Housing around UT-Austin (Clarksville, West, Manor: apartment, lease, lofts)

[CharlestontoAustin]

I got a job with the university and I would like to walk to work. But I'm in my 40s, so I want to avoid student housing -although studios and efficiencies are fine. I look on Craig's List everyday. Which neiighborhoods are best? I had heard Hyde Park was nice, but what I saw looked dirty.

thanks!

[TexasHorseLady]

You might want to consider North Campus, but what do you consider "nice"? (That's a very subjective term.) And what do you consider a reasonable walk to work? And, what's your price range, are you looking to rent or buy, are you looking for a house, townhouse, condo, apartment?

[clarksvillemom]

Clarksville, bryker woods, old enfield

[clarksvillemom]

Oh I just saw that you want to walk. West campus, north campus and Hyde park would be it- but it looks messy in parts bc so many students live there. Lived living there when I was at ut- couldn't imagine living there now, unless I had the money for one of those beautiful non-rented Hyde park mansions!

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by CharlestontoAustin

I got a job with the university and I would like to walk to work. But I'm in my 40s, so I want to avoid student housing -although studios and efficiencies are fine. I look on Craig's List everyday. Which neiighborhoods are best? I had heard Hyde Park was nice, but what I saw looked dirty.

thanks!

"...but what I saw looked dirty."

When do you need a place? Do you know where (school/dept/bldg?) on campus you will be spending your time? Even in nearby neighborhoods, like Hyde Park, most people are commuting, via-bus (UT shuttle) or bicycle, unless you are a few blocks away. Especially now with the heat, your walking radius (tolerance) might be shorter than you think. Plus, you're paying a lot more (overpriced) for less, in a student-dense area just off campus.

Also, are you aware that as a UT employee, you can commute for free using any of the capmetro bus services, including rail?

https://www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/capmetro/

It sounds reversed, but if it were me, and I wanted to be close in, and mostly walk/bike/bus, I'd figure out which UT shuttles and bus routes have stops convenient to my work (bldg) on campus. Some stops might be opposite side of campus to where you need to be, and you might not want to have to trek from one end to the other! Then I'd learn which areas those routes go, and branch out from there on your house hunt. Use the trip planner to calculate total commute time (type 'UT' for some areas/bldgs):

Trip Planner: Capital Metro - Austin Public Transit

At least then, you've got a backup plan (FREE) for bad weather (heat, rain, etc) when you don't want to walk/bike as much.

For starters, you probably do not want anything to do with West Campus (think Guadalupe "the drag", to 29th, to Lamar, to MLK); mostly undergrad population.

[veloman777]

I just looked at a decent 2bd duplex near Hemphill Park today. $1500 for like 1250 sq ft. Very nice street, quiet, easy walk to UT. The speedway area is where many of the students are. Hyde Park / North Campus has some very nice streets.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by CharlestontoAustin

I got a job with the university and I would like to walk to work. But I'm in my 40s, so I want to avoid student housing -although studios and efficiencies are fine. I look on Craig's List everyday. Which neiighborhoods are best? I had heard Hyde Park was nice, but what I saw looked dirty.

thanks!

I agree with the others. North campus is more of a mix of grad students, lower classmen, UT professors and staff. Plus a lot of people not related to UT at all.

The other area to check would be off Manor Rd east of IH35. Good mix there too.

Otherwise, not knowing your budget, the advice to locate further north near metro bus is good if you don't want to pay a premium for proximity. My wife's cousin works at UT, lives north of 183 off Rutland, and rides the bus daily.

Steve

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by veloman777

I just looked at a decent 2bd duplex near Hemphill Park today. $1500 for like 1250 sq ft. Very nice street, quiet, easy walk to UT. The speedway area is where many of the students are. Hyde Park / North Campus has some very nice streets.

Surprising...usually slim pickens around here during this time of year! Lots of crappy 2/1 rent houses abound north of 38th for more than $1500. Stuff that used to go for $1200 has definitely gone up!

A friend just leased their small 2/1 house off 29th for $1800/12 mo lease! Whoa...

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by CharlestontoAustin

I got a job with the university and I would like to walk to work. But I'm in my 40s, so I want to avoid student housing -although studios and efficiencies are fine. I look on Craig's List everyday. Which neiighborhoods are best? I had heard Hyde Park was nice, but what I saw looked dirty.

thanks!

Take a look at the condos and lofts just South of Campus near MLK & Lavaca.

Greenwood Towers Condominiums
1800 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX (512) 476-9710 Cambridge Tower







1801 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX (512) 478-7218

[Danispot]

Good Luck! Everyone wants to live in Hyde Park and landlords know it. Depending on your budget I would try the Brentwood or Clarksville area but except to pay 1700 plus for a updated place. Keep it mind you also have to make 3 x your rent to even qualify for a rental.