I am a second-time resident at Royal Crest Estates in North Andover, MA. The first time was from 1996-2000 and the second time (very temporary) began in July 2012 and will continue until February 2013. Some things have changed, some things have stayed the same. 1. Changes - They no longer provide security at the front entrance to screen visitors to the complex. Now, anyone can drive in here. - They allow cats and dogs to live here now. There is a monthly fee per animal. I don't have a pet so don't know the exact amount but believe it's around $45 a month per animal. - They charge you to park a vehicle here - currently $10 a month per vehicle. - On a positive note, they finally added a recycling bin. Prior to this happening, everything was dumped in the trash. - You can no longer have a barbecue outside. They provide communal barbecues near the swimming pool area, but that's not as convenient as heading outside your building and using your own. 2. No Changes - The apartments are referred to as luxury apartments. This would have been a stretch in 2000, never mind 2013. Nothing about the apartments has changed in terms of the HVAC system, appliances, bathrooms, etc. Everything looks just as it did 15 years ago. - You get what you pay for. My wife and I checked out other "luxury" apartment complexes in the area and can confirm that Royal Crest Estates is the most affordable of them all. We only needed a short term lease while we wait for construction of our home to be complete, so the monthly amount is higher than it might otherwise have been had we committed to a 12-month or longer lease. That said, we have a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1450 square foot apartment for much less than much smaller 2-bedroom apartments elsewhere. - The staff--especially the service team--are very friendly and professional. I was sorry to read other reviews that other people have a different view of the staff here, but my experience has always been positive. 3. Other Thoughts - The first time we lived here was in a basement apartment. Heating that place during the winter time was very expensive, in part because the HVAC system is electric and has a hard time pumping warm air to the bedrooms. This time we're in a 2nd floor apartment and have yet to turn on the heat this winter -- and it's December 1st! Perhaps it's because we're in-between apartments, but the temperature in our apartment has never dropped below 70 degrees. So if you decide to move here, opt for the middle floor apartment. Your wallet will thank you later. - We moved here from a single family home, so we really noticed the noise our neighbors make. Perhaps it's because I know I'm only here a short while that I truly don't care about the noise people make. We sometimes here the kids in the building get together and play in the hall. They're ages range from 4 to 10 or so (in my opinion) and they can get quite loud at times. But they're always quiet by 8pm so whatever, right? We sometimes here the people walking around above us, including a young child who seems to sprint everywhere, but again, it's short lived and just reminds us to watch our own steps in consideration of the people below us. For the most part though, no problems to report. - There are Merrimack College students living in our building. They have NEVER been a problem and I have never encountered issues elsewhere on the property from other students. If there were issues in the past, I suspect they were isolated incidents. - The approval process is as onerous as others have pointed out. I don't know how it compares to other rental communities, but if a resident is over 18, they will need to go through the same questionnaire, providing earning information, etc. If, like me, you're in a position where one salary is enough to cover the rent, then say that nobody else works. It's far easier and requires less paperwork. In closing, I would encourage potential new renters to shop around, compare prices, and then make a decision based on what they can afford, which school system they want their kids to attend (if applicable), how much space per dollar the apartment offers, etc. I believe it's possible to find somewhere quieter, smaller, more expensive, etc., and that may be okay with you. I won't say that Royal Crest Estates in North Andover offers the most beautiful apartments, but they are priced competitively for this area and deserve a look. Good luck and happy renting!