I have to have an apartment with lots of sunlight. I always look for places with mostly south facing windows and that are on an upper floor of a building that is on a corner or taller than surrounding buildings. That way I can enjoy all day sunlight without any buildings casting shadows.

I had to face this question today and this is my list:

Must Haves:
1) Big dog-friendly
2) Next to park (see 1)
3) Next to mass transit (live in NYC)
4) Laundry room in building (live in NYC)
5) Affordable
6) Good neighbors
7) Nice size - over 600sqft will do (live in NYC)

Lovely extras:
8) Nice floors
9) Kitchen counters
10) Lots of windows/light

Even better:
11) Built-in bookshelves
12) Nice restaurants/bars nearby (live in NYC)

My current apartment only has the Must Haves (and #12). But my previous one didn't have any, so there you go. I guess I'm signing the lease for one more year.

I gotta ask the question:

If your last apartment was so great - Why did you move?

But no - I don't think that being selective (a better word than picky) is a bad thing when it comes to choosing a place to live.

I'm hoping to move to Austin in the next four or five months, and never spent a massive amount of time there...so I will probably be in a similarly cautious situation. I'd love to hear anyone's suggestions for great areas/neighborhoods/apartment complexes to look into!

Hm. On the one hand, perfectionism can be bad - last time my partner and I moved (our landlords decided to move into our unit), we held out for the perfect place, but we didn't find it, and with two weeks to spare before our existing lease was up, we settled for an affordable place in a nice neighbourhood. Unfortunately, it turned out to have some major problems. (The first clue was when I went to close a window and the glass shattered under my hand.)

On the other hand, if I'm going to live somewhere, I really look for the following:

1. Easy walking distance to public transit (subway is my preferred mode, but I'm about to move back onto a streetcar line...)
2. Walking distance to a grocery store (preferably one that isn't a Metro).
3. A normal-sized stove, a double sink, and counters in decent condition; no signs of water damage in the kitchen; clean cupboards.
4. Big enough for my partner and I to each have a desk somewhere. (The last place wasn't; the fellow got the office space because he works from home, but I got really really tired of writing essays on the couch.)
5. A form of heating other than baseboard. Even though this is fifth on my list (because unfortunately, my new place does have it), I can't stress this enough: if you are paying for your heat, unless your rent is really low, do not rent a place with baseboard heaters.
6. A fan in the bathroom.
7. Proximity to a park and/or a balcony.
8. Neighbourhood - either central enough to be close to friends, or awesome enough that far away friends like to come to visit.

I have just moved myself and know exactly what you mean.

For mean being close to a good gym was my number one concern.

I am not a gym junkie or even like exercise in particular, which is why I knew that if the gym was in ANY way inconvenient then I would probably never bother going again.

I have just gone through looking for apartment--after not getting approved for my home loan 10 days before escrow closes mind you--and so my requirements for a new apartment were quite high.
1) New or look like new apartment. I enjoy everything updated and not having to worry about trying to figure out what to do with bubblegum pink or avacado colored tile.
2) No popcorn ceilings (accomplishing #1 made that easy)
3)Laundry machines in my apartment. In college I had to lug my dirty clothes 4 flights of stairs and I vowed then that I would make this a requirement.
4) Ample parking. This means I can park anywhere I want to in the complex and that there is more than 2 visitor spots.
5)Dog friendly. My little puggle Brooklyn needs an outdoor space or else I might come home to an eaten up couch (like my friend did)
6) More bang for my buck. I had the dilemma of choosing an updated apartment for $1720/month in Carlsbad (three miles from the beach!!!) or $1425/month for a brand new, 14 ft. ceiling, HARDWOOD FLOORS apartment in Temecula, and they are both equal time away from work. I gave up my dream to live by the ocean another year and chose Temecula. I figured I can always drive the 35 mintues and go to the beach on the weekends.

you're taking your next move a bit too seriously.

Depending on where you are looking each city has its own reason to live in one area vs the other.

My choices in Los Angeles are different than my reasons in San Francisco or the Bay Area.

#1 I like it as quite as possible, #2 must have hardwood floors or something besides carpet, #3 must have laundry, #4 must have some kind of outdoor patio being a dog owner I would never live in a building where I have to take my dog out at all hours for a pee and poo down an elevator or flights of stairs then go out front.. Therefore I always need a duplex or single unit on the ground floor.
#5 need natural lighting, #6 the kitchen has to be suitable for someone that loves to cook, I could live without a dishwasher but I need counter space and good appliances. #7 I must have a tub. #8 it has to fit all my furniture.
Bonus now that I am spoiled I like a great neighborhood that I can get my chores done within walking distance- dry cleaners, grocery store, pet food store, wine shop and hardwood store. Being walking distance to a beautiful park and nature super bonus as well as multiply options for public transportation. Parking could be a big deal breaker too.

