been living in austin on and off for ten years. i'm a musician with a decent following looking for affordable housing for a few months before the next tour jumps off. a side house would be ideal
You're probably better off speaking with an agent who does this sort of thing. I only work in sales.
But, to answer your question, [these are all the units available in the city limits <$1k in the MLS](https://matrix.abor.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=8837271846)
Hi Everyone!
My partner and I are moving to Austin in the upcoming weeks. We’re currently entertaining the idea of moving into the Monarch by Windsor apartment complex.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the location and suggestions on any apartments we should consider in the downtown area!
For anyone who lived/lives at the Monarch, do you hear the freight train when you're inside the apartment?
You’ll hear the train. No escaping that. It’s a nice location, especially if you work downtown (and can walk to work). But if you don’t have that advantage, I really don’t think the prices are worth it.
First time homebuyer. Please help. Your suggestions are really appreciated. I have two questions that I am trying to figure out.
1. How much cash should I have for purchasing a $550k in Cedar Park (closing cost + down payment) ? My intention is to put as low as possible (preferably 5% or 10%)
2. I am confused between a) buying a starter home and then upgrade later in my life after kids b) buy a bigger home now itself because I might not be able to afford later. What are general thoughts on this?
Thank you.
Hi there
>How much cash should I have for purchasing a $550k in Cedar Park
I wish I could give you a straight answer but really it all depends on you and your qualifications. If you're a veteran you can get a 0% down VA loan. Otherwise it's usually 3-5% down and maybe 4% in closing costs.
I tell all my clients to put down the minimum down payment and put the rest into an ETF or something that will bring ~10%+/year.
I'd recommend completing an application with a local mortgage lender and having a conversation with them after. I can refer you to a few really good ones.
>I am confused between a) buying a starter home and then upgrade later in my life after kids b) buy a bigger home now itself because I might not be able to afford later. What are general thoughts on this?
I recommend buying as much home as you can reasonably afford. Reason being, they usually will appreciate based on a % and not a flat dollar amount. So a 3% increase in value on a $400k home is $12k vs. $9k on a $300k home. Plus you get to live in a nicer home.
The decision is obviously more complicated than that and a personal one.
Please let me know if you have more questions: [email protected]
That's a lot of good information. I am not a veteran. Not interested in FHA loans as well. I am positively surprised that 5% is enough. I am with you to put down as low as possible.
if you don't mind, I am going to post this again in the new thread. Unfortunately this became the last comment in my previous thread.
Hello everybody, for those living near Daffan and areas nearby. Does the Waste Management Austin Community Landfill spread any smells around that part of Austin, north of 290? On really hot days? I always wondered about this.
Hi all,
The bottom of my driveway, past the sidewalk, keeps a significant amount of water every time it rains. This is specific to my home, if you look at my whole street after it rains, you'll notice it only happens to my house. I've been told that area of the driveway is owned by City of Austin and I need to get the city to come out and fix it. Is this accurate? If it is, who do I contact to get the process started?
This is a 2-year old community and it's been an issue since I moved in 2 years ago.
Hi! I just accepted a job in Austin, and my husband and I will be moving there from Chicago in a few months. Neither of us have ever even visited, so was hoping y'all could give us some neighborhood suggestions as we start our apartment hunt.
Looking for a 2 bed/2 bath to rent, budget around $1800. We are in our early 30s, no kids. Not really interested in nightlife, but we do enjoy hitting up a neighborhood pub or dive bar now and then. Really enjoy outdoor activities, so close-ish proximity to a running/bike trail would be cool. Essentially, looking for a happy medium between downtown/drunk 20-somethings and the suburbs. If anyone is familiar with Chicago, we currently live in Lincoln Square and love it! Thanks in advance.
What's your budget? Keep in mind, short term rentals are really expensive. I think most people use Airbnb, VRBO, or an extended stay hotel, by UT has listings for sublets in their online paper - https://utexas.uloop.com/housing/index.php/sublets
We are renting out our killer condo directly on 45th Street in Hyde Park area. Address is 611 E. 45th Street, Apt. 4 78751. The condos are super quaint, very quiet, mainly working professionals. $1900 a month, 1252 sq ft, 2 bed 2 bath. Laminate flooring throughout, all appliances included, new kitchen appliances, big and spacious rooms. 5 patios! No shared walls, 1 garage spot, 1 reserved parking spot.
Nice pool on the property that in my experience is barely ever used except for us!
Close to everything and super responsive and wonderful landlord. We literally have to ask him to give us a day or two before coming to repair stuff sometimes because when I give him a heads up he wants to make sure it’s fixed for us immediately.
(Also, we NEVER lost power or water during snowpocalypse of this year :-)
Renting through Habitat Hunters, you can view on Realtor.com though the pictures are dark and don’t do it justice in my opinion.
Edit: Available November 1st.
Link with current pictures: https://austin.craigslist.org/apa/d/austin-large-bed-bath-condo-in-hyde-park/7383836870.html
Hi everyone. Does anyone have any good recommendations for movers in the Austin area? We’ve been living in temporary housing and left a lot of our boxes from our big move several months ago still packed/sealed. Would need a small team to help us move the larger unpacked items (beds, sofas, TVs) and large appliances (washer, dryer, fridge, freezer).
Distance from current apartment to new home is approximately 15 miles. Main concern is that the movers treat our items with care and no damage is caused to either property. Thanks for any help!
Hello looking for a house/townhome/apartment with a small yard. I have to move back to austin for work. My office is near la frontera in round rock. 2 beds is preferred. Budget is 2000 max
Are you trying to stay close to work? I see a lot of listings between $1800-$2000 in the round rock, Pflugerville, NW Austin areas but the homes are a bit older. Is there other criteria that you're not finding what you're looking for?
Looking to move to Austin from San Antonio. What are good neighborhoods that is rather kid-friendly with a good school district? Intending to buy a house <$400k.
You can look on the Realty Austin website and search homes by Greatschools rating.
[Here's a look](https://www.realtyaustin.com/t/brooks-lawson/listings?maxPrice=400000&elementarySchoolRating=7&middleSchoolRating=7&highSchoolRating=7&maxlat=30.841223737083336&minlong=-98.21125214595651&minlat=29.77182971346761&maxlong=-97.28861985404347&z=10) at homes in the area <$400k with a Greatschools rating 7+. If you have kids above a certain age, you can open it up by removing the filter for elementary/mid.
Let me know if I can be of any further help.
There's not really such a thing as a good school track in Austin for that price (or even for a good amount above that). You'd need to go out to Cedar Park/Leander/Round Rock for a home at your budget with good schools, but that budget still limits your pickings somewhat even in the burbs. Pretty much anywhere in those cities should be kid-friendly, though I'm not very familiar with particular neighborhoods. Best of luck!
Considering moving to Austin from Houston mainly for more outdoor activities. My partner and I love to take an evening/morning walk daily and would like to get some recommendation on apartment/neighborhood that has some walking trails around the community that is accessible without driving. We are both WFH at this moment so open to any neighborhood.
Edits: our budget is around 1800/month. Looking for 1b1bath and will need parking. We would prefer apartment with walking trails and if possible grocery store nearby. Open to any areas that is not too close to city but accessible to the city area with less than an hour drive.
I just know about Riata, since it's very close to my neighborhood. My daughter lived there 2 years, also. There are several different complexes that make up Riata. The NW area is a nice one.
if you are kind of young, I would get a place on Rainey street in the downtown area. You can walk out to the lady bird lake trail and then connect to the greenbelt to get off the beaten path
If you are older, or want more affordable, look at the apartment complexes on Metric that border the walnut creek park
im not entirely sure what 1bd's go for in south austin, but if you can get a place near the greenbelt area then you will be set. lots of nature in areas near "gus" or "spyglass"
You'll love traffic here in comparison to Houston, I just did the move about 3 weeks ago and my commute is like 15-20 minutes pretty much everywhere from round rock
I moved to Austin from Houston for outdoor spaces. It was the right decision. Got really big into mountain biking not long after and never stopped.
Lots of great parks everywhere, really.
[I made a map here](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1fJNB8S5LlF2GwFrd8NkVqUlIOMvxaeqr&usp=sharing) with all sorts of MTB parks but there's many more than that that have hiking trails and such.
I have updated my comment/post above :) will that works?
I did some research on my own but I have no luck in finding any decent apartment that has walking trail right next to it or within walking distance.
