Verdict on East Riverside?? (Austin: apartment complexes, for rent, how much)

[cakrjg]

I'm going to be interning in Austin for the summer, and I'm looking for temporary housing. Nothing fancy, just something at about the student housing level. A lot of what I'm finding on craigslist is in the East Riverside area, but I'm getting mixed messages about safety there. Should I steer clear? Some of these apartment complexes appear to be pretty cookie-cutter frat boy places, which makes me question whether that crowd would be ok with living in a "bad" part of town.

While I'm at it, does anyone have any suggestions for where I DO want to live? I really just don't want to be so far away that I have to drive to anywhere I want to go. I'm gathering that South Austin west of 35 would be ideal, but I can't find anything for rent there. Any help is appreciated!

[twange]

Originally Posted by cakrjg

I'm going to be interning in Austin for the summer, and I'm looking for temporary housing. Nothing fancy, just something at about the student housing level. A lot of what I'm finding on craigslist is in the East Riverside area, but I'm getting mixed messages about safety there. Should I steer clear? Some of these apartment complexes appear to be pretty cookie-cutter frat boy places, which makes me question whether that crowd would be ok with living in a "bad" part of town.

While I'm at it, does anyone have any suggestions for where I DO want to live? I really just don't want to be so far away that I have to drive to anywhere I want to go. I'm gathering that South Austin west of 35 would be ideal, but I can't find anything for rent there. Any help is appreciated!

How much $ can you spend?

[cakrjg]

Looking to spend not a lot more than 700/month after utilities. And I'm working south of the river on Montopolis, so I'd prefer not to be too far from the city to avoid a long bus commute. Thanks very much for the reply.

[cakrjg]

I promise I won't be a nuisance with this, just wanted to bump it once. Thanks.

[twange]

Originally Posted by cakrjg

I promise I won't be a nuisance with this, just wanted to bump it once. Thanks.

Hopefully some of the realty folks will chime in...

Everything that I've seen and learned from others is that most of the decent places around east Riverside are indeed those cookie-cutter Frat houses. They look OK from the outside but...I'm pretty sure that there are deals to be found there however. You might want to go with the smaller but nicer(and pricier) type of apartment a little further west, instead of the bigger and cheaper type?

That being said, you should be able to find something for under $700. Utilities will be the wild card. Since you're interning here in the summer, you WILL be using the AC which won't be cheap! You'll also be paying water, phone and/or cable/internet(maybe you won't need these things?), so keeping all of that and rent under $700 will be tough. Not impossible, but very challenging. If you can, find a room-mate and split a two-bedroom. I know that might not be very appealing but it will get you into a better neighborhood and apartment.

Just for comparison's sake though, I pay $775 for a big 1 bedroom on S 1st, south of Oltorf. One of my co-workers pays $650 for a two-bedroom on Woodward near St. Edward's University, about a mile away. Our place is probably a bit nicer, but her place is just fine. No frills. There are a bunch of places in that area and it's fairly close to where you need to be. I think she said they are called the WillowWood. Here's a google map link showing a few apartments around there. I don't know about vacancy/prices though.

St Edwards Place I map with ratings and reviews and other nearby apartments. Other Austin apartments also reviewed at ApartmentRatings.com

[amberb1990]

check out longhornlanding.com
the apartment is called longhorn landing. all bills paid and free internet and cable. if you are willing to have room mates you can have a 4 bedroom apartment for 415 a month, but you will have 3 other room mates