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Renting an Apartment in Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of
Travis County. Situated in the region of Central Texas, it is the fourth-largest
city in Texas and the 16th-largest in the United States. As of the 2005 U.S.
Census estimate, Austin had a population of 690,252. The city is the core
cultural and economic center of the Austin–Round Rock metropolitan area with a
population of 1.4 million.
The first documented settlement of current-day Austin occurred in 1835, and the
site was named Waterloo in 1837. In 1839, Mirabeau B. Lamar renamed the city in
honor of Stephen F. Austin. Its original name is honored by local businesses
such as Waterloo Ice House and Waterloo Records. Austin is situated on the
Colorado River and on the Balcones Fault, which in much of Austin runs roughly
the same route as the MoPac expressway.
Residents of Austin are known as Austinites and include a mix of university
professors, students, politicians, lobbyists, musicians, state employees and
high-tech workers. The city is home to enough large sites of major technology
corporations to have earned the nickname "Silicon Hills". Austin's official
slogan is The Live Music Capital of the World, and many try to follow one of its
unofficial mottoes of "Keep Austin Weird". ATX is a popular abbreviation for the
city of Austin.
Before the arrival of settlers from the United States, the area that later
became Austin was inhabited by a variety of nomadic Native American tribes,
including the Tonkawa tribe, the Comanches, and the Lipan Apaches. The first
permanent settlement of the area occurred in 1835, with the founding of the
village of Waterloo in 1837, and the renaming of the town to "Austin" in 1839.
In the late 19th century, the establishment of several universities in the city
made Austin a center of education. In the 20th century, Austin also became known
for its music (now known as "the Live Music Capital of the World"), as well as
its technology industry. Austin's history has also been largely tied to
government and politics; at one time it was the capital of the Republic of
Texas, and it is currently the capital of the state of Texas in the United
States.
Austin is situated on the Colorado River, with three man-made (artificial) lakes
wholly within the city limits: Town Lake, Lake Austin, and Lake Walter E. Long.
Additionally, the foot of Lake Travis, including Mansfield Dam, is located
within the city's limits. Town Lake, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis are all on the
Colorado River. The city is also situated on the Balcones Fault, which, in much
of Austin, runs roughly the same route as the MoPac Expressway. The eastern part
of the city is relatively flat, whereas the western part and western suburbs
consist of scenic rolling hills on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. Because
the hills to the west are primarily limestone rock with a thin covering of
topsoil, the city is subjected to frequent flash flooding from the excessive
runoff caused by thunderstorms. To help control this runoff and to generate
hydroelectric power, the Lower Colorado River Authority operates a series of
dams that form the Texas Highland Lakes. The lakes also provide venues for
boating, swimming, and other forms of recreation within several parks located on
the lake shores.
A popular point of prominence in Austin is Mount Bonnell. The third-highest
point in Austin proper at about 780 feet above sea level, it is a natural
limestone formation overlooking Lake Austin on the Colorado River, approximately
200 feet below its summit. From the observation deck, many newly built homes are
visible.
The soils of Austin range from shallow gravelly clay loams over limestone in the
western outskirts to deep fine sandy loams, silty clay loams, silty clays or
clays in the city's eastern part. Some of the clays have pronounced shrink-swell
properties and are difficult to work under most moisture conditions. Many of
Austin's soils, especially the clay-rich types, are slightly to moderately
alkaline and have free calcium carbonate.
Austin has a humid subtropical climate, characterised by hot summers and mild
winters. On average, Austin receives 33.6 inches (853.4 mm) of rain per year,
with most of the precipitation coming in the spring, and a secondary maximum in
the fall.
Summer in Austin is hot and typically humid, with average temperatures above 90
degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) from June until September. Temperatures
above 100F (38C) are not uncommon, and the highest recorded temperature at
Camp Mabry was 112F in 2000. For the entire year there is an average of 111
days above 90F (32C) and 198 days above 80F (27C).
Winter in Austin is mild and dry relative to the rest of the year. For the
entire year, Austin averages 88 days where the temperature drops below 45F
(7C) and only 24 days where the minimum temperature falls below freezing.
Snowfall is rare in Austin, but once every year or two Austin is typically hit
with an ice storm, freezing over roads and shutting down much of the city for
typically about a day.
Averages are from the 30 year average from 1971–2000 at Camp Mabry, and records
are from Camp Mabry and from previous climate sites, spanning from 1897 to
present.
