I graduated from A&M in May and took a job with Baker Atlas here in Midland. I'm searching for a place to live, NICE place, but I havent found any luck yet. Can anyone help a Ag out? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Honestly, the housing market is moving fast and upward in Midland right now.
I can't really offer any specific help, but if you do something with a place - it will happen very quickly. You may want to drive around some neighborhoods looking for "For Sale By Owner" homes. I have heard of houses going up for sale and sold in 3 days.

Are you from Midland?
In other words, do you know Midland?
Do you have a family coming with you?
Are you in an apartment now?

Good Luck and Welcome to Midland!

I'm not from Midland. I'm from Woodville, a small town in Southeast Texas, between Lufkin and Beaumont. My wife and daughter will be coming up next month sometime. Right now I'm in a company apartment until I find my own place. Want a townhouse/condo or a house, possible a rent to own or something.

I also come from SE Texas, Katy. Been in Midland 13 years.
Again welcome to Midland, nicest people you'll ever meet.

I know you did not say, but (FYI) housing in the $60k range are nearly impossible to find. My wife works with a guy who has been looking since the spring and just now found a duplex.
Everything you see price wise is about 20-25% more than the prices 2 years ago on the same property - probably 10% more than a year ago. Midland is booming again.

The nicer newest city neighborhoods are in 79707 and 79705 zip codes on the west/northwest side of Midland – Grassland has 1990’s homes. The area south of where you work in called Old Midland, nice houses on larger lots in nice neighborhoods, but most are 1960-70s homes, some older. There are also areas just outside of the loop where you can buy 1 acre + lots with houses. Polo park is nice also it is behind the Chilis on the North loop, more 1980s homes there. Really depends on what you are looking for and possibly what schools you want for your daughter.

There are 2 public high schools in Midland (Midland High & Lee) and one in Greenwood SE of town (rural, but a good school from most accounts). There are 2 Private schools that go Pre-K thru 12, they are Midland Christian School and Trinity School. Midland Classical goes thru 12th but I’m not sure how young they go. St. Anns School is a Catholic School that currently goes from Pre-K thru 8th grade. Our kids have been in Private school since Kindergarten. The public school are supposed to be good but not great.

I live in an area call Crestgate, it’s across the street (Midland Drive) from the North SuperWalmart. We have been in the house for a full year this month and we love it. Nice large 1980's homes, most have 2500-3000 ft2 and run in the $150k range (a year ago anyway). I know a couple (3-4) of homes have been for sale in the neighborhood, no idea what they are asking now.

Housing has really been difficult to find since the influx of Oil workers, that explains the $60k problem. Some people are trading up and down so many types of homes available.

Be prepared for 100F days for a while, at least that has been the norm. It is hot and dry with little rain, your gills will dry up quickly in west Texas (Mine did).

I don’t know if this helps or is just repeated info from co-workers.

I would drive around to see neighborhoods and also look at the MLS listing and see what school your daughter would go to. Again try to call some for sale by owner homes possibly.

If you have any more questions I’ll do what I can.

I know of at least one other Aggie who is on TexAgs that I think grew up in Midland, so he can take you back further in history. I think it is “MidlandAggie”. Maybe he’ll drop a line soon.

Thanks for the information so far. I drove by Crestgate yesterday while exploring Midland. It is a nice area. I am beginning my first job straight out of college so I dont know if I can afford buying a house right now. Wish I could find a rent to own. Do you know if they have any places like that around here? Also, my daughter is only 4 months old, so she wont be going to school for awhile. Apartments here are different from College Station. Its seems like they are all outdated without all the ammenities that I have grown to know. For example, gated communities with the works, etc. Anyways, if you come across someone that would like to rent out their home or rent to own, let me know. You can contact me at jscott06atgmaildotcom. Are there any apartment locator businesses here?

Here is the only apartment finding service listed in Odessa phone book (I work in Odessa)
http://www.apts-plus.com/index.htm

BTW, I have never lived in an Apartment in Midland/Odessa. We were looking for a possible apartment before we moved out of our old house. WindTree is supposed to be pretty good, it is just down the street east from Crestgate area. I think my wife has a coworker that lives there I'll see what I can find out.

Report from my Wife's co-worker:
He said about his apartment "Windtree is great, I like it there. The management is quick to respond to problems, and the price is about what you would expect for an apartment on
the north side. I'd say any place on the loop is good, just stay away from
any place on Midland Drive.

Whats wrong with the places on Midland Drive if I may ask? I think I have narrowed my search down to The Clusters right behind Walmart and The Fountains right across from Midland College. Gonna sign a short lease bout seven months, then after that, explore the house options.

I think the Clusters would be considered a "loop" Apartment instead of a Midland Drive one. I think we also considered the Clusters as a possiblity.
The Fountains (There may have been a recent remodelling and renaming) otherwise I am not familiar with it other than driving past on my way to Dos Compadres for Mexican food.

Forgot you asked about Midland Drive places, most are not as nice (south of the loop) and I believe most are older. My wife's co-worker mentioned management in his liking WindTree, so that may be an issue also.

Good Luck.

Before you pull the trigger on The Fountains, take a look at the management, ect. I went to Midland College from 96-97 and I lived in Aviara Place (on the loop just west of Garfield). The Fountains used to be another complex. They've renevated since then and it looks nicer, but when I was there it was terrible. Lots of crime, ect. Just FYI. Keep in mind that's been almost 10 years ago.

I had narrowed it down the The Clusters and Aviara Place but chose the latter because of proximity to MC. Clusters were nice back then.

The Fountains used to be HUD housing.