"The sky/Did turnso dark and black yesterday/Again justlike before on and in/Aday in the month of May/As you came /And ripped right through/A place and a town/Known as Moore, Oklahoma" (- David Smith, "Moore, Oklahoma")
Located conveniently north of the University of Oklahoma and south of the states capital city, Moore, OK, is a thriving community of approximately 56,000 people. Its history, however, is as humble as the story behind its name. Who wouldve thought that a name painted on a boxcar would become the citys name, and all by some stroke of chance at that? Perhaps it was the same encounter with chance that brought about the almost overnight boom and made Moore the city it is today. This 21.9-square-mile city is home to many notable personalities, like Toby Keith, Tom Cole and Kellie Coffey.
Renting an Apartment in Moore, OK is Easy Peasy
Sure it is. As long as you don't get sucked into that "so many things to do and so little time" mentality that often sets in the moment you decide to make the move. Also, as long as you dont get intimidated with all the news about tornado devastation, it can be easy. Ready to hunt for a home here? Lets get right down to business with these tips.
It Isn't a Crime to Negotiate Price
If you come from cities with pretty strict landlords, you will find Moore a refreshing change from all that rigidity. People here are pretty laid back, and landlords are no different. If you know how to ask, they may cut you some slack on some requirements for the rental application. Having a serious criminal record is just about the only thing that could hinder you from renting a home here.
Save Some Dough, Don't Hire an Agent
This is not San Francisco or New York, where you'd need to hire a real estate agent if you don't want to go homeless. Driving around the different neighborhoods, going through property management companies or browsing through online listings is often enough get your own place in this city, whether you want an apartment or a rent to own home.
Mind the Neighborhood
Different neighborhoods have a varying feel and cost of living. Additionally, some neighborhoods in Moore just don't have any more room for newcomers. Save yourself the trouble by going over the different neighborhoods first and prioritizing those areas where you can envision yourself living comfortably in the near future.
Discovering the Different Neighborhoods
Since an abode is only as good as its surrounding, choosing an excellent neighborhood is one of the prerequisites of comfortable living. To get you started looking in the right direction, heres an overview of several neighborhoods in Moore, along with their relative cost of living:
S Sooner Rd/SE 134th St: Executives and government workers with families and school-aged children make up a huge percentage of this neighborhoods population. If you're either one of these and you wish to live among your crowd, start looking for an apartment here. Theres a lot to talk about when you strike up a conversation with your neighbors. $$$$$
N Santa Fe Ave/NW 27th St: The majority of residents in this area work in sales and service jobs. Boasting of a good diversity of people from different cultural backgrounds, theres room for just about anyone in this area especially with its 12% vacancy rate. $
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College/W Indian Hills Rd: Spacious homes, proximity to Moore Golf and Athletic Club, real estate stability and the likelihood of living with executives, managers and college students as neighbors...these are just some of the perks of having an address in this area. Additionally, a vacancy rate of 11% means that looking for an apartment in this neighborhood won't be that hard. $
SE 19th St/SE Eastern Ave: A good number of residents in this neighborhood are either active military personnel or working for Uncle Sam. If you like living among this crowd, start looking for your own camp here. Better do it fast; the areas 2% vacancy rate means you'll be facing competition from other would-be renters. Madison Place Park is one of the main hangouts in this neighborhood. $$$$
W Indian Hills Rd/12th Ave NW: With Ranch Estate Mobile Home Park within the vicinity, you could expect housing options in this neighborhood to include mobile homes. If you dont like the idea of living in a mobile home, however, fret not. This neighborhood has other housing options, which include single-family homes and duplexes. $$$$
N Eastern Ave/NE 18th St: Rental houses in this area are as diverse as the residents. If you wish to live in a community with a good mix of people from different cultural backgrounds, working in different fields and across a wide range of age groups, an address in this neighborhood is very appropriate. $$$
SE 19th St/SE 149th St: With Broadmoore Golf Course and Belmar Golf Club within the vicinity, this is paradise if you love to play golf all year round. The problem? It may take far more than a month of relentless hunting to find an apartment for rent with the miniscule vacancy rate of this neighborhood. With the neighborhood being the top choice for families with children and highly educated professionals, its easy to see why an address here is a good catch.$$
NE 12th St/Old Mill Rd: With Moore High School within the neighborhood, its no wonder many families with school-aged kids choose to live in this area. With the influx of couples preferring to live here, you'll be hard-pressed to find an apartment in this neighborhood. $$
NE 12th St/North Bryant Ave: One of the first things you'll notice when you take a stroll in this neighborhood is the number of military personnel in the area. You'll see them in plain clothes and in uniforms. Perhaps you'll see them enjoying a game of golf in Lakeside Golf Club or enjoying an afternoon off at the Buck Thomas Park, both of which happen to be within the neighborhood. $
SE 19th St: With Highland East Junior High School and Apple Creek Elementary School, you can expect to see lots of students hanging out in this neighborhood. Also, if you've always been intrigued and interested in Native American stuff, might wanna strike up a conversation with some residents here. Chances are, some of them could trace back their ancestry to this culture. $$$$
Tornado Alert
Everything about Moore, Oklahoma, is pretty desirable and charming except for the fact that its situated in Tornado Alley. The city has been beset with the ravages of tornadoes, the most deadly of which was the 1999 tornado. If you live in this city, you may find yourself paying more close attention to weather reports than any other news segments and cooking up an evacuation plan before you start moving in. Of course, it helps to organize emergency supplies and a first aid kit just to appease the worries in your mind.
Living in Moore
Life in Moore, Oklahoma, devoid of tornado disruption, is the epitome of work and leisure balance. Without the harried lifestyle of big cities, residents here get to enjoy an enviable mix of recreation, such as golf courses, community activities, parks and local attractions. Some places worthy of mention include: Yellow Rose Dinner Theatre, Andy Alligators Fun Park and Western Cedar Hunting Preserve. Additionally, the city boasts a robust education system. It has three high schools, five junior high schools, 22 elementary schools and one post-secondary school.
Well-rounded city? You betcha! Now find an apartment and get movin'.
