NOVEL River Oaks by Crescent Communities — Local services in Houston

UPDATE 5/6/2021: Increasing this review to three stars due to Jan, who I had the pleasure of speaking with a couple of times. After initially being quite frustrated by Novel's lack of response, I decided to give them one more chance. I reached Jan in the leasing office who immediately confirmed a virtual tour appointment and sent videos of the apartments I was interested in ahead of time. He was extremely attentive and kind. Unfortunately, we fell in love with a different apartment more within our price range and did not move forward with this complex.

Had a horrible experience trying to virtually tour this complex. Initial inquiry and emails were pleasant enough... Set up a time to do a virtual tour and happily cleared my schedule as well as my fiance's busy law school schedule to set aside time to tour this beautiful new property over FaceTime. Received an automatic email confirmation as well as an email confirmation from Michelle, who I had been corresponding with.

Fast forward to the day of the virtual tour. We are all set up and ready to go. 5 minutes go by... nothing. I politely email asking if our tour was still on. No response. 10 more minute go by... I call and explain to the leasing staff that we had been stood up. He apologized and put me on a 10 minute hold. When he finally returned, he said they would have to reschedule, without offering any explanation. I agreed to reschedule but inquired why they weren't able to make our tour that day. His response was that Mondays are busy for reporting. He did not offer an explanation as to why no one called or emailed us to reschedule rather than standing us up.

Anyway, my fiance and I apprehensively make time to sit down the next evening (today) to do a virtual tour with them. Well, it's 15 minutes after our agreed upon time and we haven't heard a word from them. This is after I've put my contact information in writing (via email) and verbal communication (over the phone). In fact, the leasing staff I talked to yesterday specifically wrote down my information in case Michelle got caught up with work again. Regardless, we haven't heard from either of them.

If this is how they win over prospective tenants, I can't imagine how they treat you once...

Review of Novel River Oaks by Crescent Communities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As an educator with a busy and often demanding schedule, finding a place to live that offers both comfort and convenience was a top priority for me—and Novel River Oaks by Crescent Communities exceeded every expectation.

From the moment I toured the property, I was impressed by the thoughtfully designed spaces and the professionalism of the team. The tour was seamless and informative, with the leasing staff taking the time to highlight not only the amenities but how they cater to different lifestyles. As someone who values peace, security, and functionality, I appreciated the attention to detail and the warmth of the welcome I received.

The concierge service here has been a standout feature. Whether it’s handling deliveries, coordinating guest access, or assisting with everyday needs, the team is consistently courteous and helpful. It truly feels like a community where residents are prioritized and supported.

One of the most exciting parts of living at Novel River Oaks is the incredible on-site retail. Fielding’s—a luxury dining experience located right within the development—is a gem. From date nights to celebratory dinners, it's a sophisticated space with exceptional cuisine and service, just steps from my door.

The amenities are equally impressive, from the serene pool and state-of-the-art fitness center to the beautifully appointed resident lounges and work-from-home spaces. Everything here feels intentional and elevated.

A special thank-you to Fred Pittman for his exceptional service and support throughout my leasing process. His professionalism, patience, and genuine care made the experience truly outstanding. Fred represents the heart of what makes this community so special.

Novel River Oaks strikes the perfect balance between upscale living and genuine community. As a working professional and educator, I feel both energized and at ease living here. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a refined, convenient, and welcoming place to call home in the...

Have been a resident for over 12 months and have been lied and conned during my lease renewal by Greystar employees.

Greystar is employed by Crescent communities to effectively work as their henchmen. Any dispute that arises is answered with ‘corporate in Dallas said no’. When asked if you can speak directly to whoever is calling the shots you get a staunch ‘no’. I advise anyone dealing with this mob to communicate everything solely via email. Accountability, equality and integrity have no standing here. Ironically they’re all core values of the Greystar company.

My neighbour with the exact same floor plan as my apartment was offered 8 weeks rent free and $100 off their lease per month. Equates to almost $6000 in concessions. When it was my turn to renew I kindly asked if they would offer the same concession. For some convenient reason that offer didn’t extend to me and their offer was a price increase on my rent. Talk about treating your residents with equality, respect and value.

During the negotiations they decided to not increase my rent but wouldn’t budge on any concessions. I asked ‘if any concessions would be offered in the future’ to which they replied with an adamant ‘no’. I followed up by asking ‘what if they do offer concessions in the future’ to which I was assured ‘within 90 days of your renewal we’ll honour any concessions’.

They’re now offering $2000 in concessions for single bedroom apartments. Fittingly for them they will not honour this concession even though it’s only been 1 day since my lease renewed and I raised this with them over 2 weeks ago. No accountability or responsibility from Greystar as they shift blame to ‘corporate in Dallas didn’t approve it and we can’t do anything’.

I’d advise the employees to read their code of conduct handbook which states in the very first paragraph ‘we enrich the lives we touch by doing things the right way’. The only thing they seem to be enriching is their own sales performance so they can slither their way up the...