Alexan St. Elmo Apartments Review: Brand New in 78745, But Here’s What You Need to Know First
Alexan St. Elmo is a 372 unit new construction property on Weidemar Lane in Austin’s St. Elmo district, and right now it’s one of the few places in 78745 where you can sign a lease on a unit that nobody has ever lived in. Studios start around $1,200 during the lease up. One bedrooms run $1,790 and up. Two bedrooms start at $2,010. I track pricing across 1,000+ Austin apartment communities, and new builds from developers like Trammell Crow Residential always draw a crowd. The finishes are real. The sky lounge on the fifth floor is real. The St. Elmo district buzz is real.
But here’s what the listing sites won’t tell you. This property has two Google reviews. Two. One has no written text. The other calls the location “awful” and mentions potholes and noisy car repair shops next door. You’re essentially signing a lease on a promise. This review breaks down exactly what you’re getting, what you’re gambling on, and whether the math actually works.
Quick Facts: Alexan St. Elmo at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 4700 Weidemar Lane, Austin, TX 78745 |
| Year Built | 2026 (brand new) |
| Total Units | 372 |
| Developer | Trammell Crow Residential (Alexan brand) |
| Managed By | RPM Living |
| Rent Range | $1,200–$3,520 |
| Income Requirement | 3x monthly rent (standard for Alexan brand) |
| Credit Minimum | Not published |
| Pet Policy | No weight limit, no count limit, breed restrictions apply. $500 non-refundable fee, $25/month pet rent |
| Current Special | Reduced lease up rents (studios as low as $1,200) |
| Application Fee | $85 per person |
| Admin Fee | $0 |
| Lease Minimum | 12 months |
| Google Rating | 3.0 stars (2 reviews) |
That 3.0 Google rating is statistically meaningless with only two reviews. I can’t tell you what living here is like. Nobody can yet. But I can tell you what the Alexan brand typically delivers at their other properties, how RPM Living has performed elsewhere in Austin, and whether this location actually works for your daily life.
Best For / Skip If
This Property Makes Sense If:
You want everything brand new and no one else’s maintenance problems. Every appliance, every fixture, every square foot of flooring is fresh out of the box. No stained carpet from the last tenant. No mystery smell in the bathroom. No dishwasher that’s been repaired four times. For renters who’ve dealt with the frustrations of older Austin apartments, that has real value.
You need a studio under $1,300 in South Austin’s 78745. During the lease up, studios at 570 square feet are listed as low as $1,200 on Apartments.com. That’s competitive for new construction with quartz countertops and a full size washer and dryer in unit. For comparison, Prospect at 122 Sheraton Ave (built 2023) starts studios around $963 but those are smaller and three years older now.
You have pets with no weight limit concerns. The property lists no weight limit and no pet count limit, which is rare at this price point. Most luxury apartments in Austin cap weight at 50 to 75 pounds. If you have a large dog, your options just got bigger. Check our breakdown of Austin apartments that allow large dogs for more options.
You work from home and want a building designed for it. The remote office suite includes private conference rooms, work nooks, and a Wi-Fi printer. The fifth floor sky lounge with city views gives you a change of scenery without leaving the building. If remote work drives your apartment search, check our guide to the best Austin neighborhoods for remote workers to compare how St. Elmo stacks up.
Skip This Property If:
You need a track record before signing. Zero resident reviews exist. The property hasn’t had anyone live in it yet. If you need to know what maintenance response looks like, how the leasing office handles problems, or whether the walls are thin before committing $1,800 a month, this isn’t the move. Not yet.
You care about what’s outside your window. The one Google review that exists specifically calls out potholes on the street and noise from nearby car repair shops. The St. Elmo district is still transitioning from industrial to mixed use. The glossy marketing photos don’t show what’s across the street.
You need flexible screening or second chance approval. Alexan properties run through third party screening with standardized scoring. They don’t do individual review for borderline applications. If you’re dealing with an eviction, broken lease, or credit under 600, this isn’t the property to burn an $85 application fee on. See our second chance apartments guide for properties that work with challenging backgrounds.
Not Sure If This Property Fits Your Situation?
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Location Deep Dive
What’s Actually Nearby
Alexan St. Elmo sits on Weidemar Lane, a side street just east of South Congress Avenue in the 78745 ZIP code. The property’s marketing leans hard into the “St. Elmo district” brand. Here’s the reality.