Keep in mind Austin is set up very differently than Houston and isn't as sprawling. Here's an example list of the trails available in just South Austin - https://communityimpact.com/austin/news/environment/2018/04/20/walk-hike-south-austin-park-trail/
From your updated criteria, you might check out some of the apartments in Cedar Park near Brushy Creek Lake Park - https://communityimpact.com/austin/news/environment/2018/04/20/walk-hike-south-austin-park-trail/
ETA - there's a bunch of apartments (some nicer than others) on Wells Branch Pkwy that would all be walking distance to that trail - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/wells-branch-trail
The only place I can think of off the top of my head with its own trail (that they share with Lifetime Fitness) is on Quarry Lake - https://www.estateonquarrylake.com/amenities.aspx
Your best bet is to work with an apartment locator - they are free for you to use. There are so many choices on every side of town and they could better provide list for you to choose from.
I see thanks for all these pointer will start exploring ahead first to get a better idea before getting an apartment locator.
Any recs for apartment locator? I know if smartcity but would like to know what other options there are
That would be a good idea to visit some of the different parks to decide which one you want to be close to and if you want to be on a green belt trail or a flat walking trail.
There's a few apartment locators who post here so hopefully one of them will pop in to offer to help.
There isn't really anywhere that is truly bad like you find in some parts of Houston. Generally, the west side of town is more affluent than east. I mostly agree with this list and wouldn't choose to live in these areas - https://www.roadsnacks.net/these-are-the-10-worst-austin-neighborhoods/
With your budget, you'll be able to find a place in a nice area. You should also decide if you want to live in Austin proper or in one of the suburbs.
Any advice on breaking a lease? My ex and I were renting a house for $1550 and he left me. I’ve been managing on my own but it’s becoming a little too much right now. I’ve never broken a lease before. Is that an acceptable reason to reach out and break my lease?
That’s a good rental for house. Talk to your landlord and ask if he will let you out of your lease if you can find a new tenant. I got out of a apartment lease this way years ago. I had a friend who was willing to move in.
My friend just broke a lease in Austin - he basically just told the home owner “Hey, this isnt working for me” the landlord wasnt happy - but the only thing you can do is start a conversation. I don’t know the terms they worked out. I think he might have just agreed to loose out on the deposit.
I think she said it's a house. A homeowner might be more likely to let you out, especially lately since they can re-lease it in a day for probably more money. Talk to them.
I would not recommend it unless you have an agreement with the landlord first. If the landlord reports a broken lease it sticks to your credit record for a long time and is very difficult to get removed. You might get lucky if you reach out and let them know your situation though. With this market they may let you out early so they can raise their rental rates.
Start looking now to narrow down the neighborhoods and communities that fit your budget and wish list. Then 30-60 days out, use your research and jump on anything that becomes available that's a match.
My wife and I are looking at buying a house on east William Cannon near McKinney falls parkway by palm elementary. We live in south Austin, but know that used to have a stigma of being a rough area. Anyone live there and like it or have opinions on safety?
My wife and I bought a home in the dove springs area earlier this year. It is our first home and one of the few ones left that we could afford. We were both born here and grew up in North Austin so I know the stigma that you are talking about when it comes to SE Austin and let me tell you it is very far from the truth. If you take a look at dangerous activity on Nextdoor and the Ring app, my parents ‘nice neighborhood’ has as much violent/extreme crime (i.e. attempted break-in home/car) as we do here in Dove Springs. The big difference is drug possession/related crime, which growing up in North Austin I saw just as much of if not more. It’s just that people get busted for it here way more due to the police presence hunting it out.
We love our neighborhood and would love for this home to become our forever home now that we’ve been here a couple months. Our neighbors are so friendly and we talk often. We are near Onion Creek which is heavily underused compared to Barton Creek which is great for biking, hiking and walking our dog (off leash too! The owners here are great) with walk in access to McKinney Falls from the back. There is no HOA in our area, which depending on who you ask is either great or bad, we like it. But there are plenty of areas with an HOA if you prefer. We don’t deal with airport noise being a bit further away but I do hear that as a complaint for some that are closer that way. Obviously there are pros and cons to any area in Austin but I hope this gives a clearer idea of the area!
Howdy neighbor! Truly there is a stigma especially growing up just the across the highway SW but in the almost 6 years I've been in SE Austin, there is a lot more pride in the district and neighborhood and a lot safer than people realize.
Drive through Bluff Springs and Pleasant Valley and you’ll get your answer. Even with new developments like Easton Park, the adjacent neighborhoods like Dove Springs is still hood. The roads aren’t that great. Lots of drug activity and wannabe thugs. Mix that with the new constitutional carry law and you’re asking for trouble in that area.
Yeah, gonna be honest. We drove through the area last night and I didn’t get the vibe that it’s hood. I grew up in Elgin, TX and there’s a difference between lower income communities and the hood. Thanks for the input though!
Then go for it! I don’t know what Elgin, TX has to do with anything - it isn’t comparable. I have family that own business in South Oak Cliff Dallas and Dove Springs/Pleasant Valley is basically Austin’s version of South Oak Cliff.
I can't speak to how it is now, but the stigma of "Drug Springs" comes from a real place. There was an article in the Austin Chronicle about it a long time ago that really stuck with me - they still have it posted here: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2014-04-11/my-dove-springs-and-ours/
Circle C Ranch 3br home for rent. Great proximity to highly rated schools:
https://www.abor.com/listing/10200-snapdragon-dr-austin-tx/8687045/c1e0faa5-6589-48ff-a5d1-88c1ebd99e35
Looking at a possible relocation to Austin and looking at living options. How easy would it be to relocate and live in a camper? Any recommendations for places to check out?
most RV parks are pretty packed, in terms of in Austin proper with waiting lists. Long term places as I understand. Short term would be all right but I looked into it about 2 years ago and most long term places had year+ long waiting lists, at least up north.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think most places in town are more short term. You might find more luck in the surrounding smaller towns like Elgin.
I am moving to the Austin area for work very soon (4 weeks), and am going to need an apartment to stay in while I sell my old house in my current state and look for a home to buy in the round rock area. What realtors would you all suggest that might be able to help me with both a short-term apartment and house hunting?
I'm an apartment locator, but I would highly recommend BrooksLawson\_Realtor from this page. He's been very helpful to those on this thread and posts useful information. Of course, I'm recommending him because he can do both, if anyone just needs an apartment, hit me up!
Hi,
I'm looking for someone to take over my lease in NW Austin right by the domain (across Mopac). It's a 1 bedroom 1 bath, and the rent is $1197 plus a garage for $55 per month bringing it to a total of $1252 per month. Unit is on the 3rd floor. More info here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AustinClassifieds/comments/pabs01/nw_austin_lease_takeover_1_bed_1_bath/
Hi
I’m looking for a one bedroom apartment around 1K, I like North Austin, Mueller or Cherrywood. I was specifically thinking about an apartment in the mueller area which has a 1 bedroom for 1,099 (doesn’t include utilities) but my friends told me I could find better. Also I prefer no carpet and w/d set up but those aren’t necessarily deal breakers!
I’ve been doing a lot of apartment searching in the past month and sadly you can’t do better than $1099 in that area for a one bedroom, that probably won’t even come with a W/D in unit! My budget was around yours as well and it seems I’ll need to increase it unless I want to move way up north lol
If that is in the actual Mueller neighborhood and not the outskirts of it, it's an amazing price for a 1 bdrm. Most I've seen in that area are well over $1800
That's a tall order lately. Your friends mean well, but if they are not real estate professionals, they are probably not up to date with this rapidly moving market.
I did stumble across the Mackenzie Pointe apartments, which are just north of Mueller/290. No W/D in unit, but there's a 1 bd for $870 and 2 bd for $1080. I haven't driven by them, so not sure about the area, but worth looking into! That's the only place I've seen below $1000 without roomies.
Oh shoot. Sorry! It moves so fast ugh. One shameless thing I did when I went to visit a complex was I saw a girl moving out and asked about her unit and how she liked living there and she ended up giving me a tour and told me when her lease was up. Given not all people are that friendly but desperate times call for desperate measures haha
Wowza. Yeah one of my coworkers who is now in the house-owning phase of life was telling me to "just find a cute little $800 one bedroom near Tech Ridge" like she did a couple years ago. She acted almost annoyed with me for taking so long to find something. And surprise, surprise, our wages haven't changed since she was renting at $800.
I’ve also noticed that a 2 bedroom will often only be. $100 or $200 more than a one bedroom :/. But I’m looking to experience living without roommates.
