NewsWest 9
Apartment dwellers are finding it hard to find a place to stay in the Permian Basin. More jobs, thanks to a mini oil boom is partly to blame.
Apartment complexes in both Midland and Odessa say they're getting so full they have to turn some people away.
That increase in demand, may mean current apartment dwellers could see rent rates increase in the near future.
Luck was on Angela Caldwell's side when her family moved to Odessa last month.
"Someone told us about the apartments and we wanted some really nice apartments," Caldwell said. "We got here and luckily there was one apartment available at the time and we were lucky to get it."
Now luck may have to be on your side to find a place in Midland and Odessa.
"We're seeing a lot of influx in oilfield industry workers. We haven't seen that in a couple of years but they're coming back," Property Manager, Rhonda Lesley said.
Someone's moving into the last opening at Mission Green Apartments on Wednesday, which means Lesley's apartment complex is booked solid.
"I've turned two people away today and that's on one bedrooms," Lesley said. "I don't have any one bedroom availability until after the first of the year."
"I came from Oklahoma and Dallas and stuff," Caldwell said. "It was pretty hard to find and apartment that was too our liking and available at the time."
As President of the Permian Basin Apartment Association, Lesley says it's a growing trend.
"Now we have most properties at 90 to 100 percent occupancy," she said. "So it's hard to find an apartment right now."
The increase in demand also affects current tenants.
"In the higher demanding apartments, yeah it does affect them," Lesley said. "They'll see a rent increase but I try to keep it at a $50 cap, but that's just me on my property."
Lesley says she doesn't know if we'll see home shortages like two years ago.
"I would hate to try and forecast that one," she said. "I feel blessed we have the occupancy as high as it is right now."
Apartment construction sites like the one in Odessa should help. In the near future, there should be additional 600 or more new apartments.
