Apartment Review for Prairie Hills Apartments - Albuquerque, NM

We are just coming to the end of our 15 month lease. After living here over a year, I can tell you a few things about this complex. First of all, I have never ever felt unsafe here. It is in a very good part of town and in a gated community...but sometimes the gates are broken so they are left open for everyone to come in. I've even accidentally left my car doors unlocked on a few occasions and it remained safe. Parking can sometimes be nightmarish. Each apartment gets one free covered parking space, which is good...but people are constantly parking in my assigned spot, which sucks, and no one does anything about it. There is simply not enough guest parking. The office staff has generally always been very helpful and kind, but the manager, Penny, is usually clueless. A lot of the leasing agents will promise that the unit comes with "hardwood floors" and "granite counter tops". Umm..it is hardwood floor LAMINATE tile which is definitely not hardwood flooring, and it is only in parts of the unit. The counters are fake granite, and anyone with a brain can tell the difference. The reason we are moving is the noise. The noise here is horrendous. Maintenance is out at 6:30 in the morning with loud landscaping tools right outside our window. They have no consideration of who may be sleeping so early, and are shouting loudly to each other across the complex. Give me a break. On top of that, everyone lets their kids play out on the huge tennis/basketball courts at ALL HOURS of the day and night. Might I add, that there are these huge bright flood lights in the courts that apparently anyone can just turn on whenever they feel like it...ever try to sleep feeling like you're living in the middle of Yankee Stadium with the lights on? You can't. There is shouting, the sound of basketballs being dribbled and shot, kids fighting, kids throwing rocks at the light posts, and parents yelling at their children in the swimming pool at ALL hours. No exaggeration. Also, be prepared for lots of surprise extra little charges on your rental bill at the end of the month. Our lease was supposed to be $515 a month, but ends up being $585 a month after they nickel and dime us. This place has it's good points and bad points, but bottom line is, don't live here if you value peace and quiet and good parking. You will not find any.