Look to see if you have enough electrical; outlets in the new place, once I rent a place that had two outlets in the living room, one in the maxi pad of a bedroom and one in the kitchen that nearly sent me off the bridge.

I'm most conscious of the things I cannot change about a place. Those are my musts (as opposed to something that can change, such as a worn rug which can be replaced or covered up).

1. Well maintained, secure building.
2. Pet friendly (which includes not charging insanely high pet deposits; one place wanted to charge an extra $50 every month!)
3. Plenty of natural light
4. A layout or construction that shields me from noise from neighbors or the street
5. Good floor plan, without awkward or unusable space; I've learned this one the hard way! Make sure the space works with your existing furniture.
6. Washer and dryer in unit, or easy to access
7. Dishwasher built in, or room for a portable
8. Can walk to grocery stores and other shops
9. Convenient to mass transit
10. Management or landlord is willing to let me make minor changes, such as painting, adding additional towel bars, drapes instead of cheap plastic mini-blinds, and so on. I'm happy to pay for the upgrades, and I offer to show the landlord photos of work I've done on previous apartments.

Also want, but do not need:
11. Gas or radiant heat instead of electric
12. Gas stove instead of electric
13. Secure parking

Because of where I live, I do not need air-conditioning.

Remember to negotiate before signing a lease. Most landlords are happy to do things such as replace an old leaking toilet before you move in. And if they aren't happy to do it, you need to know before you sign!

@ ameliepoulain - I would suggest living closer to where you work...if not, try to take Mopac before taking I35 to commute...and plan on an hour commute on either road to get across town in rush hour. There are lots of apartment locators in Austin and they do the work for free...but remember the pattern they follow: Ok place, bad place, best place (most expensive and out of your comfort zone), worst place. A lot of the newer complexes are pretty, but the walls can be paper thin - with the neighbors beating on their ceilings from you walking across your third floor apt (and if it's less than a year old in the burbs watch out for scorpions). And don't expect wood floors at 90% of the big complexes. Apt locators will take you to corporations, so if you want to rent from a home-owner (better chance of unique place with wood floors) you'll have to go realty agent or craigslist. South Austin is my favorite part of town. I think a great place would be an older condo complex off of Congress (like Travis Oaks Condo on Post road if anyone is renting). Take bus to downtown on a Fri night, great food, HEB around the corner, great video store nearby (Vulcan). It's by I35, there's fairly quick backroads to Mopac and a quick jump to Lamar gets you to Zilker Park and the Alamo. Have fun!

I am SO with you lollybox! My husband and I are buying a house that is really close to our current apartment -- but with the critical difference of being a two minute walk from my gym. I can't tell you how many times I've attempted to go but gave up when I couldn't find parking. I'll take ANY excuse not to go, but the parking thing really was immensely frustrating. The new place is also more walkable in general so I'm looking forward to it.

I was really picky when it came to buying because of all the cautionary tales of "you won't be able to sell for at least five years." Having always had relative freedom to move that was somewhat terrifying! When it comes to neighborhood, we are in the San Francisco bay area and were torn between Marin and Oakland/Berkeley with Marin being our first choice. We ended up buying in a really great part of Oakland (Grand Lake area). I work in Marin so that would have been easier for me, but there are also things about Oakland that I really love and there is no denying that our house is about a thousand times nicer than what we could afford in Marin. I also find the East Bay more walkable in general (huge plus) and it gives my husband more job flexibility than Marin. So it's hard to say whether we compromised or not!

I'm moving cities this month, apparently. (New job, all very sudden...) I'm finding these sorts of posts to be incredibly helpful in my apartment search.

Thus far I've been looking for:

- Proximity to public transit
- Walkable distances to grocery stores (having options/competitors to choose from is better)
- Length of commute
- Insulation and decent heating
- Good-size functional windows and fairly bright
- Well-maintained building
- Counter space
- Appliances that aren't older than me (those sunset gold and avocado green ones can't possibly still be functioning properly)
- Water pressure
- Ample storage
- and ideally it will have hardwood/laminate floors, since I am much happier dealing with mopping and sweeping that vacuuming up messes that never ever really come out 100%

Some of the apartment essentials I sought were crime prevention measures, convenient location (I don't drive), and cleanability.

