The Villas on Fir

Great apartment complex but on the pricier side and farther away from campus. When they say luxury apartments, they mean it. All of the appliances and furnishings are very nice. The complex grounds are well maintained with a sidewalk around the entire perimeter and the two ponds on the outer edge are great. There are plenty of pets and kids living here as well. Management is pretty responsive, but the manager can come off as somewhat rude. Maintenance seems pretty quick. The dog park is great and used routinely, but the dog wash building is clearly not maintained at all. It stinks and I have never seen anyone use it. The apartment office is very nice, with a one of the better pool and gyms that I have seen. The common area by the pool also has two large gas grills that residents can use.

Rooms are great, amenities on site are fun (gym, pool, beach vball, grills) and residents are wonderful. Problems include mailing (packages are lost often when delivered here) and clubhouse with its amenities are only open during business hours)

The apartments are spacious and clean, with excellent kitchens, huge closets, and attached garages. Location is very close to major grocery stores. The price for a 1-bed unit is similar to smaller, furnished apartments closer to campus, but the 2-bed, 2-bath units are significantly cheaper per person. Each apartment has its own entrance and shares very few walls with other apartments, so apartments are generally very quiet, although buildings closer to the freeway will hear some noise from passing cars. The apartment community seems to be made up mostly of young families, graduate students, and retirees. The management company usually has some leasing specials going on (free rent for 1 month with longer lease, visa gift cards for applying on the same day you view), so keep an eye out for those. Downsides: electricity bills will get high in the winter, tenants are responsible for all utilities (water/sewer, electricity), the pool is always filled with kids during warmer months.

Pro: spacious, newly built, good facilities, comfortable for family, close to Costco/Target.
Con: expensive utility bills, far from campus.