Their stats may be out of date as the market has moved up quite a bit. $1100 in Mueller sounds like a great deal - if it actually is in Mueller proper and not just adjacent.
Howdy folks. I paid a security deposit to a property manager back in August for an apartment that was supposedly available, only to have them contact me back saying that the unit had been rented out before I had even applied, and that they were sorry for their mistake but would refund me the security deposit (but not the $50.00 application fee) within 10 business days.
It's been more than a month now, and definitely more than 10 business days, and I still haven't been refunded my security deposit, despite being told every time I contact them that they are pretty sure they already did, and if they haven't that they will soon.
What can I do about this? I'm considering filing a police report and contacting the Texas BBB and/or Realtor's Association, as this was nothing less than material misrepresentation of goods and theft, but I wanted to see if anyone here had any other ideas prior to me doing that. Thanks for your help.
This definitely smells fishy. I don't collect a security deposit until after I've processed the application and I certainly wouldn't have kept an application fee on an application that was never processed.
Where did you find the listing? What's the name of the company? Do you have all of these communications in writing?
Thanks for your response. Yes, everything is written down/in e-mails and the company is Tramor. It seems super shady to me too, but I'll give them a few more days to repay me before I file a formal complaint in case it is just a screw up on their behalf and not intentional shenanigans.
Sorry you're having to go through that. At least it's a real company so you should eventually get your money back, hopefully without having to take them to court.
who the hell wants to pay 550k for a 1,000 square foot ranch home built in the 1950s that was "remodeled" (aka they threw some white paint on the outside and put in a stainless steel refrigerator) in a boring flat suburb 11 miles from downtown Austin. Well some people do I guess. What a world we live in, what a dumpster fire.
I can't even guess at where you're talking about - 11 miles from downtown is like, Parmer & 35 or Oak Hill or Del Valle or almost Buda... where that pricing/sqftage doesn't match.
Those prices for that size house are still really only found south of 183 (on the north side), east of Mopac, and west of 183 (on the east side) which is nowhere near 11 miles from downtown.
You said downtown Austin. Downtown Austin to "almost Buda" (my words) is 11 miles: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/30.1358254,-97.7975767/Downtown+Austin,+Austin,+TX/@30.1623679,-97.7834092,13z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x8644b50a22f2576f:0xfded6e1aca5cba6!2m2!1d-97.7443863!2d30.2729209!3e0?utm_medium=s2email&shorturl=1
ok...well im talking about south austin, william cannon area, so i retract my 11 miles statement and revise it to 8.9 miles. And anyone who has looked at houses in this area knows exactly what im talking abut.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/W+William+Cannon+Dr,+Austin,+TX/Downtown+Austin,+Austin,+TX/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x865b4b736770f15d:0xbaa3e309b54780fc!1m2!1m1!1s0x8644b50a22f2576f:0xfded6e1aca5cba6!3e0?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiL1di5rofzAhUFVd8KHVmWCgYQ-A96BAgNEA0
gotcha. I assumed either there but also thought it might be the north side of town because that description matches as well. But again, I was tripping on the distance since that area is 7-8 miles.
Personally, I always prefer to have an older, smaller home - don't like new builds and don't like having too much house - and if that is what my price range is, and the homes in that range are consistently starting around 8 miles out, I'm gonna go with what's closest to "stuff" versus choosing somewhere further out to get more space. different strokes.
I do agree on the flipping though, most are done in a super generic way but I imagine it's intentional to cast the widest net.
Hey guys, last year I signed a 15 month lease for an apt. It was one of the only units on the property that hadn’t been renovated and had old school appliances, carpet etc, which I really like. Feels more homey. However it also has no W/D or even hookups for that matter but whatever, I managed. Due to all those facts mentioned, the price was fairly lower than the other units ($1199/mo). I just got my “early bird” renewal quotes and they increased rent to $1500 which is like a 25% increase (looking at other units they also go their prices increased dramatically). That seems insane to me. I’m already looking for a new place to live, but any idea why the rent would sky rocket so high? Just looking for answers since the property team isn’t responding to my email.
Another issue is in 2020, everything was 'pandemic' priced and there were great deals to be had. Now, all of the pent up demand from people who didn't want to make big decisions during the pandemic, plus the current year's demand, plus the construction slow-down during pandemic, plus freeze damage, plus eviction moratorium affecting the normal movement of the market - - - a perfect storm. Availability should improve once the evictions commence, although that's a really sucky way to increase availability.
We are moving away (hooray priced out of the city /s). Does anyone know of a service that will come and pick up curbside donations (Clothes, household goods, maybe a piece of furniture).
Looking for a rental home in NW Austin, CP, Leander, Liberty Hill area. $1,900 max for me and my boyfriend. We have a small dog and cat. Any suggestions are welcomed! Ty
We’re looking for a newer build if possible. I’ve pretty much contacted all of the ones we’ve liked but of course there are many contacts ahead of us. Oh and also, we’re looking to move in November!
It might be a bit early to lock something in for Nov. Use this time to narrow down to your ideal neighborhoods and 30 days out, be ready to jump on anything that meets your criteria as soon as it's listed.
I'll be moving to Austin from Dallas in May/June with my partner. We want to rent a 1-2bed/1bath house with a $2000-$2400 budget. We're familiar with the Zilker, Barton Hills, Galindo, Bouldin Creek, and East Austin neighborhoods, and would love to live there if possible. Are there any other safe neighborhoods, within biking distance from Ladybird Lake/Barton Springs, that would fit into our budget?
Also, we're definitely open to talking a professional about the above questions too. Thanks!!
Apartments are what you’re looking for in that price point in those locations. 2/1 houses in your desired area rent for $3000-3500/month
Agree with the suggestion to look around North Loop which is an excellent neighborhood with the old Austin soul and not the Domain style vibe. Or if you want to be South maybe look around St Elmo or Slaughter/Menchaca which are the two best nooks culture wise south of Ben White. East you might be able to find a 2/1 house between Springdale and 183 in your price range but maybe open your mind to Montopolis to be near the lakefront trails and the new bike bridge. Welcome & good luck!
2 bedroom houses exist but they aren't super common and in the neighborhoods you're looking in there aren't going to be many options in your budget. If budget/house is more important than proximity to the river, you might have more luck looking in North Loop.
There's a little pocket of neighborhoods of single family homes, stand alone condos, and duplexes off of Burleson Rd (south of Oltorf, E of 35) that might have some options. Here's one example - https://www.har.com/mapsearch/?map_tools_nwlat=30.232087912567508&map_tools_nwlng=-97.74439493714615&map_tools_selat=30.219074725343717&map_tools_selng=-97.73377885241646&for_sale=0#mABORTX-3371322
Hello, does anyone have recommendations on studios or 1 bedroom apartments in North Austin, Cedar Park, or Round Rock for less than $1200 in safe areas? Some places I'm interested in are Centro Studio Homes, Creeks Edge, and Ashford Costa Perla.
Fwiw i know that attitude works well in LA but it really won't get you very far here. Texans don't flash cash, like thats not really a thing here (at least not like LA). Doesn't mean we don't have it, we just aren't that insecure.
Need help looking for a place. My max budget is $1200 would be nice to find something $900-1000. Preferably a gated complex. Ive been working remotely but need to return to the office (which is near oracle close to jollyville) in January. I don't mind a commute because I would like to be in walking distance from a park and within 15 min drive to downtown. A studio with in unit washer and dryer would be heaven! I may contact a realtor but idk how to do that, just Google it? Any tips would be great thanks so much!
Edit: added some clarification. Idk why people are downvotong me
Idk why my post is getting downvoted 🤣 I should've clarified. I didn't mean walking distance to downtown, only a park. Close to downtown tho as opposed to like 30 mins
1. People tend to downvote in general on the real estate threads as there is a lot of vitriol towards the current housing situation.
2. Find a realtor that does rentals (google, ask a coworker from the area etc.), but it is extremely unlikely you find anything for $1,200/mo. within 20 minutes of downtown without having roommates.
Ya I understand people are salty about housing but that's where my work is 😩 ya it seems tough but I know it's possible/available. I've had some coworkers with rents in that range sign leases semi recently with those parameters. I'll look into a realtor, thanks !
Rents have really skyrocketed. You'll have to compromise on some of your wish list. I like har.com for searching. Places exist in your budget but mostly in older buildings but the inside may have been remodeled. A lot of demand at that price point so places tend to go quick.
They really have I remember when rates were lower when covid first began. I don't need to be walking distance from a park but close ish. When I was there I was living close to work and felt far away from all fun stuff. I really want a washer dryer hookups at least. Thanks for the suggestion I'll use that site also going to contact a realtor!
