Trying to find my Brother a place in Downtown, running out of time, he's recolating from Calif. (Austin: apartment, credit)

[Tim's sister]

Anyone know of a 2 bd apt. in or very near to downtown, cat friendly, pool, W/D or hook ups. He has excellent credit and references. He's coming the first week of September after me begging him for years!

I'm in Marble Falls and work constantly, really need some help. Thanks

[Tim's sister]

Thanks for responding, I check here daily. Please be serious and provide contact info. Thanks, Susan

[JohninAustin]

If he is willing to pay $2,000+/month then he should be o.k.

[atxcio]

Have you contacted an apartment locator? They work for free (to the renter, anyway).

[homeinatx]

In that price range, he should be more than fine. Check out the Monarch, Amli, and Gables downtown to start.

[FueledByBlueBell]

I just sent you a private message.

[OpenD]

Definitely use an apartment locator. That's how it's done in Austin. You pay nothing, the landlord pays a finders fee to the locator. They have the contacts, and can find easily out who has what available within the parameters you give.

[homeinatx]

In my admittedly ancient experience of apartment locators in Austin, they are mostly spectacular and self-serving liars, especially about Central Austin. I told more than three of them that i wanted to live within walking or biking distance of UT and was repeatedly shown complexes in the Arboretum - my idea of strip mall hell, and very far from UT - until I really yelled. If your brother wants to live downtown- an area about which apartment locators have an amazingly elastic definition - you or he needs to tell whatever apartment locator you choose (and there are many of these liars in town) that you will only look at properties in the 78701 zip code.

[Adamson865]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

In my admittedly ancient experience of apartment locators in Austin, they are mostly spectacular and self-serving liars, especially about Central Austin. I told more than three of them that i wanted to live within walking or biking distance of UT and was repeatedly shown complexes in the Arboretum - my idea of strip mall hell, and very far from UT - until I really yelled. If your brother wants to live downtown- an area about which apartment locators have an amazingly elastic definition - you or he needs to tell whatever apartment locator you choose (and there are many of these liars in town) that you will only look at properties in the 78701 zip code.

Absolutely agree - my experiences w/apartment locators were all bad - they refused to listen to where I wanted to live, and they refused to stay within my price range. If they'd said "I can't give you anything in that range" I'd understand, but they just flat-out ignored it. I'd say $900 and they'd show me $1100. I'd say "Central" and they'd point me to Wells Branch Parkway. Every place I lived in Austin, I found myself - and I'll be doing the same again in a month or two.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

In my admittedly ancient experience of apartment locators in Austin, they are mostly spectacular and self-serving liars...

Originally Posted by rah62

Absolutely agree - my experiences w/apartment locators were all bad

Couldn't disagree with you more. In the current ultra-tight market they're almost essential.

The last time I used one, everything she showed me was bang on target, and the last thing she showed me was a choice I never would have thought of for myself, but which turned out to be perfect.

The trick is, you need to interview them first to find out who you can work with, and who will just waste your time.