most likely limit how much socializing I can actually do. On my days off, I would have no problem driving to Midtown or Montrose. As long as CityCentre isn't completely dead and has some life, I feel like I could be quite happy there. I am more than willing to pay a little extra to be a little closer to the hospital and cut down on the commute.