Help! Young Professional Moving to Austin (Nash: extended stay, apartment complex, rental)

[amrich]

In March I will be making the big move from Nashville to Austin, TX. It's all happened very quickly & I really need help finding an area to live.

My new job is in the heart of Austin so living south or north doesn't matter to me & I work nights so traffic isn't an issue either.

I simply want to be around other young professionals (I'm 28 - away from students), affordable rent ($700-$900) and in a safe area.

Are there any rental properties you would recommend that fits that description? Any advice on where to start looking?

Thank you!
-Amber

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by amrich

Are there any rental properties you would recommend that fits that description? Any advice on where to start looking?

Use the Search function to pull up previous threads on this and other general questions that are frequently asked. It's the fastest way to get a lot of pertinent background information.

Vacancy rates are very low now in Austin, and rents are high. $700 will get you a studio. Name of the game here is to use an apartment location service, because they have a wide knowledge of what's available, and what might best fit your needs and wants. They cost nothing to the seeker, and are paid a commission by the complex you choose if/when you sign a lease. In any case, you can find ads for apartments as well as ads for locators in the back of The Austin Chronicle, the local alternative newspaper, which is posted online. http://www.austinchronicle.com/

But you have to be here, and you have to see what you are renting before you sign. Then it can take several days for a rental application to be approved, so you'll probably going to want to book yourself into an extended stay hotel for a week or so to start with.

Good luck!

[MovingOut2012]

Hello. We just moved to Austin about 7 months ago and we are in the South Lamar area. A lot of professionals around your age live around here and I believe you can get an apartment in your price range. It is a nice trendy area, close to restaurants and also South Congress (the hipster area of South Austin). We live in a small gated apartment complex so we feel secure. We also live close to Ben White Boulevard so we like the proximity to both I-35 and Mopac. And since you will be traveling during non-rush hours, traffic should not be a problem for you.
But like the other poster said, you have to come take a look at the area first to see if you like it. We did the same thing and visited and toured different apartment complexes before deciding on our current place. Some apartment complexes are older and if you want a newer looking place, it is best to inspect it in person. And yes, vacancy rates are low, so if you like a place, you have to get it right away.