The Block on Leon Apartments in West Campus Austin

I moved into my Block apartment on Halloween of 2009. While you were out playing dress-up, I was hauling furniture around and dealing with utility companies. Once I was settled though, I really dug my new surroundings. Attractive Austin apartments can be hard to come by so I was thrilled that I scored such a sweet pad so close to the University of Texas at Austin campus. The Block has a lot of amenities and a friendly management team. My building, The Block on Leon Apartments, offers a fitness center, rooftop lounge, garage parking, and a computer lab as well as free cable, internet, and trash disposal. Every apartment has a washer/dryer, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, patios/balconies, and more. The rent is affordable and the neighborhood is great. I’m able to walk to The Drag and there are bountiful frat houses, including the ATO House around if you’re looking to pledge. Cuatro’s is just a stone’s throw away and offers some of the best burgers and tacos in town as well as draught beer and sports on the numerous televisions. The Block also holds events for their residents that usually include free food and drinks as well as a great opportunity to mingle with your neighbors.

With that in mind, it’s not all sunshine and daisies. The apartments are on the smallish side (though my opinion might be skewed because I used to live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment) and the interior isn’t breathtaking by any stretch of the imagination. When I moved in a few of the appliances weren’t working but maintenance was up to fix them shortly afterward. The view from my balcony is great if staring at the side of a building tickles your pickle.

All things considered, though, The Block on Campus offers great West Campus apartments at an affordable price with plentiful amenities and few drawbacks. If you happen to move in, drop by my place and have a drink.

by John Michael Odum

Block on Leon Apartments - Austin, TX

The Block on Leon - Austin, TX

Dallas West Village Apartments:

A top of the line situation on McKinney Avenue, the sought after area of D-Town known as the “Bubble,” West Village apartments characterize all that is fashionable and awesome about renting in Dallas. These modish uptown Dallas apartment communities are also within an arms reach of Cityplace Station and a Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus stop. Some amenities and features tenants of West Village apartments enjoy everyday include stained concrete flooring, front load washers, jacuzzi-style tubs, granite counters, stainless steel appliance packages, garage parking, expansive patios/balconies, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, resort-style swimming pools, and more!

View our selection of Dallas apartments in West Village.

View our selection of Dallas apartments in Uptown.

by Rick Pickett

Dallas West Village Apartments - Get Connected!

Breaking an Apartment Lease

Legally Breaking a Lease

Always consult a lawyer before attempting any of following ways to legally break a lease.  There are four main ways to get out of a lease:  find something terribly wrong with your apartment, prove you are a victim of violence or abuse, join the military service,  or sublet.

If you can find a problem with your apartment that affects your health and safety, such as a dead body rotting in the wall, you may have a way out.  The rules for breaking a lease in this way require that you notify the owner of the apartment in writing of the condition and you must be paid up on your rent.  Another condition that may qualify you to peace out is if the landlord fails to provide utilities.  If your water gets shut off because your apartment complex forgot to pay the utility company you can say sayonara.

If you are a victim of violence or abuse my heart goes out to you.  Texas property code permits a tenant to terminate a lease in certain situations for matters related to family violence.  If your crazy ex-boyfriend or husband knows where you live and has threatened you, it’s time to move.  In particular, Senate Bill 83 states that if you have a protective order you can show it as proof you are a victim and legally break your lease.  In a nutshell, you have to provide written notice of termination to your landlord and a copy of the restraining order.  This also goes for tenants who are parents or guardians of victims of sexual assault or abuse.  In the case of sexual assault or abuse you are able to provide documentation from a licensed health care or mental health care services provider of the assault or abuse in lieu of a protective order.

Do you like guns and working out, but hate your apartment?  Maybe you should join the army.  If you decide to go this route you still have to notify the property manager in advance.  You may even have to pay a month or two of rent before you are released of your obligations, but chicks love a man in uniform so it all equals out in the end.

