Neighborhood guide
Your first week near the Medical Center: what to sort out
Most of this is dull and all of it is easier done in week one than in month three.
· 5 min read · by the leasing team at Regard at Med Center
Electricity, first
Texas is a deregulated market, which means you choose a retail provider rather than being assigned one. Set it up before your move-in date — the account has to be live when you collect keys. Compare on the state's Power to Choose site and watch for plans priced around a usage level you will not actually hit.
Water, trash and pest control
Usually billed through the community rather than set up separately. The leasing office will explain the allocation on your first statement. Ask what a typical month looks like for your unit size so the first bill is not a surprise.
Renters insurance
Required, inexpensive, and worth reading rather than skimming. Confirm the liability minimum the lease asks for before you buy the cheapest policy you find.
Parking, at home and at work
Open parking here is included; covered and reserved spaces cost extra and are worth asking about early, since availability moves. Separately, sort your TMC parking situation in week one — permits often have a waiting list, and until you have one you are paying daily rates.
The rail card
If you plan to use the Red Line from Fannin South, get a METRO Q card rather than buying single fares. It also covers the bus network.
Groceries
H-E-B and Kroger are both about ten minutes. Neither is walkable. If you are coming from a city where you shopped daily on foot, plan for a weekly trip instead.
Register your car
New Texas residents have a limited window to inspect, register and retitle a vehicle from out of state, and the inspection has to happen before registration. Do it early; the deadline arrives faster than expected.
Questions
How long do I have to get a Texas driver's licence?
New residents are expected to transfer within a set window after establishing residency. Check the current requirement with the Texas DPS, as the rules and appointment availability change.
Written by the leasing team at Regard at Med Center, 8877 Lakes at 610 Dr, Houston, TX 77054. If something here is out of date or you think we’ve got it wrong, tell us — we would rather fix it than leave it.
