Houston Apartments for Rent

Looking for apartments in apartments in Houston, TX?

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States.

Like any major metropolitan area, Houston is made up of many smaller cities and neighborhoods that form the "Greater Houston" area: Baytown, Conroe, Cypress, Downtown, Friendswood, Galveston, Humble, Inner Loop, Katy, Kingwood, La Porte, League City, Medical Center , Pasadena, Richmond, Rosenberg, Seabrook, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Tomball, Uptown, and Webster.

Located in the heart of Harris County, downtown Houston is easily accessible from all of surrounding suburbs. Half of Houston commuters take recently improved highways US 59, I-45, or I-10 to access the downtown area, while a smaller percentage of people use the various modes of public transportation: light rail, busses, and park-and-ride stations are available for commuters trying to find alternative types of transportation. And in Houston, with an ever-expanding population of 2,257,926, transportation is everything.

Houston has put $4 billion towards rejuvenating its downtown area with residences, businesses, and parks. Literally a fastball away from the Astro's baseball stadium are the Lofts at the Ballpark, with elevated walkways, mirrored weight rooms, and a movie theater with stadium seating. Or the ultra-glam One Park Place, with gourmet kitchens, high-rise views, and 24-hour concierge service.

Those living within the Medical Center district can feel at ease knowing they are within the vicinity of one of the best medical facilities in the country. Within the Medical Center are a total of 49 not-for-profit institutions that in some way deal with medicine.

Besides the close proximity to Downtown, Medical Center residents also have Rice University, Reliant Park, the Museum District nearby. Rice University, started in 1912, is an elite school that last year served over 3,000 undergraduate students and nearly as many graduate students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 5:1, and includes notable teachers such as Nobel Prize winners Richard Smalley and Robert Curl.

Reliant Park is also close and houses within its ground 4 large venues: Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center, Reliant Arena, and Reliant Astrodome. The Museum District likewise offers residents 18 museums that provide cultural experiences ranging from contemporary arts, historical legacies, to modern science.

Those looking to move to "The Loop," the part of Houston surrounded by Loop 610, have a widespread area of living to choose from. There are many neighborhoods located inside the Loop, some of which include the Heights, Bellaire, River Oaks, Medical Center, West University, and Downtown. The Heights, Bellaire, and River Oaks are all neighborhoods that have their own twist.

While River Oaks is known for its houses (mansions) that start at $400,000, the Heights' homes are along the quainter Victorian-style. Bellaire's homes are largely circa 1950s, although recent development in the area means more modern homes in an inner-city type setting.

Living inside the Loop allows commuters access to the Houston Metro Bus System, which operates 1,211 buses, and the Houston MetroRail, a light rail system spanning 7.5 miles with 16 stops. Both services provide residents a rest-easy commute and help to clear congestion on the major surrounding highways.

Like any cosmopolitan city, Houston always has many new and ongoing developments. Just a few of these include: Houston Ballet's 115,000 square-foot, $53 million Center for Dance building in downtown Houston, the largest professional dance company facility of its kind constructed in the U.S.; Houston Zoo's new $35 million African Forest exhibit; The new $47 million LEED-certified Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA; Market Square Park, in Houston's Downtown Historic District, with entertainment, dining, public art, and green space.

Other developments are too numerous to mention. Visit here for a full list.

At the crossroads of Upper Kirby and River Oaks, the West Ave development is a mixed-use community with residences, retail space, and restaurants. Gables West Ave, one of the new luxury apartments in West Ave., is built in Art Deco style, has 1930s stone work, infinity pool, and high-rise views. The apartments range from $1,500 to $3,000 dollars per month.

According to its website, "14 Pews is a non-profit microcinema located in a white wooden church in the Heights neighborhood of Houston. We provide regular screenings of independent documentaries and feature films, along with 4 annual film festivals and several affordable film/video educational classes" (14pews.org).

Like New York, Chicago, L.A., Houston has a little taste of everything.

• www.houstontx.gov
• www.visithoustontexas.com
• www.ridemetro.org
• www.reliantpark.com