Austin is becoming more and more in-demand when it comes to apartment hunters. In fact, in 2019, it’s the fastest-growing among the large cities in the U.S. This is probably because of the number of Fortune 500 companies that are located and are still relocating there like Google, which can be found in East Austin.
Meanwhile, Facebook, the biggest social media company in the world is stationed in Central Austin. The Domain hosts several big companies such as Amazon, Vrbo, Indeed, Whole Foods, and Expedia Group. The Tech Ridge is where General Motors is located. Aside from the booming industry, the weather in Austin is close perfect with 300 average sunny days in a year. Clearly, Austin is the perfect spot for these top-notch companies so it’s very understandable why more and more people are considering renting in Austin.
If you are an apartment hunter who is interested in finding a great apartment in Austin, then you’re in for a treat. We know it’s difficult to decide what apartment to choose, some don’t even know where to start so we decided to compile the best tips which we’ve listed down below for everyone’s convenience and to help you find an apartment that best fits your needs.
Here are the best tips to consider when looking for an apartment in Austin:
1. SET YOUR BUDGET – On average, rent is usually 1/3 of your monthly income. Try to stay within that figure or your intended budget. There are thousands of apartments available and as long as your budget is within the average realistic budget, then you won’t have any problem looking for an apartment.
Austin apartments are normally within $1,390 – $1,800 a month, depending on what’s included. There are more affordable apartments though if you know where to look.
Note that you should include a budget for a temporary parking permit for the movers because it’s one of the requirements when you decide to move to Austin. Permits can be requested at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
2. USE A DEPENDABLE RENTAL LISTINGS SITE – Nowadays, it’s easier to find an apartment if you know exactly where to look for it. We tried many rental listings sites in terms of quality of the listings, ease of use and navigation, as well as real-time alerts, and we have to recommend one of the top rental listings sites, Zumper.
Why do you need to use Zumper? It is a popular site used by millions of apartment/house/condo hunters because you can do your apartment search online. They only feature quality listings, and these are updated in real-time. You can even set an alert or notification if you want specific considerations on apartments so the moment one apartment that falls under your consideration becomes available, Zumper will instantly notify you so you can get first dibs on the apartment of your choice.
Lastly, you can send rental applications and credit reports online and have them screened and processed by Zumper. This saves you time and effort in having to hand out these documents physically. Since the site is really convenient, I thought it’s best to share it here.
3. DECIDE ON WHAT LOCATION OR NEIGHBORHOOD YOU WANT – It’s easier to make a decision if you’re already decided on what neighborhood you want to live in. Your personality and lifestyle should match the neighborhood you’re considering. Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Austin:
- Downtown Austin – This is the heart of Austin, full of high-end lifestyle, booming business activities, and is best for people who love theater, music, art, top-rated restaurants, and bars. There are a lot of high-end luxury apartments here that match a person’s sophisticated urban lifestyle. The best apartments also give tenants amazing views of the Colorado River. This location is perhaps the priciest among the neighborhoods in Austin.
- Central Austin – This neighborhood is quieter and near the University of Texas and is for young professionals, college students, professors, etc. Price range is mid to high range. This neighborhood houses the headquarters of the social media giant, Facebook.
- South Austin – This neighborhood is best for those with active lifestyles as well as those who want a laid-back neighborhood. It is more on the cheaper side and is very near the community pools and Zilker Park. There are also music bars, and the nightlife here is vibrant and there are lots of shops and establishments where you can relax.
- East Austin – This neighborhood has apartment complexes that fit any budget plus it houses the famous GOOGLE head office.
- North Austin – This neighborhood is for those who love lower rents and a quiet and laidback lifestyle. There are a lot of ethnic diversities in this location. Note that 32% of people in Austin speak a foreign language (top languages are Spanish, Chinese, and Hindi).
4. MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT PET POLICIES – Austin is one of the best places to consider when you want pet-friendly apartments. However, it is still best to know the pet policies to check if they allow cats or dogs inside the apartments, and how many or what size do they allow since some have restrictions on sizes or even dog breeds. There are properties that charge a pet fee or pet deposit during move-in so it is definitely best to read the fine print before signing. Even if you currently don’t have a pet, you might want to have one in the future.
5. LIST DOWN YOUR CONSIDERATIONS & MAKE A CHECKLIST. ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE YOU REVIEW THE FINE PRINT BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING – It’s easier to ask questions and not miss or forget a consideration if you have them all written down in checklist form. Also, ensure that when you’re asking questions, the answers are either included in the contract or listed down and to be included in the contract. This would make amendments and additional information easier.
Some of the most common things that you should consider asking are:
- Size of the apartment in terms of the number of bedrooms.
- Number of bathrooms.
- Tech packages such as wifi and cable.
- Are pets allowed and if so, how many and what sizes/breeds are allowed? And if allowed, how much are the pet fees?
- Lease length (short term or long term?).
- Aside from physical or actual tours, do they offer 3D/Virtual tours or Live Online Tours?
- Grocery stores/markets nearby.
- Nearby hospitals.
- Quality of Cellphone reception and wifi connection.
- What are their Pest Control Measures?
- What are their Anti-COVID19 protocols and measures?
- No leasing fee?
- Is it good for Senior living? (If you are a Senior or you would be staying with one)
- Is there a security deposit?
- What are the apartment rules for guests?
- Are there regulations about noise from neighbors?
- Can I move around furniture (if any) and do paint jobs?
- Are there CCTV’s installed and what are the security protocols?
Other considerations are the existence and types of these amenities:
- Air conditioning
- Utilities Paid
- Ceiling Fan
- Parking Space
- Balcony
- Carpeted
- Fitness Center
- Garden
- In-Unit Laundry or Onsite Laundry?
- Dry Cleaning Service
- Dishwasher
- Storage Space
- Package Service
- Concierge Service
- Elevator
- Furnished
- Hardwood floor
- Fireplace
- High or Vaulted Ceiling
- Walk-in Closet
- Swimming pool
- Wheelchair accessible
- LEED-certified?
These are just my tips and suggestions for Austin apartment hunters. Just a small trivia. Did you know that these considerations and other items can be used when you’re finding an Austin apartment using the Zumper site. That’s actually why I recommend using that site. It’s just so convenient.
Good luck in finding your perfect apartment in Austin.
If you know any other tips, please comment down below. I’ll be glad to add them to the list above and credit you with it.