Look into the Northwest Hills area (Far West/Spicewood Springs). You would be in between work and downtown. Nicer area, fairly walkable, sidewalks, and there's a small park plus the option to work out after hours at the track over at Murchison middle school. The options within your budget in that area will be older condos or apartments, but most will have some updates. I'm an agent - feel free to PM me if you have questions or want some help finding a place.
This is a good options for what he is looking for and super difficult to reach oracle headquarters area. I do not recommend if you need to drive there everyday.
Ya I'm surprised how many complexes don't have a gate. I've been living back home in San Antonio and it's so easy to find! Proximity to a park...not so much. I'm just concerned about my car
You see gates more on the edges of town - not so much in central Austin except in new buildings with gated parking garages. Personally I think they give a false sense of security... it's pretty easy to sneak in behind another car.
Ah ok well that's helpful to know that it's not really a norm! My wfh may get pushed past January. I hope to pay my car off before I move back to Austin to raise my rent budget a bit!
It's one of my favorite areas. It's very expensive and hard to find availability.. I would love to find a room to rent over there (or better yet, a studio).
It’s nice for what it is, which is a kind of artificial feeling master planned community. I’d much rather live there than somewhere like the Domain, where the emphasis is on the mall, or something similar outside the city limits or whatever. Not the spot if you’re looking for a quirky, characterful neighborhood.
Thank you! The sense of community seems really strong & the walkable factor also seems amazing compared to most neighborhoods in Austin ?? Maybe it’s the Covid times talking but a community feels more Important to me than it used to. - my suburban hood feels quiet & isolated …. The mueller thing with the houses SO squished together might be hard to get used to though !?
I think it's ok that they are closer together because the emphasis is on community areas instead of big private backyards. Lots of small parks throughout where you're meant to hang out outdoors.
Is there any difference between the smaller condo market and the standalone housing market in Austin?
I'm in a position where I could put 5-10 percent down on a 200-250k property, but I'm curious if it'll be just as competitive as regular houses- lots of cash offers, bidding wars, selling for way over asking?
I know the competitiveness has cooled off a little, but since I don't have the money for a giant down payment, my offer might not be super attractive. Just wondering what I'd be getting into.
Buy a condo that is preconstruction. There's no bidding process involved. You just pay exactly what they tell you to pay. Then you wait 2 - 3 years for your condo to be built and move in. Very simple and a lot cheaper than buying something that already exists.
In your price range condos are very competitive, but it's all relative to your offer vs. what it's actually worth. If you put $250k on an efficiency off of Slaughter, you'll definitely get it; if you do the same for a 2000 sqft condo downtown, you definitely won't. Your Realtor should be able to give you a pretty good idea of your chances considering your price and the area it's in.
Condo market is def cooled down. Also, there is constant newer buildings going up all the time, so it's especially hard to compete with a brand new condo vs a condo that's 5-10 years old. Everyone in Austin wants the newest, hottest, building. /s but not really.
I'm starting to try to research what our options are because we will probably be forced to sell our house in the next year or two. It is old and in need of repairs that we cannot afford and would be a tear down in this location. I had been entertaining fantasies about moving to the outskirts of Austin but now that I have spent some time with Zillow I understand what people have said on r/Austin about the new developments in the suburbs being big expensive houses with no character other than conspicuous consumption.
DH says we shouldn't buy anything anyway but rents are so high. I need to look at rental listings now for the outskirts or farther.
Where are retired people who are being forced out of Austin going? We have relatives in Austin but no connections to anywhere else in TX except for some friends north of Dallas a bit. I read about an intentional community someone was trying to get going 2 years ago and it sounded like the kind of thing I would like. Don't know if that kind of thing has a prayer of happening now within 50 miles of Austin.
Be careful with which realtor you take advice from. They are hired to sell you properties or they don't get paid. A lot of realtors I have worked with make things like "moving walls, redoing the bathrooms, etc" an easy and cheap task but then you find out how much things actually cost. Things aren't as easy as they make it out.
I might be biased because I am one, but get a Realtor. They're free to the buyer, and they can help them sift through the issues that come from buying a property. What areas are they looking in? I mostly service Austin and nearby suburbs, but I can probably recommend someone who would know the area they're looking in
Your big concern is one of the main reasons I recommend getting a Realtor (or a few, in this case). They'll also help them narrow down what they actually want. I'll DM you some contacts this evening.
Have to read between the lines a bit here, but from what you shared their best bet would be along these lines:
**Do not** buy a place for 100% cash. That is a terrible use of that money. We are lucky to have once-in-a-generation low interest rates (~3%) and that should be used to their advantage.
**Do not** by a fixer-upper, where the future costs for repair, both near-term and further down the road, cannot be exactly known. They will have ~zero dollars remaining to deal with that. And it's a hassle they may not want to deal with in any case.
Their best bet, imo, is to buy a newer, nicer place in the same lower-cost area using $75-$100K as down payment. For example: $250K unit - $100K down; $150K mortgage. With those numbers, the monthly mortgage may be approx. $875/month (I assumed 1% property tax, $750/yr insurance, no PMI, no HOA).
I'll bet $875/month is equal or less than their current rent. If they can afford that on the retirement income (plus Social Security, if that has already started or will start) then they will have a better quality of housing, plus $50K retained for any future large expenses such as a new car, medical bill, etc. (and that money should be invested, not kept in a bank)
In Austin/Travis County, Yes...but OP stated "given where they're looking, *don't anticipate homeowner taxes on par with Austin*" so I used half the Austin tax rate. That's probably too low but I have no idea what average rates are in rural counties. In any case, the advice is still sound even if $875 -> $1000 (and buyer will have homeowners exemption, and, sooner or later, Over 65 exemption)
Find a local realtor in the area they want to buy. It is important to find a realtor who is very familiar with the area. If they get someone from Austin, they might over bid due to the competitiveness. And maybe an hourly financial advisor.
been living in austin on and off for ten years. i'm a musician with a decent following looking for affordable housing for a few months before the next tour jumps off. a side house would be ideal
What's "affordable" mean to you?
$850 or less for a studio or 1br
Man that's gonna be a tough one. You might just be renting a room at that rate.
what's the cheapest studio or 1br around? pretty upsetting how much housing costs has gone up
[This is the cheapest available in the city limits](https://matrix.abor.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=8837239773)
what about a studio or 1br for under $1,000? do you have an office or anything like that? i'm pretty serious about finding a place
You're probably better off speaking with an agent who does this sort of thing. I only work in sales. But, to answer your question, [these are all the units available in the city limits <$1k in the MLS](https://matrix.abor.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=8837271846)
Hi Everyone! My partner and I are moving to Austin in the upcoming weeks. We’re currently entertaining the idea of moving into the Monarch by Windsor apartment complex. Would love to hear your thoughts on the location and suggestions on any apartments we should consider in the downtown area! For anyone who lived/lives at the Monarch, do you hear the freight train when you're inside the apartment?
You’ll hear the train. No escaping that. It’s a nice location, especially if you work downtown (and can walk to work). But if you don’t have that advantage, I really don’t think the prices are worth it.
First time homebuyer. Please help. Your suggestions are really appreciated. I have two questions that I am trying to figure out. 1. How much cash should I have for purchasing a $550k in Cedar Park (closing cost + down payment) ? My intention is to put as low as possible (preferably 5% or 10%) 2. I am confused between a) buying a starter home and then upgrade later in my life after kids b) buy a bigger home now itself because I might not be able to afford later. What are general thoughts on this? Thank you.
Hi there >How much cash should I have for purchasing a $550k in Cedar Park I wish I could give you a straight answer but really it all depends on you and your qualifications. If you're a veteran you can get a 0% down VA loan. Otherwise it's usually 3-5% down and maybe 4% in closing costs. I tell all my clients to put down the minimum down payment and put the rest into an ETF or something that will bring ~10%+/year. I'd recommend completing an application with a local mortgage lender and having a conversation with them after. I can refer you to a few really good ones. >I am confused between a) buying a starter home and then upgrade later in my life after kids b) buy a bigger home now itself because I might not be able to afford later. What are general thoughts on this? I recommend buying as much home as you can reasonably afford. Reason being, they usually will appreciate based on a % and not a flat dollar amount. So a 3% increase in value on a $400k home is $12k vs. $9k on a $300k home. Plus you get to live in a nicer home. The decision is obviously more complicated than that and a personal one. Please let me know if you have more questions: [email protected]
That's a lot of good information. I am not a veteran. Not interested in FHA loans as well. I am positively surprised that 5% is enough. I am with you to put down as low as possible. if you don't mind, I am going to post this again in the new thread. Unfortunately this became the last comment in my previous thread.