Lastly, you may want to try and sublet your apartment.  I have some experience with this.  Back when I worked for Dr. Pepper, I moved to Austin from Dallas to take a new job and I still had 6 months left on my lease.  Luckily, I was training a new hire for my position and he didn’t have a place to live yet.  I asked him if he wanted to sublet my apartment for the remainder of the lease and everything worked out perfectly.  You should always check with your landlord to see if you are allowed to sublet.  They usually have a form the person you are subletting to has to fill out.

Remember, breaking your lease should be a last resort.  If you break a lease without giving notice it will haunt you forever and make it tough to rent an apartment in the future.  Always contact a lawyer for legal advice before attempting to get out of your leasing contract.

By Adam Shrum

Broken Lease Contract for Apartment Rentals

Houston Galleria Apartments

Apartments in Houston Galleria

Finding an affordable apartment in The Galleria with washer and dryer connections is tough.  Most of the inexpensive options in this area only have a laundry facility on-site and nothing inside the unit.  Common Houston Galleria apartments tend to be a little older, but renovated and nice looking.  This trait of being older yet distinguished comes with one flaw, you can’t wash your clothes in the convenience of your apartment.  If you can afford $1000/mth for a one bedroom then you don’t need to worry about this issue.  Newer apartments in Houston Galleria like The Augusta apartments and Three Thousand Sage include a washing machine and dryer in the monthly rent.  It all comes down to personal taste.  Some folks enjoy hanging out in the laundromat and reading a good book, like the latest installment of the Twilight Series.  If laundromats are not your thing and you’re not a desperate 15 year old girl, you may want to consider Alanza Brook apartments because they do have a washer and dryer in the unit and won’t cost you a pretty penny.  For more Houston Galleria apartment recommendations  or to hear what I really think of the Twilight series contact me at Info@ApartmentNinjas.com.

By Adam Shrum

Front Load Washer & Dryer included in Apartment Unit

The Woodlands Apartments

Apartments in The Woodlands

I have never heard of a bad place to live at in The Woodlands, knock on wood.  That’s my final “wood” joke, I promise.  As the city of Houston becomes more and more spread out, a lot of professionals are moving to apartments in The Woodlands.  This is a newer area and a lot nicer than other parts of the city.  The downside of living in this area is the traffic on I-45 to and from the city.  The Woodlands is considered one of the best places to live in Houston, so a lot of the high rollers working Downtown put up with the commute in the morning and afternoon.  Don’t get me wrong, there are also a lot of legitimate places to work at in The Woodlands including Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Wells Fargo.  Is music your thing?  The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion books all the top talent and has hosted many great artists such as Dave Matthews Band and Green Day.  Oh, and if you’re a Nickleback fan, you need to take a step back and evaluate your life because you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere.  If you’re not a Nickleback fan and you’re looking to move into one of The Woodlands apartments please shoot us an e-mail at Info@ApartmentNinjas.com.  We can help you.

By Adam Shrum

Boardwalk at Town Center in The Woodlands, TX

Doctor Approved Apartments in Houston Medical Center

Houston has health care services out the wazoo.  Many of the city’s top hospitals are located in an area called the Medical Center.  If you’re a doctor or nurse working in this area you’ll probably want to live nearby, unless you love traffic.  There are an abundance of really nice Medical Center Apartments in Houston.  Whether you’re looking for a loft style or an affordable apartment, there’ s something for everyone.  My favorite community is the Alta Lofts at Hermann Park simply because they have a dog walking service.  While you’re caring for patients they’re caring for your dog.  Pretty sweet, huh?  If you’re not a health care professional you should still consider living in this area.  Not only will you have access to the the best health care facilities, you will also have access to all things inner loop.  The inner loop is home to some of the best restaurants, bars, and entertainment in the city.  Apartments in Houston’s Medical Center are definitely urban which makes you think there’s not a lot of trees to read under or forest animals to frolic with, but that’s not the case.  Houston’s parks are some of the best in the country including Memorial Park and Discovery Green which aren’t far from the Medical Center.

