(1) My experience was that we agreed to a monthly rate of 1200---period. But the lease said something like $1500, with a $300 "discount." If you default on the lease, for whatever reason, you will owe every month you were "given" a discount. That is, $300 for each month. This is essentially a hide penalty. Beware.
(2) Your security deposit is "non-refundable" under the lease. So whatever damage or money you owe Ventana after you vacate is NOT deducted from your security deposit and you will NOT receive one cent in return. That is, they will expect you to pay for anything, without regard to the fact that you paid them a security deposit. This, of course, is not a "security deposit" as defined under the Texas Property Code. This is essentially an arbitrary fee masquerading as a deposit.

User Responses
From: nowitall	Date: 05/14/2009
Always have a lawyer review lease agreements, mortgage papers, and the like. Otherwise, surprises await!
From: RemingtonAlessi	Date: 05/15/2009
In my experience, such should not be necessary if you are dealing with trustworthy people who conduct business with integrity. But then, my experience has been that the staff at the Ventana would not fit into that category. Oddly enough, they pulled a similar trick on me. They "lost" the front page of the lease agreement, then renegged by upping the rent by about two hundred dollars a month. They refused to do anything about it, and my roommate and I ended up having to reluctantly cough up money in order to cover the expense caused by their unscrupulous, dishonest business tactics. I always figured that they had done this to other people- it didn't seem likely that we were the first or only ones to suffer their dishonesty. I wonder how many others have had a similar experience? Also, on a side note, the staff has a nasty habit of responding to these reviews by posing as residents. I'm actually a bit surprised that they haven't done so already. But then, the last time they did it, I called them out on it in such a way that they may have stopped. If you'd like to read about the extent of their treachery, you should read the review entitled "Worst Place I Ever Lived." They jumped all over it in the comments, and I called them out on it. It would be funny, but for the fact that their dishonest practices unfortunately have a very real effect on peoples' lives. I imagine that it will be a matter of time before it catches up to them.
From: carrx	Date: 05/30/2009
I've lived in the Ventana apartments for 4 years. Despite the ridiculously inefficient AC units which result in $450 electric bills, they've been a model of integrity. I can't help but think that a person who signs a lease, then breaks it, should expect to deal with the consequences. you can take all the time to review the rent contract that you wish. They never hurried me. In fact, last lease renewel, they were very polite with me when I had forgotten to sign and return the new lease for almost two months. They not only didn't charge me month-to-month, but they didn't raise my rent like the contract indicated - since I only signed for another 6 months - but they gave me the same rate for the rest of the 6 months I was staying in Houston. Sadly, I will be leaving Houston soon, and will be leaving the Ventana. There are a few other places nearby that have some better facilities and floorplans. But, Ventana is pretty quiet, safe, well maintained, the staff is polite, helpful, prompt, and the rent is fairly reasonable. The serious plus here is the proximity to the rail and getting to the Med Center. Even the Calais can't beat the Ventana for MetroRail proximity.

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