Situated at the corner of 26th and Pearl in the heart of West Campus, the Texan Pearl apartments have been a fixture of the UT student housing community since their grand opening in August of 2008. Offering six floors of luxury student apartments directly on the bus line, this popular West Campus complex exemplifies the value of competitive pricing early in the season and of quality builds for the student market. Read on to learn more about this fantastic West Campus apartment!
The Texan Pearl offers floor plans ranging in size from the small one bedroom (coming in at around 450 square feet) to the large three bedroom loft plans (over 1000 square feet including the loft space above the living area). Each floor plan offers the same designer amenities, including designer kitchens, stainless steel appliances, gorgeous wood floors, tile kitchens and baths, quality carpet in the bedrooms, free cable and internet service (wired in each room!), pre-wired for surround sound, granite counters, ceramic stove tops, and more. The complex offers security features, a large parking garage, two elevators, noise-reduction construction (including concrete barriers, double-pane windows, and “party wall” insulation), and more. Texan Pearl also offers some of the largest private balconies in West Campus (available on certain units).
More
The Venue is a bit of an enigma - situated at 29th and Guadalupe with its austere modern features towering over the nearby restaurants and shops it’s difficult to miss, and yet among the properties near UT campus it has seemed to struggle the most to attract the attention of student renters. Why did the Venue get off to such a rocky start the past two years? What’s really going on inside the flat-front stone exterior of the Venue?
Completed in time for a grand opening in August of 2007, the Venue struggled during its first year with high vacancy, much of which can be attribtued to the fact that the building isn’t in West Campus proper and that the prices were a step above most of the other corporate apartments catering to UT students. However, in the most recent leasing season, the Venue apartments stepped up their offerings by reducing prices to more reasonable levels and marketing more aggressively - they’ve also been more successful this year in shattering the West Campus myth that there’s nothing more convenient for UT students than a West Campus apartment. After all, the Venue is actually closer to many buildings at UT than an apartment on Leon or Pearl, for example. Apparently they’re doing something right - unlike the Block or the Quarters, they are now over 95% leased for August 2009!
More
Last Wednesday, June 10th, a tragic industrial accident claimed 3 lives and left another worker shaken up when a scaffold partially collapsed around the 12th floor of the new 21 Rio apartments in West Campus. The high-rise is scheduled to open soon and will feature its first major wave of move-ins in August of this year, and is located at 21st and Rio Grande. After arriving on the scene early that afternoon, emergency crews determined that an equipment failure was the cause of the accident, and three workers were pronounced dead a bit later that afternoon at Brackenridge Hospital. Two of the workers fell all the way to the ground while another landed on the roof of the parking garage about 4 stories higher. The fourth worker miraculously jumped from the collapsing scaffolding to the building and survived with only minor injuries.
More
With so many new complexes in the UT area, it can be difficult to tell them apart! If you’re like many UT students, you’re just looking for a straight answer - what differences exist between each of the new West Campus apartments that will help you make a good decision about your UT housing? We profile properties in detail to help you make the right call, and this week we’re taking a look at Jefferson 26!
Completed in August 2008, Jefferson 26 is a new UT Austin apartment community located in West Campus at the intersection of 26th and Nueces. The largest complex in the West Campus area, it offers over 360 units ranging in size from 1 bedroom to 4 bedrooms, as well as a huge outdoor pool and deck area with a hot tub, BBQ grills, and lounge chairs, an enormous 5 story parking garage, and a rooftop garden and hangout. There are some variations among 1 and 4 bedroom plans (they offer a 4/2 and a 4/4, for example), but they have SIX unique floor plans for two bedroom units - the largest variety in the area. Each offers its own unique style, including units with huge balconies, gigantic living areas, additional study spaces, and entertainment-oriented plans with island kitchens. Cable and Internet are included and no additional cost with all leases, as well as access to the resident-only gym facility, computer/business center, and tanning booths.
More
Clarksville is unquestionably one of Austin’s hottest and hippest neighborhoods. Bounded by MoPac on the west and Lamar Boulevard on the east, it retains a remarkable historic charm despite its amazing proximity to Downtown. Because of its historical significance, the city has protected Clarksville from growth, but the adjacent West End area (and the Central Design District at Lamar and Sixth) means Clarksville residents can have it all: hip, urban lifestyles with quaint, old-Austin feel.
