DETERMINE YOUR CRITERIA
Make a list of the things that are most important to you in an apartment and use it to help you narrow down your choices. Possible criteria could include:- Price
- Proximity to work or school
- Proximity to restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions
- Amenities offered by the apartment complex
- Level of privacy
- Pet policies
- Neighborhood safety
- Upstairs or downstairs preference
PICK YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
There are apartment complexes in nearly every neighborhood in the Memphis metro area. There are a number of areas, though, that are dense with apartments or that are especially desirable for one reason or another. Here are some of those areas:Downtown
Downtown apartments are a logical choice for people who work Downtown or across the bridge in Arkansas. Others appreciate the feel of exclusivity that many Downtown complexes provide. Apartments in this area can range significantly in price -- from around $400 to well over $2,000.
Midtown
Midtown is a good location for people who work downtown or in the medical center district. It is also the destination of choice for much of the area's artistic population (i.e., musicians, artists, writers, etc.) and is considered to be the most gay friendly section of Memphis. Apartments in this area come in a variety of forms from modern complexes to converted historic homes. Though most of the apartments in Midtown are quite affordable, they can range in price from $400 to over $1,500.
Cordova/Germantown Parkway
Cordova is a booming area of Memphis that boasts a huge number of shops, restaurants, churches, attractions -- and the heavy traffic that comes with it. Most of the apartment complexes in this area are relatively new, very well kept, and generally low-crime. Apartment prices range from $500 to about $1,300 with most units falling somewhere right in the middle.
University of Memphis
The majority of folks living in apartments near the U of M are college students. There are many complexes in the area that are within easy walking distance to the campus. Most offer very few frills but are also very affordably priced -- $350 to $700 on average with most in the $400's. Crime rates can vary considerably in this part of town so do your research if this is a concern for you.
Sycamore View
Sycamore View is a road that runs through the northeast side of Memphis and is the main artery through an apartment-heavy part of town. The Sycamore View area is ideal for many people because it is very close to both I-40 and to Cordova. Also, most of the apartments are fairly well kept and relatively inexpensive with all most all over them under $1,000. Crime is hit or miss in this area but there are a number of gated complexes if you are security-conscious.
North Mississippi
Like a lot of homeowners, many apartment dwellers are heading south of Memphis into North Mississippi. For people who want to escape big city life (and big city crime and politics), this is a good choice. Many folks who work at the casinos are also choosing to live in North Mississippi. With several towns in the area, your apartment choices are vast. Most are reasonably priced in the $500-$1,000 range and many are new and well maintained complexes.