Thousands of graduates each year from the engineering and computer science
programs at The University of Texas at Austin provide a steady source of young,
talented, and driven employees that help to fuel Austin's technology and defense
industry sectors. The metro Austin area has much lower housing costs than
Silicon Valley, but much higher housing costs than many parts of rural Texas. As
a result of the relatively high concentration of high-tech companies in the
region, Austin was strongly affected by the dot-com boom in the late 1990s and
subsequent bust. The general consensus is that high-tech recovery is proceeding
rapidly. Austin's biggest employers include the State of Texas, The University
of Texas, the SETON Healthcare Network, Dell, IBM and Freescale Semiconductor
(spun off from Motorola in 2004). Other high-tech companies in Austin include
Apple Computer, Vignette, AMD, Applied Materials, Intel, Motive Inc, Cirrus
Logic, Samsung, National Instruments, Silicon Laboratories, United Devices, Sun
Microsystems, and Motion Computing. The proliferation of technology companies
has led to the region's nickname, "the Silicon Hills," (Austin was originally
"Silicon Gulch", but San Jose, California already had that distinction) and has
spurred rapid development that has greatly expanded the city to the north,
south, east, and west. Other notable companies, such as Hoover's, Inc., a
business research and publishing group which is a subsidiary of Dun &
Bradstreet, are headquartered in the city. Ambion, Inc was started by Matt
Winkler, a professor at the University of Texas, and began operations in July
1989 in Austin, Texas. The company's primary focus has been the development of
products for RNA-related research applications and employs approximately 300
Austinites. Ambion was acquired by Applied Biosystems (AB) on March 1, 2006.
Many global corporations have an economic presence in the local economy.
In addition to global companies, Austin features a strong network of
independent, locally-owned firms and organizations such as the Austin
Independent Business Alliance. The success of these businesses reflects the high
level of commitment by the citizens of Austin to preserving the unique spirit of
the city, and has been tied to the "Keep Austin Weird" campaign. Small
businesses in Austin enjoy a lively existence gained by direct competition with
large national and global rivals.
As of the census of 2000, there were 656,562 people, 265,649 households, and
141,590 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,007.9/km
(2,610.4/mi). There were 276,842 housing units at an average density of
425.0/km (1,100.7/mi). The racial makeup of the city was 65.36% White, 10.05%
Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 4.72% Asian, 0.07% Pacific
Islander, 16.23% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. 30.55% of
the population were Hispanic American or Latino of any race.
There were 265,649 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of
18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a
female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 32.8%
of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone
who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the
average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 16.6%
from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65
years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there
were 105.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,689, and the median income
for a family was $54,091. Males had a median income of $35,545 vs. $30,046 for
females. The per capita income for the city was $24,163. About 9.1% of families
and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of
those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over. From the year 2000 to 2005,
the median house price in Austin grew 34%.
Austin's official slogan is The Live Music Capital of the World. Austin has a
vibrant live music scene boasting more music venues per capita than any other
U.S. city. Austin's music revolves around the many nightclubs on 6th Street and
an annual film/music/multimedia festival known as South by Southwest. The
longest-running concert music program on American television, Austin City
Limits, is videotaped on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Austin City
Limits and Capital Sports & Entertainment run the Austin City Limits Music
Festival, an annual music and art festival held at Zilker Park in Austin. Other
annual events include Eeyore's Birthday Party and the Austin Reggae Festival in
April and Carnaval in February. Halloween, St Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, July
4th, and Juneteenth (Emancipation Day) are all celebrated with enthusiasm, as
many Austinites seem to be eager for any excuse for a public party.
Austinites take great pride in being eccentric and celebrate the differences
between themselves and other U.S. cities. "Keep Austin Weird" has become a local
motto in recent years, featured on innumerable bumper stickers and t-shirts.
This motto has not only been used in promoting Austin's eccentricity and
diversity, but is also meant to bolster support of local and independent
businesses. This motto has been parodied on bumper stickers making fun of a
conservative suburb, "Keep Round Rock mildly amusing."
Austin is home to The University of Texas at Austin, one of the largest
universities in the country. It is also the flagship institution of The
University of Texas System — the largest state system of higher education in
Texas. Other institutions of higher learning include Austin Community College,
Concordia University, Huston-Tillotson University, St. Edward's University, and
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Most of the city is covered by the Austin Independent School District. Parts of
Austin are served by other districts, including Round Rock Independent School
District, Pflugerville Independent School District, Leander Independent School
District, Manor Independent School District, Del Valle Independent School
District, and Eanes Independent School District.
Some Things to Consider When Looking for a Place...
When searching for a new apartment make sure to take your time to think
through what are the most important things to you in an apartment and plan your
search based on those priorities. Here are some things to consider when planning
your move:
1. Consider the areas where you would like to live
* What is the crime rate?
* If you have children - what rating does the local school system have?
* Is there area convenient shopping, health and recreation services in the area?
2. Make a list of your housing priorities
* Do you have pets?
* Do you need parking?
* Do you need to be on the ground floor?
* What amenities are important to you - swimming pool, fitness room, in unit
laundry?
3. Evaluate the building
* What is the condition of the unit and building?
* Are the grounds maintained?
* Are windows, steps, and railings in good condition?
* View the property at night. Is it safe and well lit?
4. The security of the property
* Are there security service? When is the guard on duty?
