I've been at Apple Valley since the summer of 2008, and I must say that in regards to management and niceness of the property, this complex outranks any others I've lived at. The staff is very professional, and Dave (the maint. person) is very friendly, even offers to take the trash out for you if he sees you taking it out of your home.

The neighbors are all very friendly and it's a great place to live, especially if you have children (we all act as a neighborhood watch). The crime rate is practically zero, and you don't hear of car break ins or theft of items from one's patio areas.

The living space is quite roomy, and the amount of closet space you get from the outdoor storage on your deck/porch and the hallway/master bedroom closets are a godsend. In addition, the laundry room is VERY spacious, and even with a washer/dryer you still have plenty of room to utilize the space as a nice pantry or storage area.

Another bonus...your kitchen is already equipped with a microwave, and that's always nice (especially if you didn't have one before moving in). You have the freedom to paint walls and decorate for seasonal holidays outside, as well.

One complaint is that the rent is a little steep...$735/month for a 2BR if you live on the 1st or 3rd floors. Compared to other apartments of this same square footage and BR/Baths, you are paying at least $75 more per month on rent than you would at other places. However, not dealing with "typical" apartment drama and trauma such as prevalent drug use, loud parties, etc. is worth the price.

Drawbacks: When you sign your lease, you are told that you will receive your water and sewage bills from the city, which is false. What happens is the apartments bill you via Spectrum Utilities, which tacks on a nice lil $10 fee to your bill each month to just "read the meters". Also, many residents are overcharged for water and sewage when you compare it to homeowners in this same city who are billed under the same water/sewer district providers. Your bill won't even show the cost per unit used, which is somewhat questionable when combined with these other facts. Personally, I think that Towne Properties is pocketing the difference.

Your electric will be with Owen Electric, and they're not a bad company to deal with, but from someone moving from an area provided by Duke, it's a rude awakening when you find that budget billing is only offered to customers who have been in the same residence for 1 year . The wintertime bills can't become quite extreme (up to $225/month) just from the cost of heating your unit (and this is with the thermostat set on 68). The first floor apartments have a bit of a draft, especially from your sliding glass door and windows, so just an FYI have something you can block these with in the colder months to save your heating expenses.

Also, the dumpsters aren't close to your home unless you live near the garages, so plan on taking a longer walk or having to load it up into your vehicle to dispose properly. Just a minor inconvenience.

I don't recommend paying your rent nor spectrum utility bills online, as they charge a whopping $10 fee to pay rent online at the Towne website and between $3-6 to pay your spectrum utility bill. I would go with your free online billpay or good ol snail mail to save a few bucks.

When you weigh the pros and cons, I think that overall, this is the closest thing to a condo one can get without the price.

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