Clarksville’s long history begins with former Texas Gov. Elisha Pease, who divided a portion of his plantation and sold it to slaves to build their homes. Charles Clark, a freed slave, started the community ten years later, and the neighborhood still bears his name. As Austin continued to grow into the 20th century, the area developed and became part of the city. Now, residents include young families, quiet professional types, and anyone who wants to live close to downtown but prefers old-style Austin to modern urban living. It’s the best of what Austin real estate has to offer - hip, close to everything, and affordable by national standards!
More
Downtown is where Austin goes to have fun. Sixth Street, the Warehouse District, the Convention Center, the Second Street District, and countless hotels and restaurants ensure that the party doesn’t stop until the wee hours of the morning. But Downtown is more than just a place to party – it’s the epicenter for dining, culture, and life in Austin, TX.
The entertainment districts are their own entity, separated from the nearby residential areas to the extent necessary to keep the noise down for those who prefer the other side of Downtown. There are actually plenty of places Downtown to lay low, and galleries, shops, and lounges offer an alternative to the rowdy party scene. Earlier in the evening, you’ll find friends out to a nice dinner or couples taking a walk, and as the morning draws closer, the party begins.
More
Hyde Park is the quintessential old-Austin neighborhood, and its laid-back vibe, beautiful tree-shaded avenues, and wealth of outstanding local businesses make this one of Central Austin’s most desirable residential areas. With beautiful early twentieth-century architecture and a rich history, Hyde Park represents the spirit of Old Austin, and a Hyde Park Home is a symbol of living the good life in Central Austin!
Despite being very densely populated, Hyde Park feels warm and inviting. Almost every home has a porch, and the few apartment and condo complexes are quaint and inviting. The area was laid out by native Texan Morton Shipe in the late 19th century, when Austin was still growing and Hyde Park was on the northern edge of town.
Hyde Parkers are serious about maintaining the historic feel and architectural integrity of the neighborhood. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Association deals with such issues, and also runs an annual home tour, which allows people to check out the amazing historic homes the neighborhood has to offer.
More
Buying near UT Austin has always been a wise investment, considering the sky-high occupancy rates, consistent appreciation, and relatively low cost of entry. But in light of recent market changes, most particularly the drop in interest rates and the arrival of amazing new tax incentives, there’s been perhaps no better time to make the move to the West Campus area than this Summer!
Interest rates are below 6%, and for first time home buyers meeting the qualifications for FHA loans, down payments can be as low as 3.5 percent! Special loan programs including the Kiddie Condo Loan allow parents to serve as cosigners on loans for their university students, allowing them to build credit and learn the responsibility that comes with ownership, and get down payments as low as 3.5% and excellent tax benefits. Most people by now have heard about the $8,000 FHA tax credit as well, but are often unaware of the recent changes to the policy — now if at the end of the year you owe $2,000 in taxes and you purchased a first home, you can literally get a check from the IRS for the balance of $6,000!
More
Though it’s still unquestionably a student neighborhood, North Campus, with its eclectic mix of student apartments, gorgeous single-family homes, and beloved local businesses, embodies what’s best about Austin, and is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Bounded by East 38th street to the north, Guadalupe to the west, Dean Keeton to the south, and Interstate 35 to the east, this neighborhood sits sandwiched between UT Campus and Hyde Park, and predictably, takes on some of the best characteristics of both.
In the middle of North Campus is a very exclusive smaller neighborhood with large, stylish homes occupied by old-Austin families, professors, and other professionals. It’s a Central Austin oasis: you’ll find million-dollar homes nestled between gorgeous oak trees, bounded by some of the neighborhood’s beautiful parks – all only blocks from major commercial areas and busy streets.
More
Wondering where all these new West Campus apartments came from, or why West Campus condos are a bit tougher to find these days? Read on to learn more!
As the name implies, West Campus is the area immediately west of UT, bounded on the West by Lamar Boulevard, and on the north and south by 29th street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard respectively. West Campus exemplifies the vibrant spirit of UT, and is home to students, young families, and professors. The area’s architecture is just as quirky and diverse as the people who live there; 80-year-old buildings are often found next door to high-end, brand new condos and apartments. Craftsman homes, bungalows, historic mansions, duplexes, and apartments can all be found in this area despite its small geographic size. And if you’re interested in UT student apartments, UT houses, or investment properties near UT, West Campus is the best spot.
More
