The best area to live in Austin, Texas?

Question

I am a grad student, looking for affordable renting close to UT. Its just me and my boyfriend. We can live quite comfortably in under 700 square feet. I don't want to live in a corporate condo, and I would prefer an older building. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I do not want to commute.

Answer 1

Hyde Park is nice, but will be pricier because it's so close.

UT is right in the center of town, just north of downtown, so living nearby--in any direction--is going to be expensive.

I don't like the apartment locators, personally. I like to poke around myself.

A good option is to live a bit further from campus (still in Austin--I wouldn't want to commute from the suburbs, either) but find a place on a UT shuttle route. The shuttles are fast and free and so much easier than driving--parking is a major pain on campus--very expensive. Check the UT website for shuttle routes--the shuttles tend to be named after the neighborhoods they serve.

I have lived or know friends who have lived in the following neighborhoods as grad students and have been very pleased:
-south Speedway and Duval areas (very close--actually closer to campus than Hyde Park but not quite as swanky so prices can be more reasonable)
-Oltorf and Parker Lane
-Far West
-Westover
-the SoCo area, roughly bordered by South First, South congress, and Oltorf

I would stay away from any apartments or neighborhoods that say they cater to students, especially in the Riverside and Montopolis areas. They're not the safest parts of town, and there is a lot of cheap student housing that tends to be full of noisy undergrads. (Excuse the stereotype, but I think there IS a difference between the way your average undergrad and your average grad students want to live.)

Answer 2

There are so many options in Austin that it is hard to give you a good detailed answer on here. Your best bet is to contact an Apartment Locater in Central Austin and tell them what you are looking for. If you want a house, several real estate firms do rental searches. Both the real estate firms and apartment locaters are paid by the person trying to rent the place out..so it is NO MONEY FROM YOU. It is a great way to have someone do the searching for you for free. Good Luck.

Answer 3

There are a lot of apartments off of Guadalupe for rent. I dont know how much they go for but I would just pick up an Apartment Guide and check it out and call around.

Answer 4

There actually ARE some resonably price apartments in Hyde Park or around there, that's your best bet. Or try off of South Congress.

Answer 5

Austin is very expensive...especially certain areas in the heart of the city. Try to find a place in RoundRock, Pfugerville or somewhere on the outskirts and commute.

Answer 6

take "MyView's" advice- let them do the homework for you and answer those pending questions for you. i've used locators and they work!