My wife and I have been here for one month, and we are very satisfied so far. It is a big relief - we settled on the Summit without even visiting it first, but we have no regrets. Research your short-list of apartments VERY carefully, use Google maps and CAT/TTA/WOLFLINE online to situate the place (to your work, shopping, etc), check the local BBB, etc. If you cannot visit in person, Google Maps "street view" can be helpful in judging the character of a neighborhood, having a look at the general area (and issues like parking), and so on. I just want to pass those tips along before getting into the review. :)

Our apartment was clean and in good condition when we arrived, the A/C and heating both work perfectly (it was 95 F when we arrived, and the A/C kept the place cool - a few cold October nights gave us a chance to test the heater as well), insects are not a problem (despite the complex being situated in a wooded area near a lake), and the area is clean, safe, and pretty quiet (aside from the impromptu doggy conventions that take place in the parking lot - but you have to expect that anywhere dogs are permitted). Sufficient parking - even when coming back late at night, we always have a choice of close spots to park in.

Our apartment is 800 square feet - with a very large bedroom, enough room for a queen bed, bedroom furniture, and a home office - not squeezed at all. The dining area fits a large table (6-8 seater) and hutch. Living room is a perfect size, and is adjoined by a covered and screened deck with additional storage closet - no signs of insects or water damage, so the deck really does add 50 square feet of (seasonal) living space to the apartment.

Nice tall windows with blinds, wood-burning fireplace, and good central-air circulation. Ample coverage of electric outlets and lighting fixtures. Laundry room with hookups fits a washer, dryer, and drying rack.

Kitchen has _decent_ cupboard and counter space (you will need an additional storage unit if you like to clang around in the kitchen a lot - but there is plenty of room in the dining area for a unit). Fridge, stove/oven, and dishwasher are modern units in perfect working condition. Bathroom is large, all plumbing is in good repair. No signs of mold, pests, water damage, etc.

We found the staff to be professional, helpful, and they keep their office hours. The grounds are kept well (no litter lying around), the walkways are clear of foliage, and the common areas (gym, pool, car-care station, etc) are clean. The first good sign was that they prorated our rent without us even asking. Garbage bins are emptied frequently, recycling kiosks are on site.

The common areas include a gym (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, 3 cable weight stations, training plank, two bathrooms with showers, sauna, TV), an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a bb half-court. Beside the gym is a laundry facility (pay per wash/dry), so you could conceivably get by without purchasing or renting laundry units. There is a "service area" for the car, with carvacs, etc. City law apparently prevents individuals from placing BBQs on balconies, but the management has placed (and maintains) a sprinkling of gas and charcoal BBQ units around the grounds.

The location is great (I work at NCSU, which is 2 miles away). A CAT bus (servicing Main and Centennial campus, as well as Harris Teater and Kmart) goes right by the front of the complex. Within an 8 minute walk west on Athens is a public school and a church (can't recall denomination); an 8 minute walk to the east on Avent Ferry brings you to Avent Ferry Shopping Center, which has a Food Lion, Family Dollar, the DMV, post office, laundromat, hair salon, a steakhouse and 3 or 4 fast food joints. The shopping center also connects you with two CAT buses (the 11 and 11c), and several WOLFLINE buses. A Kangaroo gas station adjoins Avent Ferry shopping center as well.

Driving south on Lake Dam road brings you to Tryon road - to the west, this connects you (via Walnut street) with shopping in Cary (Crossroads Plaza and Cary Towne Center); to the east, Tryon connects you (via Wilmington) with shopping in Garner (Walmart, Kmart, Office Depot, groceries, etc). Following Athens to Jones Franklin brings you to another shopping complex (Harris Teater, and a bunch of other stuff), maybe a 5 minute drive. On/off ramps to both highway 1 and highway 64 are close as well, so getting to RTP would be a snap (but connecting via a TTA bus would be a pain). Overall, both public transit and commuting can be convenient from this location.

Cons: I heard bad things about the rental company offering washers/dryers - buy your own new or used, or find another rental company. The pool is in a fairly open area (which can be a good thing in some regards), and is completely visible from the (public) road. Parking lots are poorly lit, but it is either that or you put up with light glaring through the window at night. Not everyone cleans up after their dogs (but I mean, again, that is the unfortunate reality everywhere). No play area for children (I only mention that because I mentioned the school). As you can see, the complaints I can come up with are relatively minor (bordering on petty).

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