I was a resident at Norte for 13 months, and overall, I really loved living here! The only reason I…read moremoved out was because the rent and community fees became too expensive for me.
Pros of the surrounding area:
Norte is super close to ASU and several large corporations, including Deloitte, State Farm, Carvana, and KPMG. It is also right next to the freeway, which makes getting on and off the freeway very convenient and provides easy access to the North, South, East, and West Valley areas. There are also plenty of restaurants and other places to eat nearby.
The area itself always felt very safe to me. Norte is right next to Tempe Town Lake, which is great if you enjoy walking, running, biking, or fishing. The lake also provides some really nice views!
Cons of the surrounding area:
Although being next to the freeway is a major convenience, it also means there can be quite a bit of traffic and congestion in the area. Similarly, being so close to ASU is a huge pro, but traffic can get especially congested around the area when school is in session.
Pros of Norte itself:
The building is very nice, modern, and well-maintained, with great amenities. My neighbors were always nice, quiet, and respectful. The building is kept very clean, and housekeeping regularly takes care of the carpets, gym, and community room.
The leasing agents are also very nice and helpful. I never had any major issues with them, and they were always willing to help when I had questions or concerns. Assigned parking is another big plus!
The onsite maintenance team was also great. Whenever I needed something fixed or had an issue, they were very responsive and helped me out within 24 hours. I really appreciated how quickly they handled maintenance requests.
Cons of Norte itself:
Be prepared for the elevators to take FOREVER, especially during busy times. There are only two elevators that service the entire building, including all six residential floors and three parking levels.
There is also no cell service in the parking garage. This was never a major issue for me, but it is something to keep in mind, especially in case of an emergency. There is also no freight elevator for moving in or out, and the regular elevators are on the smaller side, so moving furniture can be a little challenging.
The gym is extremely small and does not have every type of machine, but it is still decent for an apartment gym. The pool is also pretty small, although it was usually not very crowded when I used it, so this was never a huge issue for me.
Finally, Norte uses APS rather than SRP for electricity, so my electric bill was a little higher than I expected.
Overall:
I really enjoyed my 13 months at Norte and would recommend it to someone who values location, cleanliness, modern amenities, and being close to ASU and Tempe Town Lake. The main reason I left was simply the overall cost. If the rent and community fees had been more affordable for me, I would have been happy to stay!
I also included pictures of the rooftop deck (above the 6th floor) and the pool (2nd floor) so you can get an idea of what the amenities look like!