1) It must be in a building that's not infested with anything
2) I need to be within reasonable distance to public transportation. I live in NYC and I lucked out on that one in my current place!
3) I need some sunlight. I can't live in a gloomy basement ever again.
4) I need a reasonable amount of quiet since I'm a light sleeper. I live in the city, so I expect SOME noise, but I try to avoid busy streets.
5) I need to feel reasonably safe walking home alone at night.
6) The apartment itself must be in decent condition.

Like ameliepoulain, I too am moving to Austin. My partner and I plan on moving in July and have had a really difficult time finding something we love (we are in love with our current place, but we're moving from MO so I can attend grad school at UT). It seems like we keep comparing what we find to our current place.

Anyone have any Austin house hunting tips? Ideally, we would like a detached house with lots of character and charm. Pet friendly and hardwood floors. We'll compromise with having to share walls if we're in a complex ... as long as it has those other things. We're also working with a tight budget ($800 for rent only).

Ameliepoulain, have you had much luck? Craigslist is flooded with realtors and frat boy apartment complexes (no thanks).

Help!?

It's interesting how the city you live in impacts what you feel is necessary. Here in Atlanta, parking is a given, and so is air-conditioning. Really, if there's no a/c in an Atlanta apartment, it's a super no-go. Talk about heatstroke.

I look for:
#1: Good condition. No signs of mold, water damage, or sketchy repair work.
#2: Good area; both decently safe and convenient to work, restaurants, etc. I like a place with a neighborhood identity, not just chain stores.
#3: Separate area for my desk out of my bedroom. I think the bedroom should be a sanctuary, not be invaded by work.
#4: Useful layout.
#5: Adequate storage. I can be creative and make it work, but I want to be able to put things *away*.
#6: Access to public transportation. Unlike most people in this city, I take the train to work every day. It's fabulous.
#7: Price point. Obviously, I won't rent something I can't afford, but I won't settle for something just because it's cheap. Unlike most people in this city, I think my extra time from not commuting a long way is worth either a little more money or a little smaller place.

Bonuses:
Hardwoods
In-unit washer & dryer. I suppose could live with communal, but I haven't had to since college.
Gas appliances
Larger kitchen

It's been a long time since I've lived in an actual apartment, since my current roommates are in a band which practices at our place, and they are conscious enough of neighbors that we always rent houses (which is a totally affordable thing to do in Atlanta). Still, there are limits to house rentals, too. It's nice to have a landlord who will let you paint the walls, etc.

House specific requirement: room and/or sunlight for a garden.

Peace and quiet are numbers one and two on my list. Once, I looked at a lovely apartment on a Saturday and it was nice and quiet. I moved in on a Saturday and it was nice and quiet. All day Sunday, I spent quietly unpacking and finding just the right place for everything. I went to bed tired but happy I had found such a lovely new home. Imagine my surprise when, at 3 am Monday morning, I was woken by the roar of tanker trucks rolling past my bedroom window, one right after the other, for hours! Turns out my apartment was on a truck route to a distribution center in the next town. All the locals knew about it but not me. As soon as I had the opportunity to get out of there, I did, but what a pain it was to have to move again. I say be as picky as you want to be!

I was similarly picky about my last move - it was my first apartment without roomates, and I knew I wanted to find something I could stay in for a while. I started out with a few basic requirements: dog friendly, wood floors, and some sort of outdoor space. My city is small enough that location wasn't much of a concern. After I began looking at places I realized how important a functional layout is. Most of the places I was looking at were victorian houses transformed into apartments, so they often had these awkward chopped up floorplans. I needed something functional to have it feel like a home, and after looking for months (even moving in with my parents cause I still hadn't found the perfect place) I found something.

@herglasslegs i suggest scouring craigs list as often as possible. and yes, there is a lot of crap up there. you're going to have a hard time finding a place you like in that price range. it's not impossible, but its going to be hard. if you have a friend or someone who already lives here, your best bet is to have her/him occasionally drive around the neighborhoods that you want to live in and call the numbers on the for rent signs. the best places are likely to be found that way.

herglasslegs,some listings for Austin:
http://www.aveone.com/lease_nav.htm

East of I-35 have some remodeled and cheap homes but not very nice area in general.
---
Must have:
- hardwood or stained concrete floors in living/dinning area. I have a messy kid and don't wanna deal with cleaning carpet every day;
- washer and dryer in unit(see above);
- neighborhood with good schools;
- somewhat updated and definitely clean;
- some what sunny;
- price;
- not near train tracks or very busy streets;

Bonus:
- walk-in closets;
- big kitchen;
- patio/deck/yard;
- close to shopping/restaurants;

ameliepoulain and herglasslegs,
I moved to Austin about 5 months ago.

