I feel crazy asking this here but there's bound to be a local real estate agent that can chime in on this in regards to the Houston market in general.

I've got my eye on a particular couple of properties I'd like to rent, but their listed leasing price is about $100/mo more than what I'm hoping to spend. The property looks to have been listed for ~40 days at this point, and it's a weird little cul-de-sac carved out of an otherwise rundown/industrial part of Houston.

I'm wondering if I have any leniency as far as negotiating the rent down and how I'd even begin that conversation through a real estate agent. I know the worst I can do is ask but I don't want to ask if I'm gonna get laughed out of the room haha

Mid 20s "young professional" (god I hate that) looking to move into a starter home.

Big issue is, my work is in clear lake and I'm not ready to give up access to Montrose. Normally the heights would be the obvious solution but that's putting my commute into nasty territory.

I've driven up and down 45 and I'm struggling to find more up and coming neighborhoods. I'm sure there are some hidden gems of neighborhoods but I'm wondering what they might be. I'm not expecting something pristine and cultivated but at least somewhere where half the houses don't have bars on the windows.