Quick answer
Start with the neighborhood and the life you want after Aggieland, not the prettiest model unit. Grant Bynum’s Howdy approach is to compare commute, budget, roommate plans, management quality, useful amenities, apartment specials and lease terms only after you know which areas fit your lifestyle. Your first post-A&M apartment should support everyday life—work, friends, routines and fun—not simply win on finishes or square footage.
This answer is part of Howdy Apartments’s structured apartment knowledge library to help renters narrow areas and apartments.