Darn it! As I was saying...I moved to Austin about 5 months ago. Finding a place to live wasn't easy, but I did it. I checked Craigslist for about 8 mos. before the possible move. I found an agent by calling about a property I was interested in, told him I was coming to look for a place and he gave me access to the MLS listings. This helped me find other places and so I came armed with a list. Ultimately, I wound up finding a place on Craigslist by myself. Serendipity. The ability to check MLS helped because I could narrow the search of available properties by price, location and other amenities.

If you're hoping to live in a charming detached house close to UT and you're on a limited budget ($800), it might be difficult to find a place. Actually within most of Central Austin, it might be difficult. If you're willing to consider above hwy 183, below 71, or east of 35 then there might be more options. I would venture to say most of West of Mopac (1) might be out of the question.

Also, after checking CL for about 8 months, I noticed that there were a lot of rentals starting May/June through August and not as many Feb-March and Sept/Oct. It makes sense with the school year and most of the leases being 1-yr. Not so many month to months.

Hope this helps a little bit.

Oh and I second what curiouslycuriousgeorgette said about driving around and calling the #'s on the for rent signs (I saw many properties that weren't listed on MLS or CL) and having someone you might know in Austin check them out.

I found a place that looked really cute on CL with nicely staged pictures so I had my Austin friend check it out. It turned out they strategically took pictures of the one remodeled room with hardwood floors, but the rest of the house was had icky old carpeting and was 80's style (not in a good way).

It isn't a bad thing to be picky when picking out an apartment where you are going to live, sleep, and work at - you better love it - LOL.

Must Haves:
-dishwasher
-laundry hookups
-large closets
-newer carpet (would love hardwood but hard to come by)
-two bedrooms
-decent counter space in the kitchen
-either a pantry or plenty of cabinets
-air conditioning
-place for the dining table
-decent parking
-plenty of windows
-safe neighborhood
-mini-blinds (I only have curtains for the bedroom and refuse to buy more since windows aren't the same in every rental)
-near a grocery store
-functional layout
-well-maintained building and apartment
-linen closet
-most space for my budget

Would Love:
-walk in closets
-separate dining space
-entire laundry room
-sliding glass door to a nice sized balcony
-private entrance
-near shopping areas
-large enough bedroom where the bed doesn't have to be pushed against a wall
-extra half to full bathroom
-coat closet

our must haves list used to be pretty long but after moving to LA and having to live in some places that barely met our "livable" requirements we have come to appreciate the small things. today our list looks like this:

-dog friendly
-lots of natural light
-safe neighborhood
-mostly quiet
-some character

we have let go of:
-washer/dryer
-dishwasher
-extra space (500 sq ft seems to suffice)
-closets
-central air
-second bedroom
-storage
-big kitchen (our current kitchen might not even fit me if I were to get pregnant! but we still love it)

ameliepoulain--I agree with the advice given above about trying to live close to your work. But, I too love south Austin (though I now live north because that's where I work). There's a complex at Riverside and Congress--which is immediately south of downtown--called Congress Square Apartments. I lived there several years ago, and I have a friend who still lives there. It's got a great dive bar called Ego's basically in the parking lot. There are saltillo tile floors, small balconies, and the 3rd floor units have cute free-standing fireplaces. It is absolutely the best-managed complex I ever lived in. And it's pretty cheap for the area. I think it's about 750 for a 1 bed.

Herglasslegs--I would check out:
The area around 51st and Lamar or North Loop (which is 53 1/2 st.) and Lamar. It's right off the UT shuttle/a bus route that goes by campus. There's a small clatch of houses that are bungalows built in the 40s-50s. And it's a little less well known than the major student areas (north and west campus, Hyde Park).

Also Airport and 51st--particularly between Airport and I35 there may be some cheap places. Sometimes this area is called North Hyde Park.

East of I35 near 32nd st or so (north of Manor Rd, east of the Fiesta grocery store). There used to be some awesome places back there for super cheap--but that was before the east side became popular, so I don't know what the rent runs now.

Crestview (a neighborhood a little farther north near Anderson and Burnet--the #5 bus goes by campus and runs along Burnet) is another option. You can still rent there for under $1000. But it might be a place that is a little run down or a little small. But the neighborhood kicks ass.

And my last suggestion would be southeast--but seriously, don't rent a place southeast without checking out the neighborhood first. Some neighborhoods are fine, some are a little dicey. And everyone has a different tolerance for dicey-ness (I lived in that area for a while and it never bothered me--but some people don't like it). But, near Oltorf and Burleson (I think?) there used to be some nicer houses--ranches from the 60s. And a lot of students live off Oltorf, so I think a lot of those houses get rented out to students.

