Grand Estates

I moved in about a week ago on December 15^th. Upon coming up to the property I was wondering what was going on as there were some construction crews on site messing with the pool, fitness center, and some other odds and ends. I went into the office and started talking to Sandra. She mentioned that 4 months ago the company she works for took over the property and that they’re making some great changes to get the property back to where it should be. This all sounds like amazing stuff so we will see how that plays out.
Sandra was an amazing help getting all my questions answered and is always eager to help out. When I moved in I had some maintenance issues (garbage disposal not working, bath tub won’t drain). I called the front office and the next morning Carlos from maintenance came out and had everything I asked for fixed, and more in just under 20 minutes. He was very professional and I could see that he cared about the property.
So far so good. I highly recommend living here. My only beef is that a lot of people have wood floors, not just the first floor where I live. So certain neighbors (no apartment numbers mentioned) have parties until 3AM some nights and keep the people who have to work the next day awake until the wee hours of the morning.
5 stars. Ask for Sandra for office needs, and Carlos for maintenance needs.

I have to say I don’t share the animosity toward the Estates that the previous reviewers had. My experience living here was pretty good.
I lived here for a little over a year. The apartment itself was incredibly spacious and had more than enough room for our needs. A major plus was our nicely sized pantry; there were also plenty of cabinets and loads of counter space. Bath tubs were large and deep, and there was no shortage of closet space. Our patio was decent, and we had a lovely view of the trees and foliage of the Orion across the way. Our only annoyance was there was a large advertisement sign marring what would have otherwise been a perfect view. We also liked the solar screens on our large windows, which were helpful. The appliances were also good. The microwave had good features, as did the oven, and the fridge was the perfect size. Our only negatives were a recent ant infestation — we found them coming through the door — and the fact that we could hear our neighbors pretty frequently, whether the upstairs neighbor we affectionately dubbed ‘Babar the elephant’ or our neighbors across the hall shouting and slamming doors. We could hear them as if they were in our apartment themselves.
Parking was usually good. Covered spots were available for a fee, but there were typically plenty of uncovered parking spots available. This was less the case in the months before our move out, but we could usually find somewhere in reasonable distance.
Apartment was also generally safe. I had one incident shortly after I moved in where the passenger side mirror was stolen from my vehicle. Other than that, we didn’t have any issues with crime.
The amenities were so-​so. The pool, while immaculately cared for, was small and only 3 feet deep all around. The fitness center was far too small — I liked to call it the ‘fitness closet’ if that gives you some idea of what it was like. I didn’t like using it much since I was uncomfortable in such a confined area — photographs on the website are deceptive as there is a mirror that casts the illusion that it is double the size of what it is in reality. The sand volley ball court, however, was nice and fun to use.
A major plus is the location. The neighborhood is very safe, clean, and quiet, and there is a gorgeous jogging/​biking trail maintained by the Marriot that winds all the way down the street. I felt comfortable walking down that trail any time of day. However, traffic is generally awful on 281 and 1604, and it is a far distance from central San Antonio or other parts of town. I thought that was a severe drawback but it may not be a deal breaker for others.
We ended up leaving because the rent went up by 100+ dollars every time renewals came around, so be prepared for that if you choose to lease at the Estates. We really enjoyed our time there nd were very comfortable living there. I would recommend it for people who are prepared to pay the price.