“What starts here changes the world!” All University of Texas at Austin students know and understand this. After dorm life, moving off campus is a much awaited change in a student’s world; even if it is just into a simple one bedroom apartment near UT Austin campus, it starts to a new chapter. Moving into your first West Campus apartment doesn’t just mean more freedom, it means more responsibility and the first real taste of life on your own! Living here is the start of memories that will last forever.
West Campus covers the area south to Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, north to 29th street, west to Lamar, and bordered on the east by Guadalupe. Once you cross 30th street, you're now in the area known as North Campus, or Hyde Park for the non-students. Although the architecture of the area has changed drastically since The University of Texas was founded in 1883 it has long been a favorite place for students to call home. While you can still find pockets of single family homes many of the bungalows have been replaced by mid and high rise developments since the mid 2000’s. You will still find tons of quality constructed condos from the 1970’s-80’s many of which have been tastefully updated to keep up with the times. Often times it is easier to find condos in this area of campus than it is to locate Hyde Park apartments for rent due to the sheer number of condos in the area.
West Campus is home to the majority of Greek Life and homes to some of the best off campus housing near UT Austin. Fraternity and sorority houses are littered throughout this area making it extremely convenient for brothers and sisters that choose not to live in the house but still want to be close to all the action. You will also find many other student organizations and co-ops nearby. With over 1,000 student organizations at UT, there is a place for everyone to call home.
This part of campus represents a bustling part of Austin with students out and about at all hours of the day. One of the biggest advantages is the overall walkability of the location. UT students can literally walk to any area of campus or there’s always the option of hopping on the bus to make it across Guadalupe and arrive on University grounds.
Aside from access to UT, Austin West Campus apartments have everything a student needs to get the most out of the college experience. Favorite restaurants include Freedmans, Pluckers, Halal Brothers, Sushi Nichi, and Kismet for some great vegetarian options! Students can regularly be found studying and enjoying delicious coffee at Cafe Medici on The Drag or Starbucks on 24th. On Tuesday nights you will find students shoulder to shoulder at the quintessential college bar, Cain and Abel’s and Wednesdays The Local is a popular hangout for UT students. You can always make your way to The Drag (Guadalupe) for all your retail needs ranging from local thrift stores like Monkies Vintage to big names like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters.
If you’re looking for a retreat from the concrete jungle of campus, take a short walk across Lamar to Pease Park. Pease Park is a favorite among locals and offers an easy and peaceful bike ride all the way downtown. A bucketlist item for many UT students is a day spent in Pease Park for Eeyore’s Birthday. Since 1963 Austinites have been congregating on the last weekend in April to celebrate the beloved Winnie the Pooh character with live music, food, and games for all ages.
Once you’ve decided that UT Austin off campus housing is the right choice for you, it’s time to choose a home. Some of the favorite UT student apartments include The Block on Campus, The Quarters, Park Place, Crest at Pearl, 26 West, Rio West, 21 Rio, Regents West, Lonestar Lofts, The Pointe on Rio, and 900 West 23rd. Many students prefer condos due to individual landlords and often times more affordable options. A few of the favorite condos include Croix Condominiums, Parapet, Palmetto, Centennial, Orange Tree, Piazza Novana, St Thomas, and Whitestone.
Many parents of students opt to buy condos near UT for their student to live in rather than rent any of the apartments in UT West Campus. With rental rates continuing to climb year after year this can be a very smart investment in a student’s future. Not only are you building equity, but roommates can help pay the mortgage while attending school. After graduation the condo can be a great addition to an investment portfolio or the beginning of an investment strategy for the recent grad. With rental rates ranging from $700-1100/month/bedroom on average a two bedroom condo purchased from $200-300K can greatly reduce the overall monthly cost of living with one roommate paying market rent. Condo prices in West Campus have remained steady over the last 8 years making this a great option for those looking to make an investment.
At Uptown Realty our experienced agents know the University of Texas area better than anyone and would love the opportunity to help you find your next home! We help clients looking to prelease UT student apartments, lease homes and condos, first time home buyers, and investors looking for that perfect rental property.
