Finding Your Ideal Apartment here in Austin, Texas

When looking for an apartment in Austin, Texas, keep in mind you’re looking for a place you can call home. Let that be your guide.  You will be living there for quite some time, maybe years, so allocate plenty of time for your search so you can make the right choice.  Treat it as you would a major purchase. And like all successful shoppers, have a plan. Make a list of the things that are essential to you, those you desire and those that would be nice to have. We’re all different. Some people can’t live without a bath. For some, a winter without an open fireplace is unbearable. For anybody a two hour drive to work in heavy traffic is not acceptable.  It’s too late to say  “I wish I had looked closer to town. A smaller less lavish, older style apartment closer to work, may be better choice than a new, fully equipped condo in a gated complex with swimming pools and a state of the art work out center, that you can’t use because your exhausted by the four hours of daily travel.

The first three laws of real estate selection apply to apartment hunting as much as to home buying, and they are “location, location, and location.”  So inspect the apartment during the day to get an appreciation of traffic conditions, noise, proximity to shops, and other practical considerations.  Go back in the evening and make sure there aren’t any exterior lights that will shine into your bedroom, for example.  Make sure there aren’t any noisy music venues right next door to the apartment complex, which seemed so quiet during the day. 

The second aspect of location is its proximity to your place of employment, your college, your friends and family.  Visit the area you have chosen during the week and see how long it takes to drive to work or school.  Are there any major points of traffic congestion you could avoid if you just chose an apartment on the other side of the highway?  Do you want a neighborhood that is kid-friendly?  Or one with lots of nightlife within walking or close driving distance? Do you want an Austin Apartment downtown?   Are there libraries and parks nearby?  Is public transportation important to you? 

The third aspect of location asks, “do I want to live in this area?” You need to get an appreciation of the neighborhood before you sign a lease.  If the area has a high crime rate and you enjoy evening walks, it may not suit you and the time to find out is before you sign that lease.  It is important that you feel comfortable in the area.

Next, it’s important to go over your budget and determine what  you can afford to pay in monthly rent. Make sure you include utility costs in your budget.  Give yourself a maximum limit, and don’t go over it.  Consider what amenities are essential to you and what amenities you don’t need.  If, for example, you have just paid for a year’s membership at a fitness center, you don’t need an apartment with a lavish exercise room.  You might be able to get a reduction in your rent if you don’t want to use the fitness center, as some apartments charge an extra fee to use this facility.  Is undercover parking important to you?  Is an apartment complex with gated security high on your list of priorities?  Do you need laundry facilities?  Internet and cable connections? Again take your time and establish what is non negotiable, what you’d prefer and what would just be nice. Understand you Austin apartment rental rights.

If you’re finding your budget doesn’t stretch to the apartment that you’d like to call home, have you considered a Austin apartment roommate? The classified sections of the local newspaper often run ads for people looking to share accommodations.  There are some simple precautions you should take, of course, and it is important that you are compatible.  Ask the obvious questions:  Do you smoke?  Do you like to stay up late and play music?  Are you a morning person?  How important is cleanliness to you?  Are you happy to share the domestic duties and utility costs?  Do you like to entertain a lot? 

When you have chosen that perfect apartment, that perfect place in Austin, Texas to call home, take your checkbook, a copy of your credit report, and a letter from your previous landlord and his contact information, as well as other references you might have. These will be needed for your Austin apartment lease rental. In fact, when you start the search, carry these items with you at all times.  You never know when you’ll come across the perfect apartment at the perfect price.  There is an apartment for everybody here in Austin, Texas so good luck!