It'll probably be hard to find what you want while living out of town. If you have a window where you can come in to look for places, I'd drive around the neighborhoods looking for for-rent signs. A lot of landlords in popular areas don't even bother listing properties--they just stick a sign out front. And of course the lazy ones who don't list the properties are usually the cheapest. But from long distance, craigslist is totally your best bet. Hope that helps.

Sorry. I thought of another area for Herglasslegs. It's north--a neighborhood inside the triangle made by Lamar, Koenig (also called 2222) and Airport. I had a friend who rented a duplex there for $600 just a few years ago.

Can you tell I'm excited to put my encyclopedic knowledge of Austin rental properties to good use?

My must haves:

-Kittie friendly
-Hardwood floors (well, anything BUT carpet)
-Safe neighborhood (I can walk to and from my car without fear)
-lots of closets and storage space
-good natural light
-Charm - this sounds weird, but I can't stand those cookie cutter apartment complexes where everything looks the same. It's just not a fun place to live. Luckily because I can't live anywhere with carpet, a lot of these places are eliminated. I have found that most of the apartments I love are much older than the new mega-complexes being made today.
-NO popcorn ceilings (I just won't do it)
-less than 30 minutes drive to work for both of us

For our next move (probably in two years) we will add:
-dishwasher (I cook all the time, this would make my life so much better)
-2nd bedroom
-2nd bathroom (we could settle on a single bathroom with two sinks)
-washer & dryer in unit (this would be the best thing ever!)

There are a few other little things as well, but this is the most of it. There are so many apartments around it just takes a little extra effort to find one that has everything.

http://www.abbeycatchat.com

I have never found my rentals on CL but by walking or driving in the areas I want to live and looking for rent signs.

my husband and i are planning to move to pasadena soon, so i'm also thinking of these same questions. my list:

1) lots of sunlight
2) large living room
3) walking distance to stores
4) hardwood floors

One other thought regarding renting in Austin: I live in Travis Heights (just south of downtown and west of I35) and our neighborhood listserve (it's a Yahoo group) regularly includes listings for rentals, both in Travis Heights and in adjoining areas; my impression is that these spaces aren't being advertised elsewhere (except for maybe a yard sign). You have to join the listserve to read the messages and but as far as I know no one checks to make sure you actually live in the neighborhood to join. I assume other neighborhood associations have similar things (you might find them by searching for websites by neighborhood; the Travis Heights one is called South River City Citizens).

That said, I agree with what other's have said about cost: Close-in, close to UT = $$$. But UT runs a lot of shuttle buses from various areas which makes it easier. And there are great places to live a bit further out: Crestview, south of Oltorf between Congress and South Lamar, and south of Ben White/71, especially between South First and Manchaca.

To those looking for a place in Austin:

I grew up in SW Austin and, after having lived in the urban center of older, higher density cities moved back here about a year ago. Having had a fairly 'suburban' upbringing I was doubtful that I'd be able to find a place I'd truly love (and be able to afford!) but was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

My "must haves":
1. 1 BR room for 2 desks/mini-offices
2. Dog Friendly
3. Location (proximity to: Town Lake Hike Bike, other downtown attractions, I-35; walking distance to dog park, grocery, shopping, restaurants)
4. Great Natural Light (from 2 directions in most rooms)
5. Moderate Quiet (not above a bar or next to RR; NOT West Campus)
6. Clean
7. Decent Kitchen
8. No Carpet
9. On-site Washer/Dryer

My "Would Loves":
10. Outdoor Space
11. Nice Bath (no cheapo rental finishes and fixtures)
12. Hardwoods
13. Character (e.g. built-ins, decorative molding, vintage tile)
14. Very Quiet
15. Closet space
16. In-Unit Washer/Dryer

What I ended up with was a 1BR Study downstairs unit
in a 1930s duplex in Old West Austin and I couldn't be happier! The layout is a little challenging, the finish on the hardwoods is very beatup, there is next to no closet space, I share a tiny W/D with my upstairs neighbors, and I have had to adjust to the creaking and stomping of their footsteps above me (I sleep with a fan on and try very hard to tune it out during the day), but no matter.

So, it can be done! From a distance, Craigslist will be your best resource though there's a lot of trash to wade through. Unless you have absolutely no time/energy to devote to the hunt and are ok with a cookie cutter apt, I would stay away from apartment locators. I would recommend, if possible, to make the trip to scout out neighborhoods. As others have said, often the best places are not listed online or in the MLS.

