I went apartment shopping in Huntsville—here’s what I found

Apartment shopping can be stressful, especially in a new city. Since I am looking for a place of my own to call home, I’ve taken you with me to check out five apartments in Rocket City. Keep reading for some apartment shopping in Huntsville.

Planning out expectations

When looking for my first “big girl” apartment, I decided a 1 bed/1 bath would be the perfect fit for me. I was looking for a private bedroom, large living room for entertaining and a kitchen with enough room for me to comfortably move around in.

I used my list of must-haves and nice to haves when comparing each apartment.

• Must-haves: Dishwasher in unit, washer/dryer in unit, hardwood floors in the living space, pet friendly
• Nice to haves: Pool, balcony/patio, a lot of natural light, bathtub, free on-site parking
• Timeline: Looking for something available immediately

I also kept in mind what would score major brownie points with me—a walk-in closet, close to shopping and restaurants and a fitness center.

Setting a budget

Scottsboro, AL	$615
Athens, AL	$629
Decatur, AL	$648
Huntsville, AL	$1,032
Madison, AL	$1,181

The average rent for a 1 bed/1 bath in Huntsville is $1,032, according to rentcafe.com. When looking at the ranges of Huntsville rent, rentcafe.com found that 42% fell between $1,000-$1,500.

Knowing this, I set my personal range from $1,000-$1,500.

I plugged all of my criteria into apartments.com and got plenty of options. I called a dozen apartments to find out the specifics. Then, I narrowed my search down to five potentials.

1. The Davis

• Monthly rent: $900
• Location: 3784 University Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816
• Specifications: Bourdueax, 1 bed/1 bath, Unit #0323, 660 sq. ft.
• Availability: Available immediately
• Lease term: 6-12 month
• Deposit: $100

Must-haves: Dishwasher, washer/dryer in unit, pet friendly, hardwood floors

Nice to haves: Patio/balcony, pool, free parking, bathtub

Bonus: Walk-in closet, fitness center, gated access, on-call maintenance, wood burning fireplace

2. The Pointe at Bailey Cove

• Monthly rent: $967
• Location: 2100 Thicket Place, Huntsville, AL 35802
• Specifications: Willow, 1 bed/1 bath, Unit #2125A, 733 sq. ft.
• Availability: Available immediately
• Lease term: 10 months
• Deposit: No deposit, conditional credit fee up to $500

Must-haves: Pet friendly, dishwasher, hardwood floors

Nice to haves: Pool, patio/balcony, bathtub, free parking

Bonus: Fitness center, on-site maintenance, oversized closets

Included in rent: Trash and pest control

3. Artisan Twickenham Square

• Monthly rent: $1,409
• Location: 700 Dorothy Ford Lane  Huntsville, AL 35801
• Specifications: 1A, 1 bed/1 bath, Unit #2-323, 658 sq. ft.
• Availability: Available immediately
• Lease term: 11 months
• Deposit: Based on credit, $100 for approved applicants

Must-haves: Pet friendly, hardwood floors, dishwasher, washer/dryer

Nice to haves: Pool, natural light, balcony, free garage parking

Bonus: Downtown location, fitness center

Included in rent: Trash butler service

4. Moderne at Providence

• Monthly rent: $1,249
• Location: 30 Gates Mill Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35806
• Specifications: Venus, 1 bed/1 bath, Unit #428, 772 sq. ft.
• Availability: Available immediately
• Lease term: 3-12 months
• Deposit: Based on your credit, up to a full months rent

Must haves: Pet friendly, washer/dryer in unit, hardwood floors, dishwasher

Nice to haves: Balcony, pool, bathtub, natural light, free parking

Bonus: Fitness center, 24-hour emergency maintenance, Providence location, oversized closets

In addition to rent: $10 a month for pest control, $30 for valet trash, water bill will post to your rent bill

5. Seleno at Bridge Street

• Monthly rent: $1,560
• Location: 6854 Governors W, Huntsville, AL 35806
• Specifications: A3 Delta, 1 bed/1 bath, 864 sq. ft.
• Availability: Available immediately
• Lease term: 12 months
• Deposit: $200 with approved credit, up to one month’s rent with conditional credit

Must-haves: Dishwasher, washer/dryer, hardwood floors, pet friendly

Nice to haves: Pool, balcony/patio, natural light, bathtub, free parking

Bonus: Walk-in closet, pet grooming center, focus rooms, walking distance to Bridge Street, fitness center

In addition to rent: $5 pest control, $25 valet trash, water bill added to your rent

My pick

When making a decision, I wanted a great location. I decided I was okay with spending a little more if it meant I would be close to the spots I frequent.

For this reason, I went with Seleno at Bridge Street. This apartment is walking distance to all the shops, restaurants and things to do at Bridge Street. It is also a close drive to Redstone Arsenal, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville International Airport and downtown.

What Huntsville apartment do you live in + why do you love it? Let us know @thebamabuzz.