Right off the bat: there at least four to five complexes (this is not even including townhomes to rent) in Cary that are nicer. However, being roughly 20% more expensive than the units units here, they just don't justify their prices. I'm sorry, but what use is crown molding, granite kitchen and bath countertops, and stainless steel appliances when you don't actually OWN THEM'! Save that $200 a month and upgrade your Ford to an Acura (or Acura to a Beamer), in my opinion.

One issue that needs to be addressed is rent. You will move in under the guise of a great price, which it is. But don't expect it after one year as they will throw the B.S. "market price" for rent which is basically equivilant to the Kelley Blue Book for cars (which is also B.S.). There should be a law limiting the yearly percentage increase in rent, as this is classic bait and switch: "Love your community-- pay the price of an extra $100/month rent or deal with the hassle of moving out."

The first thing that will jump at you here are the ENORMOUS half wrap around balconies. Unfortunately, as one might judge by my two pollen covered lawn chairs, I don't get nearly as much use out of it as others, but it's a nice amentity if you prefer to chill outside.

The best way to describe the units themselves is "continuously renovated". This place is somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 years old, and the from what I have seen, the maintenance and upkeep staff generally do a great job of replacing damaged carpet, fixtures, and repainting walls when tenants move out. The floorplans are very nice and unique, with plenty of large windows in each unit to alleviate that boxy apartment feeling. If you live on the third floor, you get a fireplace and massive vaulted ceilings that further help the appeal.

The tenants here are about typical what you might expect of Cary living: lower-middle aged transplants/families that have a contract job here or are just testing out the area and don't want to commit to a home just yet. Knowing what life in Cary was like beforehand, I was a bit disappointed by this as I am a young professional and was hoping to find like kind. Out of about 200 units here, I know of perhaps a dozen college educated tenants under 25.

Some other disappointments are:

* TERRIBLE washer / dryer they rent you. The washer sounds like a WWI tank. For $40 a month we should be getting front loading. But for that matter, you can go out and BUY it yourself for HALF of that if you have decent credit.

* Free weight fitness room is worthless/ghetto, but cardio is sufficient.

* Poor quality construction. I'm happy that I live on the top floor, as there are several noticably loud creeks in the floorboards under my carpet, which I would hate to hear if someone lived over me. I have also noticed numerous cracks in the ceilings that have been shodily spackled in a slightly pathetic attempt to conceal them. If this were my 15 year old house, I would be pissed, but since it's a rental it doesn't bother me as much, obviously.

Again, this place is far from perfect, but it is an apartment, and you shouldn't be forking over tons of money for useless frills that you don't actually OWN. If you really need that, they are also renovating some "higher class" apartments here, which they probably wouldn't have even considered had they not caught on fire a few months ago. From what I understand, they are going to be about $150 a month more than the same non-upgraded units located elsewhere. Sorry, but I'll take the Acura :-)

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