* Does the building have controlled access?
* Does each unit have secure door and window locks?
5. Talk to the neighbors
* Ask other residents whether they are satisfied with the building.
6. Amenities
* Who is allowed to use the amenities?
* When are they open?
* Are the fees charged to use those facilities included in rent?
7. Ask about Utilities
* Does the owner or tenant pay the utility bills?
* Are any utilities included with monthly rent?
* Do units have separate thermostats to control heat and air conditioning?
8. Review the lease
* How much notice must you give before moving out?
* Can the rent be increased? If so, by how much and how often?
* Are pets allowed?
* What is the security deposit and cleaning costs upon move out?
* What is the responsibility of tenants for damage to property?
* Is there a penalty for breaking a lease?
9. Information too bring to a lease signing
* Credit Report
* Pay stubs/tax returns
* Reference
* Application
More Apartment Information
An apartment (or flat in Britain and most other Commonwealth countries) is a
self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building. Apartments
may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants).
Some apartment-dwellers own their apartments, either as co-ops, in which the
residents own shares of a corporation that owns the building or development; or
in condominiums, whose residents own their apartments and share ownership of the
public spaces. Most apartments are in buildings designed for the purpose, but
large older houses are sometimes divided into apartments. The word apartment
connotes a residential unit or section in a building. Apartment building owners,
lessors, or managers often use the more general word units to refer to
apartments. Units can be used to refer to rental business suites as well as
residential apartments. When there is no tenant occupying an apartment, the
lessor is said to have a vacancy. For apartment lessors, each vacancy represents
a loss of income from rent-paying tenants for the time the apartment is vacant
(i.e., unoccupied). Lessors' objectives are often to minimize the vacancy rate
for their units. The owner of the apartment typically transfers possession to
the occupant by giving him/her the key to the apartment entrance door and any
other keys need to live there, such as a common key to the building or any other
common areas, and an individual unit mailbox key. When the occupant move out,
these keys should typically be returned to the owner.
Apartments can be classified into several types. Studio, efficiency, bed-sit, or
bachelor apartments tend to be the smallest apartments with the cheapest rents
in a given area. These kinds of apartment usually consist mainly of a large room
which is the living, dining, and bedroom combined. There are usually kitchen
facilities as part of this central room, but the bathroom is its own smaller
separate room. Moving up from the efficiencies are one-bedroom apartments where
one bedroom is a separate room from the rest of the apartment. Then there are
two-bedroom, three-bedroom, etc. apartments. Small apartments often have only
one entrance/exit. Large apartments often have two entrances/exits, perhaps a
door in the front and another in the back. Depending on the building design, the
entrance/exit doors may be directly to the outside or to a common area inside,
such as a hallway. Depending on location, apartments may be available for rent
furnished with furniture or unfurnished into which a tenant usually moves in
with his/her own furniture. Permanent carpeting is often included in an
apartment.
Laundry facilities are usually kept in a separate area accessible to all the
tenants in the building. Depending on when the building was built and the design
of the building, utilities such as water, heating, and electric may be common
for all the apartments in the building or separate for each apartment and billed
separately to each tenant (however, many areas in the US have ruled it illegal
to split a water bill among all the tenants, especially if a pool is on the
premises). Outlets for connection to telephones are typically included in
apartments. Telephone service is optional and is practically always billed
separately from the rent payments. Cable television and similar amenities are
extra also. Parking space, air conditioner, and extra storage space may or may
not be included with an apartment. Rental leases often limit the maximum number
of people who can reside in each apartment. On or around the ground floor of the
apartment building, a series of mailboxes are typically kept in a location
accessible to the public and, thus, to the letter-carrier too. Every unit
typically gets its own mailbox with individual keys to it. Some very large
apartment buildings with a full-time staff may take mail from the mailman and
provide mail-sorting service. Near the mailboxes or some other location
accessible by outsiders, there may be a buzzer (equivalent to a doorbell) for
each individual unit. In smaller apartment buildings such as two- or
three-flats, or even four-flats, garbage is often disposed of in trash
containers similar to those used at houses. In larger buildings, garbage is
often collected in a common trash bin or dumpster. For cleanliness or minimizing
noise, many lessors will place restrictions on tenants regarding keeping pets in
an apartment.
In some parts of the world, the word apartment is used generally to refer to a
new purpose-built self-contained residential unit in a building, whereas the
word flat means a converted self-contained unit in an older building. An
industrial, warehouse, or commercial space converted to an apartment is commonly
called a loft.
When part of a house is converted for the ostensible use of a landlord's family
member, the unit may be known as an in-law apartment or granny flat, though
these (sometimes illegally) created units are often occupied by ordinary renters
rather than family members. In Canada these suites are commonly located in the
basements of houses and are therefore normally called basement suites.
Staying in privately owned apartments rather than in a hotel is quickly becoming
popular with travelers.