Areas I might consider (N,E,S,W):

Old West Austin Clarksville (Enfield/15th, Lamar,6th, Mopac) - One of Austin's earliest neighborhoods and remarkably quiet given its proximity to downtown. Stand alones and small apartment blocks, eclectic mix of high low. Close to: shopping, restaurants, bars on Lamar and 6th; Hike Bike; Zilker and Pease Parks; fantastic (if small) dog park (West Park) on 9th St., Pease also has a off-leash area; West Lynn (great neighborhood shopping district); downtown; I-35 and Mopac; walk/bike to most anything in Central and near South Austin; great bus service to UT and just about anywhere else. Clarksville (West of West Lynn) is likely to be a little cheaper.

Downtown (MLK, I35, Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake), Lamar) - lot of new high rises, most of them rentals. Pricier though there are deals to be had. Comparable to nice stand-alones in any of the trendier adjacent neighborhoods. I looked at a few but decided the high-rise lifestyle was not for me. The price might be worth the convenience if you work downtown or are very into the downtown nightlife scene. Also very convenient to Hike Bike and Zilker.

Travis Heights (Lady Bird Lake, I35, Oltorf, South Congress), Bouldin (Lady Bird Lake, South Congress, Oltorf, South Lamar), and Zilker (Lady Bird Lake, South Lamar, North of Lamar and Manchaca, East of Barton Creek Greenbelt) - 78704, the "coolest" zip code in town and the heart of South Austin. South Lamar, South 1st (bisects Bouldin), and South Congress (SoCo) are shopping, restaurant, and nightlife districts, each unique and with a wealth of locally owned businesses. South Congress is the hippest and most pedestrian friendly, South 1st is the up-and-comer.

Travis Heights is another of Austin's earliest and boasts proximity to I35 and SoCo, a fantastic stock of stand-alone bungalows (many renovated), great trees, a large dog park at Riverside and I35, and Little- and Big-Stacy parks, and Stacy Pool, one of the most beloved in Austin (it's warm, open year round, and fed by a well). It's also the most expensive and parts close to Congress will suffer from SoCo related parking and traffic woes.

Eastern parts of Bouldin are much the same as Travis heights. Closer to South 1st and parts West of there the housing stock will be smaller and with fewer renovations. Apartment complexes here are more affordable and just as close to downtown. Auditorium Shores, at South 1st and Lady Bird Lake, is a off-leash area and frequent festival site.

Life in Zilker revolves around South Lamar which, like South Congress, is loaded with shopping and attractions but it is more spread out, and much less pedestrian friendly. Lamar is also a good alternative to I35 or Mopac and is a great way to get between deep South Austin and parts North. Barton Springs Rd., which runs E-W just south of the lake is also very cool; proximity to Zilker, Barton Springs Pool, and Barton Creek Greenbelt, make for some of the best outdoor recreation in the city. The "Great Lawn" of Zilker is an off-leash area (also the site of the ACL Festival). There is a good mix of housing here but, with the exception of the area just south of Barton Springs Road, it doesn't feel as intimate as Travis Heights or Bouldin.

Westgate (Ben White/71, Manchaca, Stassney, Westgate Blvd) and South Manchaca (Ben White/71, South 1st, Stassney, Manchaca) - Northern parts of 78745. Those wanting proximity to Downtown or 78704 but not the hubbub or high price might be interested in these circa 1970 neighborhoods. Houses tend to be on the small side by suburban standards but offer sizable, fenced yards and good trees. The drive up Lamar to Downtown is <10 min and there's a Central Market (similar to Whole Foods) and a wealth of other stores and restaurants at Westgate and 71. It's also super convenient to the airport, which is 20 min East on 71. Bus service provides a quick commute to UT: one runs up Manchaca straight to UT and another goes up Westgate (Lamar) to Lamar and 24th. The second leaves a bit of a walk to campus but is a faster ride.

West Campus (29th, Guadalupe, MLK, Lamar) - This area is by far the most convenient to UT but comes with a lot of compromise. It is very crowded and noisy (all of the Frats and Sororities are located here), especially during the school year and on weekends, parking is next to none, and some of the original housing stock has been razed and converted into medium- to large-scale apartments and student housing, which makes for a rather dis-jointed streetscape and lack of community. It is very convenient to Pease Park and the Shoal Creek Greenbelt. I wouldn't recommend it unless your top priority is proximity to UT you can't find anything in North Campus in your price range.

