Moving to Austin, advice on apartments? (Spring, Bee Cave: low income, 2015, apartment complexes)

[PRND321]

I will be working at downtown Austin (and possibly attending UT Austin later). I am in tech, not kids (a lot less stuff to worry about) and looking for a quiet place to live (no plan on buying a house yet), while not too far from grocery stores/movie theaters etc. Is it doable to keep the daily commute under 20 mins? Suggestions for alternatives to driving?

I try to cap the monthly rent+utilities under $1K, 900sqft+, single bedroom is fine, preferably with some storage space and balcony, and the building being somewhat recent (at least renovated after 2000). Google fiber availability is a big plus.

I haven't lived in a place that has the size of Austin (actually nowhere close, Morrisville NC is like 2% of Austin population). I don't enjoy traffic much.

What are you opinions on whether living north or south of the river? There seems to be so many choices here, not sure where to start. When I was in NC I had a good experience with Bell Partners. But their apartments in Austin are either too far from downtown and/or somewhat out of my price range (900ft 1br for $1300+). Should I adjust my price expectation?

Thanks

[ashbeeigh]

If you want to be right Downtown adjust your price expectation. If you want to be within a 10-15 minute drive (with traffic) you might be able to make it. I've seen and heard of people in the riverside and Olof area in your price range (but not sure about size) and the areas north of downtown but south of 183 might do it for you.

[GinaWeenie]

Olof?

[PRND321]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

If you want to be right Downtown adjust your price expectation. If you want to be within a 10-15 minute drive (with traffic) you might be able to make it. I've seen and heard of people in the riverside and Olof area in your price range (but not sure about size) and the areas north of downtown but south of 183 might do it for you.

Olof you mean East Riverside - Oltorf? That's what I have been looking into for within 20 mins distance.
Not really trying to live in downtown, just to save some time on commute

Thanks

[centralaustinite]

If you want Google Fiber than your only choices are immediately south of the river, Zilker, Bouldin, Travis Heights, etc. and then further south. You can get ATT gigapower in many places, not sure about apartment complexes though.

[sojourner77]

Here is a map of the Google Fiber coverage in South and Southeast Austin:

[ashbeeigh]

I was typing on my phone. Yes Oltorf.

[PRND321]

After some more reading on the forum, I feel I should increase my price expectation (to $1300~$1500) and start looking at west of I-35 or MoPac. I don't go to work at rush hours 15 minutes no traffic gets me a lot more choices. Google fiber is just a nice-to-have. The coverage is quite limited.

It indeed surprised me that the high percentage (30%+) of low income household despite average household income is $75K+. Making me wonder if the relatively small percentage of high income significantly increased average household income of that area (I am talking about even west of I-35).

http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/def..._landscape.pdf
http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/def...tracts_MFI.pdf
http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/def...entrations.pdf

feedbacks appreciated


There seems to be a lot of choices for 800+sqft 1br apartments within $1500. But I have yet to find one without mixed reviews....

[PRND321]

Apartments on Google fiber map tent to have much better reviews, interesting

[austin-steve]

Drop the sqft requirement.
Drop the Google Fibre Requirement.
Look in the Spyglass area near Mopac/Bee Cave.

There are 3 older apartment complexes there. The smallest 1 bedrooms can be rented at around $1,000/mo. Many singles and students and young active couples live in those complexes.

From there it, it's an easy drive into downtown, or you can ride the #30 Metro. Walkability is awesome to a small food mart and a taco place. If you can handle a 15-30 minute walk, the Greenbelt, Zilker Park, Barton Springs pool, restaurants on Barton Springs Rd. are all a short walk. Or, again, you can hop on the #30 to and from, which goes all the way to the Capital and puts you 8 blocks from UT as well.