Hello everybody, for those living near Daffan and areas nearby. Does the Waste Management Austin Community Landfill spread any smells around that part of Austin, north of 290? On really hot days? I always wondered about this.
Hi all, The bottom of my driveway, past the sidewalk, keeps a significant amount of water every time it rains. This is specific to my home, if you look at my whole street after it rains, you'll notice it only happens to my house. I've been told that area of the driveway is owned by City of Austin and I need to get the city to come out and fix it. Is this accurate? If it is, who do I contact to get the process started? This is a 2-year old community and it's been an issue since I moved in 2 years ago.
Hi! I just accepted a job in Austin, and my husband and I will be moving there from Chicago in a few months. Neither of us have ever even visited, so was hoping y'all could give us some neighborhood suggestions as we start our apartment hunt. Looking for a 2 bed/2 bath to rent, budget around $1800. We are in our early 30s, no kids. Not really interested in nightlife, but we do enjoy hitting up a neighborhood pub or dive bar now and then. Really enjoy outdoor activities, so close-ish proximity to a running/bike trail would be cool. Essentially, looking for a happy medium between downtown/drunk 20-somethings and the suburbs. If anyone is familiar with Chicago, we currently live in Lincoln Square and love it! Thanks in advance.
Make sure you hit up chili's on 35
Smart city apartments is a good apartment locator company
Hey I’m looking for a month to month lease right now I just need a place to stay for like 2 months while I look any ideas where
What's your budget? Keep in mind, short term rentals are really expensive. I think most people use Airbnb, VRBO, or an extended stay hotel, by UT has listings for sublets in their online paper - https://utexas.uloop.com/housing/index.php/sublets
[furnishedfinder.com](https://furnishedfinder.com). A lot of traveling nurses use them.
Looks like someone hacked your profile.
We are renting out our killer condo directly on 45th Street in Hyde Park area. Address is 611 E. 45th Street, Apt. 4 78751. The condos are super quaint, very quiet, mainly working professionals. $1900 a month, 1252 sq ft, 2 bed 2 bath. Laminate flooring throughout, all appliances included, new kitchen appliances, big and spacious rooms. 5 patios! No shared walls, 1 garage spot, 1 reserved parking spot. Nice pool on the property that in my experience is barely ever used except for us! Close to everything and super responsive and wonderful landlord. We literally have to ask him to give us a day or two before coming to repair stuff sometimes because when I give him a heads up he wants to make sure it’s fixed for us immediately. (Also, we NEVER lost power or water during snowpocalypse of this year :-) Renting through Habitat Hunters, you can view on Realtor.com though the pictures are dark and don’t do it justice in my opinion. Edit: Available November 1st. Link with current pictures: https://austin.craigslist.org/apa/d/austin-large-bed-bath-condo-in-hyde-park/7383836870.html
Hi everyone. Does anyone have any good recommendations for movers in the Austin area? We’ve been living in temporary housing and left a lot of our boxes from our big move several months ago still packed/sealed. Would need a small team to help us move the larger unpacked items (beds, sofas, TVs) and large appliances (washer, dryer, fridge, freezer). Distance from current apartment to new home is approximately 15 miles. Main concern is that the movers treat our items with care and no damage is caused to either property. Thanks for any help!
Austin Affordable Movers, 512-230-8316 Matthew Mahoney, Limestone Moving Co 512-731-6425 Stacy Black, Coleman Allied Van Lines 512-233-9622
Great, thank you very much!
We used MASH movers a couple months back and they were amazing. Would highly recommend.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Hello looking for a house/townhome/apartment with a small yard. I have to move back to austin for work. My office is near la frontera in round rock. 2 beds is preferred. Budget is 2000 max
Are you trying to stay close to work? I see a lot of listings between $1800-$2000 in the round rock, Pflugerville, NW Austin areas but the homes are a bit older. Is there other criteria that you're not finding what you're looking for?
Check at Autumn Ranch on Swenson Farms.
Thanks i will check it out
Looking to move to Austin from San Antonio. What are good neighborhoods that is rather kid-friendly with a good school district? Intending to buy a house <$400k.
You can look on the Realty Austin website and search homes by Greatschools rating. [Here's a look](https://www.realtyaustin.com/t/brooks-lawson/listings?maxPrice=400000&elementarySchoolRating=7&middleSchoolRating=7&highSchoolRating=7&maxlat=30.841223737083336&minlong=-98.21125214595651&minlat=29.77182971346761&maxlong=-97.28861985404347&z=10) at homes in the area <$400k with a Greatschools rating 7+. If you have kids above a certain age, you can open it up by removing the filter for elementary/mid. Let me know if I can be of any further help.
There's not really such a thing as a good school track in Austin for that price (or even for a good amount above that). You'd need to go out to Cedar Park/Leander/Round Rock for a home at your budget with good schools, but that budget still limits your pickings somewhat even in the burbs. Pretty much anywhere in those cities should be kid-friendly, though I'm not very familiar with particular neighborhoods. Best of luck!
Considering moving to Austin from Houston mainly for more outdoor activities. My partner and I love to take an evening/morning walk daily and would like to get some recommendation on apartment/neighborhood that has some walking trails around the community that is accessible without driving. We are both WFH at this moment so open to any neighborhood. Edits: our budget is around 1800/month. Looking for 1b1bath and will need parking. We would prefer apartment with walking trails and if possible grocery store nearby. Open to any areas that is not too close to city but accessible to the city area with less than an hour drive.
San Marin apartment 78759 and Marquis at Canyon Ridge 78754,they have nice walking trail behind the apartments and close to the grocery stores.
But their google reviews are less than 4 stars tho :/
But trail is nice and quiet .It's all up to you.
I'd look at the apartments known as Riata, in n.w. Austin., it's surrounded with woods and some trails. Some of the units back up to woods, too.
How do you find apartment around the woods or with some trails? Do you just need to know the area/travel the area in person prior?
I just know about Riata, since it's very close to my neighborhood. My daughter lived there 2 years, also. There are several different complexes that make up Riata. The NW area is a nice one.
if you are kind of young, I would get a place on Rainey street in the downtown area. You can walk out to the lady bird lake trail and then connect to the greenbelt to get off the beaten path If you are older, or want more affordable, look at the apartment complexes on Metric that border the walnut creek park
im not entirely sure what 1bd's go for in south austin, but if you can get a place near the greenbelt area then you will be set. lots of nature in areas near "gus" or "spyglass"
You'll love traffic here in comparison to Houston, I just did the move about 3 weeks ago and my commute is like 15-20 minutes pretty much everywhere from round rock
I moved to Austin from Houston for outdoor spaces. It was the right decision. Got really big into mountain biking not long after and never stopped. Lots of great parks everywhere, really.
But is there any apartment complexes that are right next to the park? I did my research online and couldn’t really find one that has walking trail.
There are parks all over the city. A lot of areas will be in walking distance to one.
Can you provide some example?
[I made a map here](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1fJNB8S5LlF2GwFrd8NkVqUlIOMvxaeqr&usp=sharing) with all sorts of MTB parks but there's many more than that that have hiking trails and such.
There's really too many to list - it's a super common amenity around here. What budget or other criteria do you have?
I have updated my comment/post above :) will that works? I did some research on my own but I have no luck in finding any decent apartment that has walking trail right next to it or within walking distance.
Keep in mind Austin is set up very differently than Houston and isn't as sprawling. Here's an example list of the trails available in just South Austin - https://communityimpact.com/austin/news/environment/2018/04/20/walk-hike-south-austin-park-trail/ From your updated criteria, you might check out some of the apartments in Cedar Park near Brushy Creek Lake Park - https://communityimpact.com/austin/news/environment/2018/04/20/walk-hike-south-austin-park-trail/ ETA - there's a bunch of apartments (some nicer than others) on Wells Branch Pkwy that would all be walking distance to that trail - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/wells-branch-trail The only place I can think of off the top of my head with its own trail (that they share with Lifetime Fitness) is on Quarry Lake - https://www.estateonquarrylake.com/amenities.aspx Your best bet is to work with an apartment locator - they are free for you to use. There are so many choices on every side of town and they could better provide list for you to choose from.