By Adam Shrum

Lofts at Hermann Park - Alta Lofts

Houston Lofts

Lofts in Houston, TX

The inside of a loft is a lot different than the inside of an apartment.  It’s like comparing a ninja to a samurai, completely different folks.  In a loft, the floors are wood or stained concrete and the walls are usually made of brick as opposed to drywall in an apartment.  Both of these attributes contribute to a different living experience.  Vacant Houston Loft apartments will be cooler inside than an apartment because the concrete and brick actually trap the cold air and allow for proper circulation.  The drywall in apartments is porous so some of the air that’s suppose to be recirculated back into the room escapes.  What does all this mean for your electric bill?  Lofts stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  This makes life easier for your heating and cooling units and saves you money on your utility bill.  On the other hand, apartments have less of an echo than lofts in Houston.  When you walk into a vacant loft you will notice that everything echoes because there is nothing to absorb the noise and all the different sounds bounce off the wood floors, concrete and brick.  Nearly all apartments are carpeted and the carpet alone will cancel out the echos.  What people don’t realize is that once you add furniture, rugs, decorations, and wall hangings to a loft it also counteracts the echos.  If you’re interested in renting a Houston loft send an e-mail to an apartment ninja at Info@ApartmentNinjas.com for more information.

By Adam Shrum

Staying Cool at Lofts in Houston

Apartments in Houston Galleria

Galleria Apartments in Houston

I’ve lived in Houston most of my life and I’ve been to nearly all the hot spots.  Nothing compares to the nightlife near Houston apartments in The Galleria.  When trying to narrow down your apartment choices and boredom is one of your main concerns, go ahead and throw Houston Galleria apartments at the top of your list.  When the Texans lost their playoff hopes I was at Bronx Bar, and even though I was pretty bummed I still had a good time because the people in this area know how to get on down with it and par-tay. I went to Spotlight Karaoke the other night because I’m gay and watched everyone make a fool of themselves.  It may be the greatest people watching spot in all of Houston.  Oh and don’t try to drive home if you’ve been out drinking in this area. The cops are bad, so just crash at one of your friends’ apartments in The Galleria.  I have a buddy who lives at one of the apartments in Houston Galleria and thankfully he always has a spot on his couch for me despite my girlfriend peeing on it awhile back.

By Adam Shrum

The Galleria Mall in Houston, TX

Apartment Locators Or Apartment Database Sites

Locator Vs. Searchable Database Site – Which is the Best?

When you do a Google search for “Texas apartment finders”, “Texas apartments for rent”, “apartments in Texas” or a neighborhood search such as Houston Medical Center apartments, you’re going to come across two types of website resources; apartment search engines (online apartment listing services) and traditional apartment finder sites. Which is the best for your particular needs? Well, that depends on what your needs and wants dictate. Both resources will come in handy no matter your circumstance as long as you are in the market for a new apartment home. The multifamily real estate professionals at ApartmentNinjas.com combined the two resources in one easy to use website and offer it to the public free of charge. We also offer a generous $150 cash rebate for listing “ApartmentNINJAS” as the reference when signing a lease. Clients can call, e-mail or submit an online rental request form by clicking a tab labeled, “Find Apartments“, and receive a comprehensive list of apartments based on client search criteria. We have licensed apartment ninjas located in all four markets served, which include the Greater Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, TX metro areas. In other words, we’re local, so whichever city a client is looking to move, a knowledgeable ninja on that market will assist.  Clients who prefer doing the research on their own can browse our extensive database of Texas apartments without the assistance of an apartment ninja. ApartmentNinjas.com offers four search methods to navigate their website; Google integrated search engine (search entire site), Google integrated map search (includes driving directions and spotlights premier communities by neighborhood, which is great for kick-starting a more streamlined apartment search) , city and area search.

So, there you have it, an all-in-one apartment locator and rental search site that is 100% free to use. Unlike other apartment search services , ApartmentNinjas.com offers both a hands on and hands off approach to finding an apartment for rent. Users have the choice to find apartments with or without the assistance of a real estate ninja. Traditional apartment finder sites only advertise “deal numbers” or vague descriptions of the communities to avoid giving away the property’s true identity, which forces the user to register with the site or contact the company personally to get the information needed to find a place. These types of sites are old school, unproductive and a gateway to identity theft and spam.

