Here is a map of all UTC condos, so you can do some digging on which condo projects you are most interested in. I think you will get better feedback if you ask by name of the complex, plus you can figure out geographically where would be better for you before you get in the car. If you click on the links, there’s stuff about how many have sold recently, how many bedrooms are in that project, year built (clue as to likely needed maintenance), etc. :
In general, parking is terrible near most of the UTC condos — I would suggest making sure you have a reserved parking spot/garage for you. I think most condos in UTC give you that for at least one car. If you have a teen with their own car, make sure they have reserved parking. Last year there was a car-window smasher that would go on the Via Alicante area and mess up the cars parked on the street. There have also been thefts of cars in this area that were parked near the street, even if they were in the “driveway” (private road) of the condoplex.
Advice about renting from Craiglist:
Ask when major maintenance (roof replacement, termite tenting) was done that might cause you to have to move out during your lease. Choose accordingly.
Ask your colleagues, friends you trust, etc. about HOA finance gossip — e.g. Place A is solid, Place B is shaky and doesn’t have money to fix the roof, etc. Verbal is good; it counts as hearsay should any condo complex take umbrage at “defamation”. But if you narrow it down and go look yourself what condition the properties are in, you’ll figure this out even without the rumors.
And for goodness sake, run Google and the property tax search on your potential landlord to a) see if you can verify the person talking to you really is the owner; and b) if they are behind in their taxes, they’re probably foreclosure bait — don’t add unnecessary stress and steer clear.
