Missouri City, TX Apartment Renter's Guide

Missouri City was named after St. Louis, MO in the late 19th century, and people have been confused about its location ever since.

Don't you love cities with super confusing names that cause all your friends to keep double-checking where you really live? Well if you do, Missouri City is probably the spot for you. Because unless you're from Houston, there's a good chance you'll be scratching your head about this area. Let's set the record straight. It's in Texas. It is definitely in Texas. While MO City (as some people affectionately call it) may technically be a suburb of Houston, residents of Houston typically think of it as an extension of the city. It's fairly fitting because the area doesn't really sit outside of Houston. Instead it represents a sort of slice in the southwest part of the pie that is Houston. So Missouri City residents typically take part in similar forms of entertainment as Houstonians. Of course, that doesn't mean that Missouri City doesn't have it's own unique flavor and sensibilities. Keep reading to learn more about this suburban yet distinctly non-suburban area of Texas.

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Missouri City is largely a community of single-unit homes and thanks to the city's zoning laws, there isn't as wide of a selection of Missouri City apartment homes as there are apts for rent in Houston.

But even with less availability than Houston and other areas offer, there are 1 bedroom apartments, 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom apartments available for rent in the city (you'd be hard-pressed to find a studio in this area). Apartment rental homes in Missouri City are likely to offer spacious floor plans (it's true - everything_ is_ bigger in Texas) as well as amenities like swimming pools, pet-friendly communities and fitness centers.

With so many single-unit houses in Missouri City, you may have better luck with the city's selection of houses to rent. With houses ranging from two to five or six bedrooms in size, you're likely to find something for your needs no matter how much space you require. When renting, it's important to have the right documents: proof of income, photo I.D., references from previous landlords, and the like will put you ahead of the game.

Before you move to Missouri City, be sure to check out all the neighborhoods to find the one that suits you best. Listed below are some of the most popular areas in the city.

Quail Valley: One of the older neighborhoods in the area, Quail Valley was formed back in 1969, giving it a more established feel (think tree-lined streets.) Quail Valley is a desirable area that has several community organizations, including the Quail Valley Garden Club (if you've got a green thumb) and Quail Valley Proud. Oh, and did we mention the golf? The community was first built around three different golf courses and it hosts many local tournaments. Today, it just has one golf course, a lot of green space (four hundred acres), plus several waterways that wind through the community. And this neighborhood will not let you down when it comes to planned activities. The various neighborhood associations put together breakfasts, field trips, bingo nights and seasonal celebrations.

Sienna Plantation: If you're not sure whether you want something more established or brand spanking new, Sienna Plantation may be more your speed because this community offers new homes, older homes and homes that fall somewhere in between. This master-planned community sits on 7,000 acres. Within Sienna Plantation there are actually numerous sub-neighborhoods, so you can find something in a section that fits your individual style. The area is filled with amenities that include an 18-hole golf course, several parks, a large sports complex and resort pools. The community also has team sports, amphitheater concerts, seasonal celebrations and movie nights. It almost sounds like summer camp for people of all ages - which could be the best or the worst idea ever. With its location that straddles Missouri City and Sugarland, Sienna Plantation gives residents convenient access to the best entertainment, dining and shopping venues that both areas have to offer.

Brightwater: Located just north of Highway 6, the Brightwater neighborhood features houses that were built sometime between the neighborhood's inception and the more recent new construction. These homes were primarily constructed in the 1980s and 1990s. The area is a cozy neighborhood that is home to four parks, a pool, two tennis courts and a clubhouse. Brightwater is known for its convenience to attractions along Highway 6 - like First Colony Mall - and for its attractive lakes, walking paths and green spaces.

Life in Missouri City is pretty similar to life in Houston, but perhaps with a little less traffic and a less hectic pace.

For shopping options, residents have almost too many choices. They can brave Houston's flagship shopping center - The Galleria - a 3-million-square-foot behemoth that is the biggest shopping mall in Texas. Or they can visit the nearby shopping areas in neighboring communities, such as the First Colony Mall or Sugarland Town Square - both of which are expansive in their own right. In fact, with all the shops included in these three malls and shopping centers, it's hard to imagine that someone might come up at a loss for locating one of their favorite stores.

Another advantage of living in this area is that residents have plenty of access to great food. Houston and its surrounding areas have been repeatedly named as top dining destinations in this country, and it's not difficult to understand why. In many areas, it's hard to throw a rock without hitting some kind of restaurant.

Missouri City residents can not only enjoy nationally recognized restaurants in and around the city - including Tony's and Le Mistral - but they can also seek out more more casual local favorites like Shipley's Donuts, Pappadeaux, Pappas Bar-B-Q and Chuy's, just to name a few.

While Missouri City residents definitely take advantage of the food, shopping and entertainment options in Houston (plus neighboring areas of Sugarland and First Colony), one aspect that's different from Houston is that Missouri City has zoning ordinances that Houston lacks. This means that Missouri City residents can enjoy living a community that features none of the awkward city blocks in Houston is known for (a gun shop next to a burger joint next to an apartment building, for example.)

Thanks to Missouri City's zoning ordinances, this area has street layouts that make more sense than Houston's almost devil-may-care arrangement of businesses. Another charming aspect of Missouri City is that its street signs stand out from the typical green that most of the city has. In Missouri City, the street signs are red and blue, letting you know where you are, which can be difficult given the suburb's somewhat non-suburban shape.

As you might expect, Missouri City residents need somewhere to work off all the great food they find themselves eating. And while some people use shopping malls aisles as walking trails (seriously - you'll find speed walkers in workout clothes if you hit the mall early enough), the area has some better options. Missouri City boasts almost 400 acres of parkland as well as golf courses where residents can work up a sweat.

Missouri City also has a Recreation and Tennis Center, where residents can pay a small membership fee and get in tip-top shape by hitting the tennis courts, pumping iron in the weight rooms, taking a swing in the batting cages or using any of the multi-purpose rooms. The center is also the spot to go for pickup basketball or volleyball games and group fitness classes.