52 guides · Sourced and dated
Guides to the whole bill at a new Houston apartment
You want to understand the special, the fees, the water line and the flood notice before you sign. These guides explain each one in plain words, with Houston numbers and dates.
Free to you, and your rent is the same either way
140 new communities tracked (Oct 25, 2026)
Prices pulled every morning
Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC · TREC #562021
Start here: the whole bill
Budget-First: How to Choose a New Apartment by All-In Monthly Cost
Start from your all-in budget, then build up net effective, fees, electric, water and parking, and check year two before you shortlist.
ExplainerElectric at a New Houston Apartment: CenterPoint, Entergy Texas, or Mid-South
123 of 140 new builds let you pick a plan in CenterPoint's area; 10 are Entergy Texas with no choice (PUCT, Oct 2026). Check yours.
ExplainerHow New Apartments Check Your Income: Base Rent or Effective Rent
Many new buildings test income against base rent, not the special. How the multiple works, what proof counts, and what to do if you're short.
ExplainerHow to Read Our Prices: Base, Special, Net Effective, True Monthly, Year Two
Every price field on our cards, defined: base, special, net effective, true monthly, year two at 0% and +3%, with the formulas.
ExplainerHow to Spot a Fake Apartment Listing in Houston
Wire requests, no tour, and a price far under nearby new builds are the common signs. How to check a listing with the leasing office first.
ExplainerMUD Water Bills at New Houston Apartments, Explained
67 of 140 new Houston-area buildings get water from a district, usually billed by the property. How MUD billing works and what to ask.
Decision guideNew-Build Tour and Move-In Checklist (Printable)
A printable checklist for touring a new build and your first 30 days: unit, special, fee sheet, water billing, generator, punch list.
ExplainerRenting a New Apartment With Roommates: Approval, Income, and Lease Rules
Combined or individual income tests, one fee per applicant, and joint vs. by-the-bed leases. What roommates should check at new builds.
Decision guideRequired Monthly Fees at New Houston-Area Apartments
At 11 board buildings, required fees ran $77.62-$158.06 a month, median $98, or $1,176 a year (Oct 25, 2026). What they cover.
Decision guideSeven Lease Addenda Red Flags at New Apartments, and What to Ask
Seven addenda clauses to read before you sign a new-build lease in Texas: concession, fee, utility and flood notice, with what to ask.
New Construction Apartment Board
Area Leverage Scores: Where Houston Renters Have the Most Room on Price
Areas ranked by renter leverage using stabilized vacancy (RealPage, Q2 2026) and special depth, with a metro rank and method notes.
ExplainerHow to Shortlist New Apartments Without Calling 20 Leasing Offices
Save buildings, compare four, and send them to us. We confirm the unit, special, fee sheet and water billing the same day during hours.
ExplainerThe Houston New Build Score: What It Measures and What It Never Scores
A 0-100 score: deal depth 30, price vs. nearby 20, year-two risk 15, stage 15, disclosure 10, build complete 10. It never scores location or people.
Houston Apartment Specials
12 vs. 15 Months: Which Lease Term Makes the Special Worth More
The same 10 weeks free is $1,018 a month on 12 months but $1,066 on 15 (illustration, Oct 25, 2026). How term changes the deal.
Decision guideCash to Move In at a New Houston-Area Apartment
Application and admin fees, deposit or alternative, prorated rent, and utility deposits: Entergy caps at 1/6 of annual billing; prepaid plans none.
ExplainerConcession Clawbacks: What Happens to Free Rent if You Break the Lease
If you leave early, a concession addendum can make you repay free rent. How full and prorated clawbacks work, and what to ask first.
Decision guideFree Weeks vs. Reduced Rent vs. Gift Cards: Comparing Move-In Specials
Compare move-in specials on a like-for-like monthly basis: weeks free, look-and-lease, reduced base and gift cards, plus the effect on year two.
ExplainerHow '8 Weeks Free' Actually Works on a Houston Lease
8 weeks free on a $1,400 apartment is about $2,585. Spread over 12 months, you pay about $1,185. Here's the math and how credits apply.
ExplainerThe Year-Two Jump: What Renewal Costs After a Move-In Special
Renewal is priced from base, so at the board's median special year two jumps about 18% (Oct 25, 2026). How to see it before you sign.
Lease-Up Apartments in Houston
Few Reviews Yet: How to Check a New Building Before You Sign
New buildings have few reviews. Check the manager's track record, dated tour notes, punch-list response and written answers on fees and water.
ExplainerLiving in a Building That's Still Being Finished
Phased delivery, unfinished amenities and construction next door (Houston has no zoning). What to ask before you move into a new build.
Decision guideNewly Opened vs. a Year In: How a Building's Stage Changes the Deal
Earlier stages often mean deeper specials and more unit choice; later stages mean finished amenities. How stage weighs 15 points in our Score.
ExplainerThe Lease-Up Timeline: Phased Delivery, Certificates of Occupancy, Stabilization
From pre-leasing to phased move-ins, stabilization and first renewals: what each lease-up stage means for specials and unit choice.
ExplainerWhy New Houston Buildings Offer 8 to 10 Weeks Free During Lease-Up
25,000+ units delivered in the year to Q2 2024 (RealPage) and 55% of units with a concession in Q2 2026 (Transwestern). Why specials exist.
New Apartments Outside the Floodplain
Backup Power at New Apartments: What to Ask About Generators After Beryl
Beryl caused 2.265M outages (July 2024), and no law requires apartment backup power. Ask what the generator runs: elevators, halls, water pumps.