Noth Campus (38th, Duval, Dean Keaton, Guadalupe),
Hancock (45th, I35, Deen Keaton, Duval), Hyde Park (51st, Red River/45th/Duval, Guadalupe), and North Loop
(Koenig/2222, I35, Airport, 51st Lamar) - These neighborhoods are also convenient to UT without all the
madness.

North Campus is the closest to UT and quieter but usually more expensive than West Campus. Mostly students.

Hyde Park another of Austin's earliest and an Austin icon: eccentric and unconventional with a rich supply of craftsman bungalows. It is also the most expensive of these four. Great trees, neighborhood
shopping and dining, and Shipe Park also make it popular. Garage apartments are not uncommon here and could be a good choice for those wanting a small 1BR or studio in this area. The "North" Central Market is at 38th and Lamar.

Hancock is just East of Hyde Park and shares many of its attributes. It is very convenient to I35 is home to a small municipal golf course. When I drove by yesterday I noticed that the city is installing a crushed rock running path around the golf course block. (yay Austin!)

North Loop, just North of Hyde Park, is likely the cheapest of these and still has lots to offer. The houses are smaller but it's convenient to UT via shuttle and North Loop has some cool off-beat shopping. It's also a great location for those working in North Austin who prefer not to live in the burbs. UT's Intramural fields are at Lamar and North Loop.

West of North Loop is Rosedale (Hancock, Burnet/45th/Lamar, 35th/38th, Mopac) and, further North, Brentwood (Anderson, Lamar, 45th, Burnet).

Rosedale is populated by well loved, smallish stand alone bungalows (most rennovated) and tree lined streets. Buying here is expensive but there may be affordable rentals. It has great access to Mopac and NW Austin. I'm not all that familiar with Brentwood but know it to be less expensive than Rosedale. Allandale, just NOrth of Rosewood, might also be worth looking into.

The Patterson Park, E. 38-1/2th, Manor Rd. Area (Airport, Airport, Manor Rd, I-35) - The City of Austin calls this area Upper Boggy Creek but I've never heard anyone call it that. This is a lesser known area just East of UT which I happen to love. The houses are small and not as nice as those in Hyde Park but the neighborhood has lots of character and the proximity to I35 and UT can't be beat. The area north of 38-1/2th St., near Patterson Park, is really nice and has beautiful, large shade trees. In recent years Manor Rd. has become rather hip and the development of the old Mueller Airport (now Mueller Neighborhood) have drawn some attention to the area, so perhaps it's not as cheap as it once was. There are restaurants and coffee shops on Manor and a little pool and tennis courts in Patterson Park. Mueller (just across Airport) now also has several really nice parks, one with a big pool. Mueller is brand new but has become very popular and seems to be well planned. There are rowhouses, stand alones, and maybe some apartments, though I'm not sure. Affordable housing was included as part of its development.

Central East Austin (MLK, Chicon, 6th, I35) - This area is just opposite I35 from downtown and houses many iconic Austin mom-and-pop type establishments. I went to middle school in the area and loved it then though it's undergoing a tremendous amount of change and parts of it are hardly recognizable now. The neighborhood is generally eclectic, and is popular with artists and musicians. The historic stand-alone housing stock is small and affordable, but fewer units will be updated. There's also a wellspring of nice new low-rise condo buildings (especially along E. 6th) but rents here are not likely to be bargains. E. 11th has also received intense investment in the last 10 years and is shaping up to be a really nice [edestrian friendly commercial district. This might be a great place to buy if you're looking for an affordable first home with some character and want to tackle a renovation.

Whew, that was a marathon! All of these neighborhoods are well located for those seeking a urban or semi-urban lifestyle, are uniquely Austin, and have great things to offer. They also represent a fairly wide range of prices and should accommodate most budgets.

Some links for Austin neighborhood research:
Extended Neighborhood Narratives (be forewarned the neighborhood and area defenitions used here are quite loose):
http://www.statesman.com/classifieds/content/classifieds/realestate/neighborhoods/index.html
Neighborhood Planning Map:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/planning/neighborhood/planning_areas.htm
Austin Zip Code Map:
http://www.city-data.com/zipmaps/Austin-Texas.html
Car2Go: (our new car share program - might allow you to sell your car and make living downtown more affordable)
http://www.car2go.com/austin/en/

Good luck to all of you, I hope you'll love Austin!

WOW!

Thanks you guys! The posts are unbelievable. I really appreciate the help =)

My partner and I have decided that we are ultimately going to have to drive down to Austin at the end of May/ Early June and do a mad rush for housing. I'm definitely going to use this post. I've heard about the eastside having "dicey" neighborhoods, but I'm glad to hear there is some hope =) ... we live in a (perceived) "dicey" neighborhood, but its a lot safer than people think. haha.