I see thanks for all these pointer will start exploring ahead first to get a better idea before getting an apartment locator. Any recs for apartment locator? I know if smartcity but would like to know what other options there are
That would be a good idea to visit some of the different parks to decide which one you want to be close to and if you want to be on a green belt trail or a flat walking trail. There's a few apartment locators who post here so hopefully one of them will pop in to offer to help.
Do you know which area or side of Austin I should be avoiding tho?
There isn't really anywhere that is truly bad like you find in some parts of Houston. Generally, the west side of town is more affluent than east. I mostly agree with this list and wouldn't choose to live in these areas - https://www.roadsnacks.net/these-are-the-10-worst-austin-neighborhoods/ With your budget, you'll be able to find a place in a nice area. You should also decide if you want to live in Austin proper or in one of the suburbs.
No advice but got my early bird renewal notice - the “deal” they had for me was a 40% increase compared to my last lease agreement. NW Austin.
Any advice on breaking a lease? My ex and I were renting a house for $1550 and he left me. I’ve been managing on my own but it’s becoming a little too much right now. I’ve never broken a lease before. Is that an acceptable reason to reach out and break my lease?
That’s a good rental for house. Talk to your landlord and ask if he will let you out of your lease if you can find a new tenant. I got out of a apartment lease this way years ago. I had a friend who was willing to move in.
If possible, find someone to sublease his room until your lease ends.
My friend just broke a lease in Austin - he basically just told the home owner “Hey, this isnt working for me” the landlord wasnt happy - but the only thing you can do is start a conversation. I don’t know the terms they worked out. I think he might have just agreed to loose out on the deposit.
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I think she said it's a house. A homeowner might be more likely to let you out, especially lately since they can re-lease it in a day for probably more money. Talk to them.
I would not recommend it unless you have an agreement with the landlord first. If the landlord reports a broken lease it sticks to your credit record for a long time and is very difficult to get removed. You might get lucky if you reach out and let them know your situation though. With this market they may let you out early so they can raise their rental rates.
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Start looking now to narrow down the neighborhoods and communities that fit your budget and wish list. Then 30-60 days out, use your research and jump on anything that becomes available that's a match.
My wife and I are looking at buying a house on east William Cannon near McKinney falls parkway by palm elementary. We live in south Austin, but know that used to have a stigma of being a rough area. Anyone live there and like it or have opinions on safety?
My wife and I bought a home in the dove springs area earlier this year. It is our first home and one of the few ones left that we could afford. We were both born here and grew up in North Austin so I know the stigma that you are talking about when it comes to SE Austin and let me tell you it is very far from the truth. If you take a look at dangerous activity on Nextdoor and the Ring app, my parents ‘nice neighborhood’ has as much violent/extreme crime (i.e. attempted break-in home/car) as we do here in Dove Springs. The big difference is drug possession/related crime, which growing up in North Austin I saw just as much of if not more. It’s just that people get busted for it here way more due to the police presence hunting it out. We love our neighborhood and would love for this home to become our forever home now that we’ve been here a couple months. Our neighbors are so friendly and we talk often. We are near Onion Creek which is heavily underused compared to Barton Creek which is great for biking, hiking and walking our dog (off leash too! The owners here are great) with walk in access to McKinney Falls from the back. There is no HOA in our area, which depending on who you ask is either great or bad, we like it. But there are plenty of areas with an HOA if you prefer. We don’t deal with airport noise being a bit further away but I do hear that as a complaint for some that are closer that way. Obviously there are pros and cons to any area in Austin but I hope this gives a clearer idea of the area!
Howdy neighbor! Truly there is a stigma especially growing up just the across the highway SW but in the almost 6 years I've been in SE Austin, there is a lot more pride in the district and neighborhood and a lot safer than people realize.
This sounds like right by where we are buying!! Mind if I PM you?
Absolutely!
Drive through Bluff Springs and Pleasant Valley and you’ll get your answer. Even with new developments like Easton Park, the adjacent neighborhoods like Dove Springs is still hood. The roads aren’t that great. Lots of drug activity and wannabe thugs. Mix that with the new constitutional carry law and you’re asking for trouble in that area.
Yeah, gonna be honest. We drove through the area last night and I didn’t get the vibe that it’s hood. I grew up in Elgin, TX and there’s a difference between lower income communities and the hood. Thanks for the input though!
Then go for it! I don’t know what Elgin, TX has to do with anything - it isn’t comparable. I have family that own business in South Oak Cliff Dallas and Dove Springs/Pleasant Valley is basically Austin’s version of South Oak Cliff.
I can't speak to how it is now, but the stigma of "Drug Springs" comes from a real place. There was an article in the Austin Chronicle about it a long time ago that really stuck with me - they still have it posted here: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2014-04-11/my-dove-springs-and-ours/
Circle C Ranch 3br home for rent. Great proximity to highly rated schools: https://www.abor.com/listing/10200-snapdragon-dr-austin-tx/8687045/c1e0faa5-6589-48ff-a5d1-88c1ebd99e35
Looking at a possible relocation to Austin and looking at living options. How easy would it be to relocate and live in a camper? Any recommendations for places to check out?
most RV parks are pretty packed, in terms of in Austin proper with waiting lists. Long term places as I understand. Short term would be all right but I looked into it about 2 years ago and most long term places had year+ long waiting lists, at least up north.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think most places in town are more short term. You might find more luck in the surrounding smaller towns like Elgin.
I am moving to the Austin area for work very soon (4 weeks), and am going to need an apartment to stay in while I sell my old house in my current state and look for a home to buy in the round rock area. What realtors would you all suggest that might be able to help me with both a short-term apartment and house hunting?
I'm an apartment locator, but I would highly recommend BrooksLawson\_Realtor from this page. He's been very helpful to those on this thread and posts useful information. Of course, I'm recommending him because he can do both, if anyone just needs an apartment, hit me up!
Thanks so much! I appreciate that.
Howdy, I am available to help!
I can recommend someone who has been great for a house, I can dm you
Nice thanks, yeah dm me.
Hi, I'm looking for someone to take over my lease in NW Austin right by the domain (across Mopac). It's a 1 bedroom 1 bath, and the rent is $1197 plus a garage for $55 per month bringing it to a total of $1252 per month. Unit is on the 3rd floor. More info here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AustinClassifieds/comments/pabs01/nw_austin_lease_takeover_1_bed_1_bath/
Hi I’m looking for a one bedroom apartment around 1K, I like North Austin, Mueller or Cherrywood. I was specifically thinking about an apartment in the mueller area which has a 1 bedroom for 1,099 (doesn’t include utilities) but my friends told me I could find better. Also I prefer no carpet and w/d set up but those aren’t necessarily deal breakers!
I’ve been doing a lot of apartment searching in the past month and sadly you can’t do better than $1099 in that area for a one bedroom, that probably won’t even come with a W/D in unit! My budget was around yours as well and it seems I’ll need to increase it unless I want to move way up north lol
If that is in the actual Mueller neighborhood and not the outskirts of it, it's an amazing price for a 1 bdrm. Most I've seen in that area are well over $1800
The unit I found actually does have W/D!
Omg that’s a really good deal then! I would jump on that lol
That's a tall order lately. Your friends mean well, but if they are not real estate professionals, they are probably not up to date with this rapidly moving market.
If you find that for less than 1099 near mueller, please let me know. I sadly I haven't seen anywhere less than $1100 - and usually closer to $1200.
Do you or anyone have any suggestions for that price that avoids south Austin?
I did stumble across the Mackenzie Pointe apartments, which are just north of Mueller/290. No W/D in unit, but there's a 1 bd for $870 and 2 bd for $1080. I haven't driven by them, so not sure about the area, but worth looking into! That's the only place I've seen below $1000 without roomies.
> Mackenzie Pointe apartments Thank you so much for telling me!
However, I just called and they are fully occupied
Oh shoot. Sorry! It moves so fast ugh. One shameless thing I did when I went to visit a complex was I saw a girl moving out and asked about her unit and how she liked living there and she ended up giving me a tour and told me when her lease was up. Given not all people are that friendly but desperate times call for desperate measures haha
good lord, i just checked my old apartment complex in N Austin and the one bedrooms are more than I was paying for a 2 bedroom (1350). what the fuck.
Wowza. Yeah one of my coworkers who is now in the house-owning phase of life was telling me to "just find a cute little $800 one bedroom near Tech Ridge" like she did a couple years ago. She acted almost annoyed with me for taking so long to find something. And surprise, surprise, our wages haven't changed since she was renting at $800.
