Marin Royal Apartments

Have really enjoyed living here but the cost and terms are getting ridiculous for what you get. The location is great, the apartments are cute, small and boxy though, large closets, small kitchen. All your main living space windows face and are right on the walkway so there is not much privacy if you want your windows open. Construction has gone on intermittently for a year, the workers show up sporadically and there has been a big pile of construction materials and waste in the courtard for a year and the fountain no longer runs. There has been yellow caution tape spread throughout for a year. And they keeping jacking up the rent amongst all of this. The flaws here are very tolerable if the price is right, but it is becoming unworthy. There are also shared utilitys-water, trash, sewer and electric are split among everyone and is an extra 90 dollars a month. If you are a single person that doesn't use much you are paying for the others who have 2 or 3 people inside and kids. They have now increased the amount it costs to do a load of laundry now, costs over 5.50 to wash and dry one load. The thing that disturbs me most, is that they make you sign a new lease every year, in which they take the opportunity to increase your rent. It doesn't matter how long you've lived there, if you don't move out on your annual lease signing date you are charged the penalties.

This complex is in an excellent school district and in close proximity to the highway for easy commuting into the city. There is assigned parking provided, the pool is sparkling clean (though not very warm), and things are pretty quiet usually thanks to good construction and double-paned windows. There is onsite management and the people who live here are mostly friendly. The downsides are the rent is quite high for small, average apartments but it is clearly market for the location. The building is undergoing a huge construction project currently and it is an eyesore and hazard for all tenants. It is unclear when the project will be completed but it is a major inconvenience for all residents and the quiet enjoyment of this complex has been negatively impacted. I haven't lived here long enough to know if there are chronic large repair projects like this on a regular basis, but if this is the case I will not continue to live here long.