Anyways, thank you again. ATer's effing rock!

Well, it sounds like you got enough good advice so you probably don't need mine to so instead I will tell you about my last apartment hunt.

I work from home and I have moved to 14 different places and 4 cities (LA, SF, NYC, Boulder Co) in 10 years (thats 23 moves).

December 2009
I had a lease on a place that the price was great on (below market for Westwood) and had a washer dryer in the apartment, and two secured parking spaces, and was walking distance (when accompanied by a man) to the park and Westwood village. Plus it had laminate floors throughout. But it had some major drawbacks. It was old, and after living in a series of places that were brand new, it was awful. When it was cold outside it was cold inside. It had vertical blinds and the place was a sublet with a finite end, so I there was no point in taking them down to put up drapes. None of the toilets flushed without hassle. Paint was peeling on some of the bathroom walls. The marble in bathrooms was hideous pink. While it's true the washer dryer was in the apartment, it took hours to dry one small load of laundry. We started waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and just restart the dryer on the way back to bed. - Interestingly enough I now find it harder to get to sleep if the dryer is not running, so I do my laundry at night now.

But I digress... So when we had about 6 months left on the month to month lease, I made a list of what I was looking for and no item was too specific. You can always go back on something but you are better to have it all on there:
1. modern construction (within last 10 years, double pane windows, industrial touches big bonus).
2. tons of light (if from east and west, big bonus)
3. no carpet and no ugly linoleum anywhere (so hardwood, concrete, laminate, tile all OK - concrete a bonus).
4. washer/dryer in unit
5. at least two toilets.
6. 2 parking spaces (side by side a bonus).
7. Security (I had to feel safe walking down the street to meet a friend at a restaurant, vs feeling like I had to drive 3 blocks to restaurant just to be safe.
8. walking distance to a good yoga studio, restaurants, shops, coffee shops, a farmers market, etc.
9. a room to have my office and my S.O.'s office in (if it had space for a conference/project table and/or file cabinets big bonus).
10. a kitchen that 2 people could cook in together with a large/newish refrigerator.
11. 1 bedroom or more
12. ability to eliminate my three storage units, which meant I had to love it enough to commit to living there for 10 years, so that I could stop saving different pieces in case I needed them.
13. fit into my budget which was current rent storage unit cost savings from reducing mileage on my car insurance 400 calculated savings on gas per year.

Fantasy list
walking distance or easy, fun and safe public transportation to a movie theater and Whole Foods.
Good built in lighting. A lamp can change a room, but there is nothing like really good built in lighting.

So I figured since I had 5 months to look, I would just look at everything that fit 1-8. So I started looking at neighborhoods, and while I found three neighborhoods that fit most of the criteria, I only found one that had modern construction at reasonable prices. So I focused on that neighborhood, and started looking at everything that matched. I went to the appointments with a copy of a standard rental application already filled out and my checkbook, knowing that if I found the perfect place, it would be so rare that I had to be ready to jump on it before it was gone. I drove by all the places in advance at night to see how they were, and made notes. I have always had to move in a hurry and was really looking forward to having a lot of time to find the perfect place this time. But in the end, I found the place the way I always do and in exactly the same amount of time. It took 2 weeks and 48 places, and most importantly haunting craigslist 10 times a day for new postings with the word concrete and cross referencing that with Westsiderentals.com.

The place I ended up renting was only seen by two people (me and a guy). I told the Realtor who showed it to me, that I wanted it the second I had seen the last room. I asked him what I had to do to get it, and then did exactly what he said (wrote a cover letter and submitted it with the application he wanted). I thought for sure I wouldn't get it, because who would rent my dream apartment for exactly what I could afford to pay. I ran my credit report before writing the letter and found out there was something on there I didn't even know about and I addressed it in the letter. I cried, I prayed crossed my fingers and gave up all in the week that it took the owner to decide.

I am now the happy resident of the place I call the tree house. Walking distance from Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA. It has everything on the main list and the fantasy list too.

I had to be willing to pay overlapping rent for a month, but I did so gladly out of savings knowing that I will save that money by not moving for another 10 years. and I got rid of my storages (3 10x10s) in the first 30 days.

So I am a firm believer in look for exactly what you want. If you don't find it, make sure your lease is flexible so you can move when you do find what you want.

I'm moving to Portland, Maine in the fall. Hardwood floors, a parking space and room for a home office are my "musts". amiebarber8 mentioned the cookie cutter apartment complexes. I don't like those either. I gravitate towards apartments in older homes.