The Apartment Finder Site:

If you are relocating to an area in Austin, Dallas, Houston or San Antonio, TX that is new to you, where you are unfamiliar with neighborhoods, schools, jobs, transportation, etc., then working directly with one of our apartment ninjas aka apartment finders would be your best choice. Our Texas apartment finders respond to your query in minutes. You will describe your search criteria including price range, projected move date and any other specific needs or wants you would like included in your new apartment home. Our apartment ninjas are knowledgeable on the area they serve and the local rental market. They are easy to talk to and extremely effective at finding rental accommodations that suit the particular needs of the client. The apartment finding services and listings offered are 100% free. Our apartment finder team is paid commission (referral fee) from the apartment communities. This in no way increases the client’s rent. With regard to client privacy, however, keep in mind either an email address or telephone number is required to receive a personalized apartment list from our apartment ninjas. Clients can work with ninjas via email, telephone, or both. Find Me An Apartment.

Apartment Search Engine Sites/Apartment Listing Services

Unlike what the traditional apartment locator sites bring to the table, ApartmentNinjas offers a comprehensive, online searchable database of over 4,000 apartment rentals, and growing (apartment finder services optional). It provides users with intricate property descriptions such as Google maps integration (spotlights outstanding apartment communities with a clickable ninja star/driving directions to entire database), apartment amenities, community features, rental rates, contact information, photo gallery with AJAX technology, floor plans, move-in specials, rental comparisons and more. When you have access to this amount of data it is easy to decide which particular apartment residence in your area of interest(s) meets your needs and satisfaction. When you are moving to an apartment that is located within an area of town you are familiar with, an apartment database site is all you need. Most require a time consuming, bothersome and stupid registration process which asks for personal information and sets you up for email spamming BUT not ApartmentNinjas.com. You need not submit your e-mail, telephone number, or anything and you will not be contacted personally by anyone on the Ninja Realty roster. We offer a $150 Cash Rebate Check for listing our site as your referring source when signing a lease application at the apartment community of your choice – Report Your Lease!

So, which is better for you, a traditional apartment locator or rental search site? The answer to that question is both at ApartmentNinjas.com.

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Top 3 Downtown Austin Apartments for Rent

Top Three 78703 Apartments in Downtown Austin

Our Downtown Austin Apartment Locators will do all the footwork for you free of charge. ApartmentNINJAS Apartment Finders is dedicated to helping you find the perfect rental by giving you access to thousands of apartments via our recommendation search engine that matches you with the best apartment, at the best price, based on your specific interest, budget and lifestyle. This blog will come in handy for those in the market for new Downtown Austin Apartments. View ApartmentNINJAS Apartment Locators top 3 picks in regards to Apartments in Downtown Austin, TX 78703.

Gables Pressler – Downtown Austin Apartments

Amenities & Features: urban organic interior finishes, sustainable bamboo flooring, sleek stainless appliances with built-in microwave, expansive city views, solar shades throughout, verdant courtyard and large pool, Austin Energy One Star Candidate green building rating.

Gables Pressler Apartments - Austin, Texas

Gables Park Plaza – Austin Apartments in Downtown

Amenities & Features: dramatic spaces with downtown and lady bird lake views, “green” lighting package, custom stained wood cabinetry, energy efficient stainless appliance package, iPod docking stations and speakers in every unit, upgraded recyclable-fiber carpet in bedrooms, large balconies with wet bars.

Gables Park Plaza Apartments - Austin, TX

Monarch by Windsor – High Rise Apartments in Downtown Austin

Amenities & Features: gated and private parking, spacious floor plans up to 3,530 square feet, “dine-in” granite counter-top islands, unparalleled downtown views.

Downtown Austin Apartments for Rent at Monarch by Windsor