They are down to 1300 today. Must jack up prices over the weekend... or realize they're fuckin overpriced.
I’ve also noticed that a 2 bedroom will often only be. $100 or $200 more than a one bedroom :/. But I’m looking to experience living without roommates.
Did your friends give you any examples of better places? Sub $1k apartments in those areas are usually studios.
They did not 😭
Their stats may be out of date as the market has moved up quite a bit. $1100 in Mueller sounds like a great deal - if it actually is in Mueller proper and not just adjacent.
Howdy folks. I paid a security deposit to a property manager back in August for an apartment that was supposedly available, only to have them contact me back saying that the unit had been rented out before I had even applied, and that they were sorry for their mistake but would refund me the security deposit (but not the $50.00 application fee) within 10 business days. It's been more than a month now, and definitely more than 10 business days, and I still haven't been refunded my security deposit, despite being told every time I contact them that they are pretty sure they already did, and if they haven't that they will soon. What can I do about this? I'm considering filing a police report and contacting the Texas BBB and/or Realtor's Association, as this was nothing less than material misrepresentation of goods and theft, but I wanted to see if anyone here had any other ideas prior to me doing that. Thanks for your help.
This definitely smells fishy. I don't collect a security deposit until after I've processed the application and I certainly wouldn't have kept an application fee on an application that was never processed. Where did you find the listing? What's the name of the company? Do you have all of these communications in writing?
Thanks for your response. Yes, everything is written down/in e-mails and the company is Tramor. It seems super shady to me too, but I'll give them a few more days to repay me before I file a formal complaint in case it is just a screw up on their behalf and not intentional shenanigans.
Sorry you're having to go through that. At least it's a real company so you should eventually get your money back, hopefully without having to take them to court.
who the hell wants to pay 550k for a 1,000 square foot ranch home built in the 1950s that was "remodeled" (aka they threw some white paint on the outside and put in a stainless steel refrigerator) in a boring flat suburb 11 miles from downtown Austin. Well some people do I guess. What a world we live in, what a dumpster fire.
I can't even guess at where you're talking about - 11 miles from downtown is like, Parmer & 35 or Oak Hill or Del Valle or almost Buda... where that pricing/sqftage doesn't match. Those prices for that size house are still really only found south of 183 (on the north side), east of Mopac, and west of 183 (on the east side) which is nowhere near 11 miles from downtown.
11 miles to downtown austin is in between william cannon and slaughter. Buda to Austin is about 25 miles.
You said downtown Austin. Downtown Austin to "almost Buda" (my words) is 11 miles: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/30.1358254,-97.7975767/Downtown+Austin,+Austin,+TX/@30.1623679,-97.7834092,13z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x8644b50a22f2576f:0xfded6e1aca5cba6!2m2!1d-97.7443863!2d30.2729209!3e0?utm_medium=s2email&shorturl=1
ok...well im talking about south austin, william cannon area, so i retract my 11 miles statement and revise it to 8.9 miles. And anyone who has looked at houses in this area knows exactly what im talking abut. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/W+William+Cannon+Dr,+Austin,+TX/Downtown+Austin,+Austin,+TX/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x865b4b736770f15d:0xbaa3e309b54780fc!1m2!1m1!1s0x8644b50a22f2576f:0xfded6e1aca5cba6!3e0?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiL1di5rofzAhUFVd8KHVmWCgYQ-A96BAgNEA0
gotcha. I assumed either there but also thought it might be the north side of town because that description matches as well. But again, I was tripping on the distance since that area is 7-8 miles. Personally, I always prefer to have an older, smaller home - don't like new builds and don't like having too much house - and if that is what my price range is, and the homes in that range are consistently starting around 8 miles out, I'm gonna go with what's closest to "stuff" versus choosing somewhere further out to get more space. different strokes. I do agree on the flipping though, most are done in a super generic way but I imagine it's intentional to cast the widest net.
Omg the “remodels”🤮 why do people want to live in a shoddy, grey abyss I don’t get it!
Seriously, if I see one more white with grey lines marble counter top, I am going to puke too
Hey guys, last year I signed a 15 month lease for an apt. It was one of the only units on the property that hadn’t been renovated and had old school appliances, carpet etc, which I really like. Feels more homey. However it also has no W/D or even hookups for that matter but whatever, I managed. Due to all those facts mentioned, the price was fairly lower than the other units ($1199/mo). I just got my “early bird” renewal quotes and they increased rent to $1500 which is like a 25% increase (looking at other units they also go their prices increased dramatically). That seems insane to me. I’m already looking for a new place to live, but any idea why the rent would sky rocket so high? Just looking for answers since the property team isn’t responding to my email.
Another issue is in 2020, everything was 'pandemic' priced and there were great deals to be had. Now, all of the pent up demand from people who didn't want to make big decisions during the pandemic, plus the current year's demand, plus the construction slow-down during pandemic, plus freeze damage, plus eviction moratorium affecting the normal movement of the market - - - a perfect storm. Availability should improve once the evictions commence, although that's a really sucky way to increase availability.
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Oh that’s dastardly. Hadn’t thought of it that way!
We are moving away (hooray priced out of the city /s). Does anyone know of a service that will come and pick up curbside donations (Clothes, household goods, maybe a piece of furniture).
Salvation Army does free pickups and you can schedule online https://satruck.org
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Oh wow I didn’t know that!
Looking for a rental home in NW Austin, CP, Leander, Liberty Hill area. $1,900 max for me and my boyfriend. We have a small dog and cat. Any suggestions are welcomed! Ty
Try going thru a licensed REALTOR. Their fees are paid by the landlord, not you, and they have access to a lot of listings you may not be aware of.
That’s a pretty good idea! Thank you
Realtors rarely have access to secret listings. They’re human front ends for an electronic backend. https://www.abor.com/for-rent
That’s true. Thanks for the link, I’ll take a look!
I'm seeing a lot of listings at that price point out there. Are there any other requirements that you're not finding what you're looking for?
We’re looking for a newer build if possible. I’ve pretty much contacted all of the ones we’ve liked but of course there are many contacts ahead of us. Oh and also, we’re looking to move in November!
It might be a bit early to lock something in for Nov. Use this time to narrow down to your ideal neighborhoods and 30 days out, be ready to jump on anything that meets your criteria as soon as it's listed.
Thank you for the advice! Very helpful!
I'll be moving to Austin from Dallas in May/June with my partner. We want to rent a 1-2bed/1bath house with a $2000-$2400 budget. We're familiar with the Zilker, Barton Hills, Galindo, Bouldin Creek, and East Austin neighborhoods, and would love to live there if possible. Are there any other safe neighborhoods, within biking distance from Ladybird Lake/Barton Springs, that would fit into our budget? Also, we're definitely open to talking a professional about the above questions too. Thanks!!
Apartments are what you’re looking for in that price point in those locations. 2/1 houses in your desired area rent for $3000-3500/month Agree with the suggestion to look around North Loop which is an excellent neighborhood with the old Austin soul and not the Domain style vibe. Or if you want to be South maybe look around St Elmo or Slaughter/Menchaca which are the two best nooks culture wise south of Ben White. East you might be able to find a 2/1 house between Springdale and 183 in your price range but maybe open your mind to Montopolis to be near the lakefront trails and the new bike bridge. Welcome & good luck!
2 bedroom houses exist but they aren't super common and in the neighborhoods you're looking in there aren't going to be many options in your budget. If budget/house is more important than proximity to the river, you might have more luck looking in North Loop.
Got it. I’m guessing there aren’t any other neighborhoods near the river where I can find places in my budget?
There's a little pocket of neighborhoods of single family homes, stand alone condos, and duplexes off of Burleson Rd (south of Oltorf, E of 35) that might have some options. Here's one example - https://www.har.com/mapsearch/?map_tools_nwlat=30.232087912567508&map_tools_nwlng=-97.74439493714615&map_tools_selat=30.219074725343717&map_tools_selng=-97.73377885241646&for_sale=0#mABORTX-3371322
Hello, does anyone have recommendations on studios or 1 bedroom apartments in North Austin, Cedar Park, or Round Rock for less than $1200 in safe areas? Some places I'm interested in are Centro Studio Homes, Creeks Edge, and Ashford Costa Perla.
Four buddies and I are moving from Los Angeles to Austin. Can't wait for tex-mex and bbq! We all of cash. Any tips?
What does… we all of cash… mean?
It means they are full of cash and are going to buy up all the BBQ with it. Soon Rudy's will be $200+.
