Helpful Hints

City lovers will enjoy the bustling urban lifestyle of Austin, “The Live Music Capital of the World.” Cowboy hats, Birkenstocks, longhorns and guitars: the capital of the Lone Star State draws a vibrant mix of musicians, pop-culture, college kids, die hard shoppers, outdoor enthusiasts and art fans. And the city keeps them entertained with a southern “small-town” attitude.

Welcome to the unconventional heart of Texas. Hill country communities on the outskirts of Austin such as Pflugerville, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown, and Westlake offer the comforts of small town living with the convenience of big city shopping, business and entertainment just around the corner. Employment in top Fortune 500 corporations is a major draw for Austin, home to such companies as Dell, AMD, 3M, Free Scale, IBM, Samsung, Apple, and National Instruments to name a few. Due to recent occupancy rates in Austin, it can be difficult to find the best special on an apartment. Our Relocation Specialists are some of the most tenured in Austin and are well known among all communities in and around Austin. We will help you find the apartment you need at the price you can afford, when you need to move.

LIFESTYLES

Whether it’s an apartment lease or a home purchase, Austin can fit a variety of lifestyles. Many apartments offer amenities such as resort style pools and fitness centers, hike and bike trails, racquetball, tennis, and more. If a hill country, lake, downtown or golf course view is what you want, we can help you find it. Need easy access to work, neighborhood schools or churches? Our specialists will find it. Whatever the lifestyle or location preference is in this beautiful city, we have database access to it all.

PETS

Most communities will accept a pet of less than 25 pounds, full grown, with a deposit and monthly pet rent. The pet deposit averages $300 per pet, and pet rent averages $15 per month per pet. Generally, about half of the pet deposit is refundable after move-out, based on the condition of the unit. The non-refundable portion is applied to a cleaning after a pet has lived in the rental. Some properties will accept pets up to 100 pounds, but this will require a larger deposit. Most properties that accept larger dogs have breed specific restrictions in place. This includes some mixed breeds.

LEASE GUIDELINES
Most properties require the renter to sign a 6-13 month lease. Few properties will do a month-to-month or 3-month lease, because most of the monthly or short-term leases are for corporate housing and are often furnished. The general rule is: the shorter the lease, the higher the rent.

RENTAL DEPOSITS AND FEES

RENTAL DEPOSITS AND FEES

When you find your new home, you will need to leave a deposit to hold the rental until your move-in. This “holding deposit” is usually refundable for a short time and is applied to your total move-in cost. In most cases all occupants over the age of 18 will need to complete an application. Some will accept one application per married couple with the same last name. The application process will now begin and can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 working days. It is standard to review / evaluate applications based upon 4 areas:

• Credit History (typically 75% positive)
• Rental History (typically 6 months of positive rental or mortgage history)
• Gross Monthly Income (2.5 to 3.5 times the monthly rent)
• Criminal Background (Most properties will do a criminal background check)

A co-signor or guarantor may be accepted for lack of any of the above criteria, but usually not for poor rental history. A prior eviction or rental judgment will result in the denial of your application.

WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOU ARE READY TO LOOK

The following list is recommended for when you are looking at properties.

You will need a government issued photo ID to tour communities. A driver’s license, state identification card or passport are acceptable. Some properties require that all adults in the touring party have ID, while others only require one.
You will also need copies of your current pay stubs or other proof of employment like an offer letter. This will be required during the application process.
A checkbook or the availability to purchase money orders will be needed to hold the apartment of your choice. Many properties will accept a personal check for the application fee and holding deposit. The holding deposit secures a specific unit, and locks in rental rates and any move in specials. The holding deposit is usually refundable for 24 to 72 hours.