WOODWAY, TX – As the demand for housing in central Texas continues to grow, some potential renters say they are being forced to stay in hotels while they wait for apartments to open.
Several central Texas hotels, including the SpringHill Suites in Woodway, are seeing an increase in the number of guests checking in for extended stays. Many are waiting for their leases to begin or are looking for a lease.
Woodway SpringHill Suites Sales Manager Catherine Oliver has said over the past several years that there have been few long-term stays at the hotel. She says about 30 percent of the hotel’s business is based on extended stays.
“The city is making great strides with developments, staying longer and people moving to Waco from another state,” said Oliver.
She mentioned that people are staying for a couple of weeks to a couple of months as they sometimes have to get a job in the area and don’t have an apartment yet.
One of those people is Daniel Ramos, who just moved to the area with his family from California.
“I’m sorry, I have nothing, I’m sorry, I have nothing,” one caretaker after another told him.
“And I think after fifth place I was like, ‘What are we going to do?'” He said.
After visiting more than ten places in a single day, he was able to find an opening place in Temple in late July. Although the commute to work takes about 30 minutes, he is happy to have at least an apartment.
“I’m just counting the days until I can move into my apartment,” said Ramos.
Right now he’s in a room at the SpringHill Suites with all of his family – his fiance, his daughters, and even his dog and cat.
The cramped living space is only temporary, however, as Ramos and many others are looking forward to unpacking in a more permanent location.