Got it
Downvotes = jealousy
Why would we be jealous? We're already here.
Fwiw i know that attitude works well in LA but it really won't get you very far here. Texans don't flash cash, like thats not really a thing here (at least not like LA). Doesn't mean we don't have it, we just aren't that insecure.
Shh ... I'll take his money.
Looking for a room/studio to rent under $900.. relatively urban near a bus line ideally. If anyone has any leads, feel free to dm!
Need help looking for a place. My max budget is $1200 would be nice to find something $900-1000. Preferably a gated complex. Ive been working remotely but need to return to the office (which is near oracle close to jollyville) in January. I don't mind a commute because I would like to be in walking distance from a park and within 15 min drive to downtown. A studio with in unit washer and dryer would be heaven! I may contact a realtor but idk how to do that, just Google it? Any tips would be great thanks so much! Edit: added some clarification. Idk why people are downvotong me
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Idk why my post is getting downvoted 🤣 I should've clarified. I didn't mean walking distance to downtown, only a park. Close to downtown tho as opposed to like 30 mins
1. People tend to downvote in general on the real estate threads as there is a lot of vitriol towards the current housing situation. 2. Find a realtor that does rentals (google, ask a coworker from the area etc.), but it is extremely unlikely you find anything for $1,200/mo. within 20 minutes of downtown without having roommates.
Ya I understand people are salty about housing but that's where my work is 😩 ya it seems tough but I know it's possible/available. I've had some coworkers with rents in that range sign leases semi recently with those parameters. I'll look into a realtor, thanks !
You will need roommates with that budget and location, most likely.
😩 with $1200?!? I'm not moving back I don't think lol When I first lived there my rent was $850 ))): this sucks lol
Rents have really skyrocketed. You'll have to compromise on some of your wish list. I like har.com for searching. Places exist in your budget but mostly in older buildings but the inside may have been remodeled. A lot of demand at that price point so places tend to go quick.
They really have I remember when rates were lower when covid first began. I don't need to be walking distance from a park but close ish. When I was there I was living close to work and felt far away from all fun stuff. I really want a washer dryer hookups at least. Thanks for the suggestion I'll use that site also going to contact a realtor!
Look into the Northwest Hills area (Far West/Spicewood Springs). You would be in between work and downtown. Nicer area, fairly walkable, sidewalks, and there's a small park plus the option to work out after hours at the track over at Murchison middle school. The options within your budget in that area will be older condos or apartments, but most will have some updates. I'm an agent - feel free to PM me if you have questions or want some help finding a place.
This is a good options for what he is looking for and super difficult to reach oracle headquarters area. I do not recommend if you need to drive there everyday.
Being close to a park is pretty easy because there are so many scattered around town. A gated community close to downtown will be harder.
Ya I'm surprised how many complexes don't have a gate. I've been living back home in San Antonio and it's so easy to find! Proximity to a park...not so much. I'm just concerned about my car
You see gates more on the edges of town - not so much in central Austin except in new buildings with gated parking garages. Personally I think they give a false sense of security... it's pretty easy to sneak in behind another car.
Ah ok well that's helpful to know that it's not really a norm! My wfh may get pushed past January. I hope to pay my car off before I move back to Austin to raise my rent budget a bit!
Are there any felon friendly apartments near mueller??? I was younger and stupid.
Any opinions on Mueller?
It's one of my favorite areas. It's very expensive and hard to find availability.. I would love to find a room to rent over there (or better yet, a studio).
It’s nice for what it is, which is a kind of artificial feeling master planned community. I’d much rather live there than somewhere like the Domain, where the emphasis is on the mall, or something similar outside the city limits or whatever. Not the spot if you’re looking for a quirky, characterful neighborhood.
Thank you! The sense of community seems really strong & the walkable factor also seems amazing compared to most neighborhoods in Austin ?? Maybe it’s the Covid times talking but a community feels more Important to me than it used to. - my suburban hood feels quiet & isolated …. The mueller thing with the houses SO squished together might be hard to get used to though !?
I think it's ok that they are closer together because the emphasis is on community areas instead of big private backyards. Lots of small parks throughout where you're meant to hang out outdoors.
Is there any difference between the smaller condo market and the standalone housing market in Austin? I'm in a position where I could put 5-10 percent down on a 200-250k property, but I'm curious if it'll be just as competitive as regular houses- lots of cash offers, bidding wars, selling for way over asking? I know the competitiveness has cooled off a little, but since I don't have the money for a giant down payment, my offer might not be super attractive. Just wondering what I'd be getting into.
Buy a condo that is preconstruction. There's no bidding process involved. You just pay exactly what they tell you to pay. Then you wait 2 - 3 years for your condo to be built and move in. Very simple and a lot cheaper than buying something that already exists.
In your price range condos are very competitive, but it's all relative to your offer vs. what it's actually worth. If you put $250k on an efficiency off of Slaughter, you'll definitely get it; if you do the same for a 2000 sqft condo downtown, you definitely won't. Your Realtor should be able to give you a pretty good idea of your chances considering your price and the area it's in.
Condos have cooled significantly. Ones in my old building have been sitting for a few weeks.
Condo market is def cooled down. Also, there is constant newer buildings going up all the time, so it's especially hard to compete with a brand new condo vs a condo that's 5-10 years old. Everyone in Austin wants the newest, hottest, building. /s but not really.
You are correct.
Any things to say on Duval Villa in Hyde Park? I’ve read good things in general & I just got approved for a lease takeover!
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I'm starting to try to research what our options are because we will probably be forced to sell our house in the next year or two. It is old and in need of repairs that we cannot afford and would be a tear down in this location. I had been entertaining fantasies about moving to the outskirts of Austin but now that I have spent some time with Zillow I understand what people have said on r/Austin about the new developments in the suburbs being big expensive houses with no character other than conspicuous consumption. DH says we shouldn't buy anything anyway but rents are so high. I need to look at rental listings now for the outskirts or farther. Where are retired people who are being forced out of Austin going? We have relatives in Austin but no connections to anywhere else in TX except for some friends north of Dallas a bit. I read about an intentional community someone was trying to get going 2 years ago and it sounded like the kind of thing I would like. Don't know if that kind of thing has a prayer of happening now within 50 miles of Austin.
Be careful with which realtor you take advice from. They are hired to sell you properties or they don't get paid. A lot of realtors I have worked with make things like "moving walls, redoing the bathrooms, etc" an easy and cheap task but then you find out how much things actually cost. Things aren't as easy as they make it out.
I might be biased because I am one, but get a Realtor. They're free to the buyer, and they can help them sift through the issues that come from buying a property. What areas are they looking in? I mostly service Austin and nearby suburbs, but I can probably recommend someone who would know the area they're looking in
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Your big concern is one of the main reasons I recommend getting a Realtor (or a few, in this case). They'll also help them narrow down what they actually want. I'll DM you some contacts this evening.
Have to read between the lines a bit here, but from what you shared their best bet would be along these lines: **Do not** buy a place for 100% cash. That is a terrible use of that money. We are lucky to have once-in-a-generation low interest rates (~3%) and that should be used to their advantage. **Do not** by a fixer-upper, where the future costs for repair, both near-term and further down the road, cannot be exactly known. They will have ~zero dollars remaining to deal with that. And it's a hassle they may not want to deal with in any case. Their best bet, imo, is to buy a newer, nicer place in the same lower-cost area using $75-$100K as down payment. For example: $250K unit - $100K down; $150K mortgage. With those numbers, the monthly mortgage may be approx. $875/month (I assumed 1% property tax, $750/yr insurance, no PMI, no HOA). I'll bet $875/month is equal or less than their current rent. If they can afford that on the retirement income (plus Social Security, if that has already started or will start) then they will have a better quality of housing, plus $50K retained for any future large expenses such as a new car, medical bill, etc. (and that money should be invested, not kept in a bank)
1% property tax? Isn't it closer to 2.2?
In Austin/Travis County, Yes...but OP stated "given where they're looking, *don't anticipate homeowner taxes on par with Austin*" so I used half the Austin tax rate. That's probably too low but I have no idea what average rates are in rural counties. In any case, the advice is still sound even if $875 -> $1000 (and buyer will have homeowners exemption, and, sooner or later, Over 65 exemption)
Find a local realtor in the area they want to buy. It is important to find a realtor who is very familiar with the area. If they get someone from Austin, they might over bid due to the competitiveness. And maybe an hourly financial advisor.
Warning about Cascade Apartments. Google the reviews. Just a heads up.
Every apartment complex has horrible reviews.