Author: Ross Quade

What Happens to Your Apartment Lease When a Spouse Dies

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I’m going to be honest with you. If you’re reading this, you’re probably dealing with one of the worst things a person can go through. And somewhere in between funeral arrangements and phone calls you never wanted to make, someone mentioned the lease. Or maybe you’re staring at a rent payment that’s suddenly yours alone … Continued

How to Find an Apartment When You’re Fleeing Domestic Violence

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⚠️ If you’re reading this from a shared device, open an incognito/private browser window now. Your internet history can be monitored. Clear your browser history after reading. If you need to leave this page quickly, close the tab. On most browsers, Ctrl+W (Windows) or Cmd+W (Mac) closes the current tab instantly. If you’re in immediate … Continued

Finding an Apartment During a Divorce in Austin

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You’re going through a divorce. And somewhere between the attorney meetings, the financial restructuring, and the emotional weight of it all, you have to find a place to live. I’m Ross Quade. Licensed Texas Realtor, Army veteran, and I’ve placed hundreds of Austin renters who were dealing with something bigger than just an apartment search. … Continued

Apartment vs. House Utilities: How Much More Does a Home Cost?

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You’ll find a dozen articles answering this question with national averages pulled from the same two EIA data sets. They’ll tell you apartments are cheaper on utilities. No kidding. What they won’t tell you is how much cheaper for your specific situation in Austin. Summer electricity bills here can double between June and September. Austin … Continued

Cost of Living for Renters: Austin vs. Top Inbound Cities (2026 Comparison)

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I track Austin rental pricing daily across 1,000+ properties, and I’ve watched the cost-of-living conversation around this city get dumber every year. Every relocation article says the same thing: Austin is cheaper than San Francisco. Texas has no income tax. Here’s a cost-of-living score. That’s useless if you’re actually trying to make a decision. The … Continued

834,000 New Residents: Where Everyone Moved in the Austin Metro

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I track Austin apartment pricing, vacancy rates, and move-in specials across 1,000+ properties. I see where people actually land, not where the headlines say they’re going. And here’s what the headlines keep getting wrong: “Austin” didn’t grow 49% since 2010. The Austin metro did. The city of Austin proper added just 4,000 residents in 2023-2024, … Continued