North Star Apartments

The apartment is newer so it is nice, and it is in a good location. I do feel the cost of rent is outrageous, but I do realize that it is not much more than other complexes in the area.

3 bad years at the Northstar Apartments filled with expensive heating bills due to the use of wall heaters instead of central heating (usually around $150 to keep the apartment out of the 60s), parking is almost impossible most days, and there is no noise dampening between units (you can hear your neighbors snore, use a microwave, and tv on low volume.

Year One: Rent was $950 a month for a two bedroom unit. About two months after moving in I was notified that the management company was going to move forward with an eviction against me due to constant police reports of excessive noise. This eviction notice was the first time the management company reached out to me. Long story short, it turned out my downstairs neighbor was calling the police multiple times a week to report me and i was never actually home during these reports. The police reports confirmed this. The management company didn’t care to hear my side until I hired an attorney and threatened action. They eventually moved me into a new unit while they took action against the downstairs neighbor. I was then on the first floor and i realized just how poorly built these units are. You hear your neighbors every move.

Year two: Rent increases to $1350. Lease ends in July which makes it almost impossible for students to switch apartments if they are not locally based and you pretty much are stuck once you’re in. While away for Christmas a pipe froze and flooded my unit. It turned out to be a flaw in the building design, but the property company was slow to share this knowledge and attempted to go after my insurance for the repair. The renovations lasted 3 months and management consistently attempted to charge me for the time that unit was uninhabitable. Also building was owned and managed by a Boise based company. it was poorly maintained and it was hard not to step in dog poop. Renovations were poorly done and have not been corrected (I suspect there is going to be a fight over my security deposit at the end of my lease).

Year Three: Rent increases to 1550 (Nearly 60% in two years). New management company that is local. property does look nicer, but you can’t fix the core issues. Family with 3 kids moved in above and i now have to live in my earmuffs (they are aware and try to keep their kids quiet but it’s a losing battle).

All in all the only redeeming part of the Northstar apartments is how they look and the location. They are the “prettiest” units in town and many of the units have a beautiful view (for now, google where the new Home Depot is going). However, they are also the most expensive units in town, you’re too scared to have people over because noise, and if you have kids above you then life is actual hell. I have a lot of friends in town and all of their apartments are nicer and cheaper.