ExplainerDoes Renters Insurance Cover Flooding in Texas?
Standard renters policies usually exclude flood; contents flood cover is separate and has waiting periods. The facts, without advice.
ExplainerFEMA Flood Zones for Renters: Zone X, Shaded X, and Zone AE
Of 140 tracked new builds, 128 are Zone X, 9 shaded X and 3 Zone AE (Oct 25, 2026). What each zone means and how to look up an address.
ExplainerLOMR-F Letters and Elevation Certificates: What They Tell a Renter
A LOMR-F can remove a building from the mapped floodplain after fill. What it shows, which Zone AE buildings have letters pending, and how we ask.
ExplainerMAAPnext Draft Maps: Why a Building's Flood Zone Could Change
Harris County's MAAPnext drafts may redraw flood zones. Current FIRM vs. draft, City of Houston Chapter 19 scope, and how we date our checks.
Decision guideThe Texas Flood Disclosure You'll Sign: What §92.0135 Requires
Since Jan 1, 2022 landlords give a written floodplain and five-year flooding notice; since Sept 1, 2025 both parties sign it. Your rights.
New Apartments Opening Soon
Pre-Lease or Move Now: Choosing Between an Opening and a Building Already Leasing
Line up your lease-end date with opening dates, compare special depth by stage, and weigh delay risk, step by step.
ExplainerPre-Leasing a New Apartment: Reservations, Deposits, and Move-In Dates
Reservation vs. lease, holding-deposit refund terms, date changes, and what to get in writing before you pre-lease a new Houston apartment.
ExplainerWhat Happens if Your New Apartment Isn't Ready on Move-In Day
Delay clauses, interim housing or transfer offers as published, and overlapping lease-end planning. What we do when an opening slips.
Moving to Houston
Houston Tolls and Your Rent: What a Toll-Road Commute Adds per Month
Fulshear to the Galleria ran about $219 a month in tolls (Oct 25, 2026). Add tolls to rent before you choose an area.
ExplainerHow to Check the School District for a Houston Apartment Address
The ISD is set by address, not city name. How to look it up, with district lookup links and an example: Katy ISD at Prose Riviana.
ExplainerLeasing a New Houston Apartment Before You Arrive: Video Tours
A live video walk of the actual unit, what to check on camera, and how remote applications and signing work for a new Houston apartment.
ExplainerSetting Up Electricity and Water When You Move Into a Houston Apartment
Pick a plan 3-5 business days before move-in; prepaid plans can't charge a deposit (§25.498). Entergy and Mid-South steps, and water billing.
New Apartments Near Work
Commute-First: How to Choose a New Apartment by Your Drive
Start with your job anchor, then compare areas by drive, route and toll, with free-flow minutes treated as the floor.
ExplainerFree-Flow vs. Rush Hour: How to Read Commute Times on Our Pages
Our commute minutes are free-flow, the floor. We name the TTI congested segments and use a 20-minute rule for employer pages.
ExplainerWorking Hospital Shifts: What to Check in a New Building Near the TMC
Night-shift parking and garage access, the METRORail Red Line, and unit-location questions to ask at new buildings near the Texas Medical Center.
Income-Restricted New Apartments
Applying for an Income-Restricted Unit: Documents and Steps
Income certification documents, household size, timeline, and a pre-check before any fee for new income-restricted units around Houston.
ExplainerHousing Vouchers at New Houston Buildings: PFC and HFC Rules
PFC and HFC buildings must accept vouchers (HB 2071; HB 21, §394.9026); cities can't require it otherwise (§250.007). Where that applies.
ExplainerHouston Income Limits for New Income-Restricted Apartments (TDHCA 2026)
In Harris County, 60% AMI for 2 persons is $49,920; 60% max rent is $1,170 for 1BR and $1,404 for 2BR (TDHCA 2026).
55+ New Apartments
55+ New Apartments With Income Limits
Some new 55+ buildings also limit income: The Laurel at Blackhawk (89 of 120 LIHTC), Oakwood Trails (62+). How both tests apply.
Explainer55+ vs. 62+ Communities: What the Age Labels Mean
What 55+ and 62+ labels mean, how communities verify age, and how we source each label on new Houston-area buildings.
Build-to-Rent Homes in Houston
Build-to-Rent Home vs. Apartment: Comparing the Monthly Bill
Compare true monthly for a build-to-rent home and a new apartment: rent, fees, utilities in your name, and yard upkeep, step by step.
ExplainerYards, Fences, and Upkeep at Build-to-Rent Communities
Fenced yards, whether landscaping is included, pet rules in yards, and HOA-style rules at new build-to-rent communities around Houston.
Pet-Friendly New Apartments
Assistance Animals and Service Dogs: How Requests Work at Texas Apartments
Assistance animal requests are reasonable accommodation requests handled by each community. Service dogs pay no pet fee under Texas law.
Decision guidePet Rent, Pet Fees, and Pet Deposits at New Houston-Area Apartments
Pet rent is monthly, pet fees are one-time, deposits may be refundable. Per-pet math and how to read the pet addendum before signing.
Decision guidePets-First: How to Choose a New Apartment With a Dog or Cat
Check weight and breed limits as published, dog parks, floor choice and BTR yards, then add pet costs to your true monthly, step by step.
New Apartments Near METRORail and Transit
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Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC · TREC #562021 · Free to you, and your rent is the same either way