The St. Elmo Public Market at 4329 South Congress was supposed to be the anchor that turned this area into Austin’s answer to Pike Place Market. First announced in 2015. Supposed to open in 2018. Then 2020. Then 2021. It never did.
The 40,000 square foot space sat empty until a Nashville investment firm bought it and leased it to Pins Mechanical Company, a bowling alley and arcade bar concept. So the “food hall district” the property’s marketing implies? It’s a bowling alley. That’s worth knowing.
What is actually here and operating: St. Elmo Brewing Company is about half a mile away and it’s solid. Spicy Boys Fried Chicken has a location in the district. The Yard at St. Elmo has 20+ creative businesses. These are real draws, just not the food market the neighborhood was promised a decade ago.
Your closest grocery is the H-E-B on South Congress at William Cannon, roughly 1.5 miles south. There’s nothing walkable for daily errands. You’ll need a car.
Williamson Creek Greenbelt runs through the area with a trail system for walking and biking. It’s a neighborhood path, not a destination trail like Barton Creek.
Commute Math
| Destination | Off-Peak | Rush Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Austin | 12 min | 20–30 min |
| Austin-Bergstrom Airport | 15 min | 20 min |
| UT Austin Campus | 15 min | 25–35 min |
| The Domain / Apple Campus | 25 min | 40–50 min |
| South Lamar Corridor | 8 min | 12 min |
| Barton Springs / Zilker Park | 10 min | 15 min |
You’ve got I-35 and Highway 71 (Ben White) right there, which makes downtown fast when traffic cooperates. North Austin tech campuses during rush hour? Different story entirely.
Neighborhood Reality
The St. Elmo district is changing fast. Five years ago this was mostly industrial. Now you’ve got new apartment construction everywhere: St Elmo Living, Bishop Momo, 44 South, and now Alexan. Pins Mechanical is converting the old market space. There’s momentum here. But the transition isn’t done. You’ll still see auto shops, warehouses, and industrial lots mixed in with the new stuff. The potholes on surrounding streets are real. You’re betting on where this neighborhood is headed, not where it is today.
For a broader look at what the 78745 corridor offers, check our South Austin apartments guide.
Pricing and True Cost
Floor Plan Breakdown
Studios (2 floor plans):
| Sq Ft | Listed Rent | Lease Up Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 570 | $1,525 | ~$1,200 |
| 630 | $1,570–$1,610 | Not yet listed at lease up pricing |
One Bedrooms (8 floor plans):
| Sq Ft | Listed Rent |
|---|---|
| 713 | $1,790–$1,845 |
| 732 | $1,827–$1,907 |
| 752 | $1,840–$1,885 |
| 784 | $1,845–$2,055 |
| 780 | $1,902–$2,067 |
| 818 | $1,937–$2,067 |
| 841 | $2,043–$2,108 |
| 864 | $1,997–$2,117 |
Two Bedrooms (10 floor plans):
| Sq Ft | Listed Rent |
|---|---|
| 1,068 | $2,617–$2,627 |
| 1,081 | $2,645–$2,680 |
| 1,127 | $2,010–$2,845 |
| 1,171 | $2,015–$2,865 |
| 1,240 | $2,015–$3,040 |
| 1,312 | $2,015–$3,300 |
| 1,318 | $2,010–$3,240 |
| 1,382 | $2,015–$3,435 |
| 1,431 | $2,010–$3,360 |
| 1,465 | $2,010–$3,520 |
The wide rent ranges on two bedrooms (as much as $1,510 spread on the same floor plan) come down to floor level and view. A ground floor unit at $2,010 and a fifth floor unit at $3,520 are the same square footage with very different price tags.
Net Effective Rent: A Note on “Reduced Rents”
Normally I walk through the net effective rent math step by step. I can’t do that here. Alexan St. Elmo isn’t offering a traditional “X weeks free” special. Instead, they’re advertising “reduced rents” during the lease up period. Apartments.com lists studios starting at $1,200, while the base system price shows $1,525 for that same 570 square foot unit.
That’s a $325 per month reduction. Over a 12 month lease, that works out to $3,900 in savings compared to what these units will likely rent for once the building stabilizes. But here’s the catch: I don’t know when the reduced pricing ends, what triggers a return to base rents, or whether your renewal will be at the higher number. Ask the leasing office directly and get whatever they tell you in writing.
If you want to understand how net effective rent calculations work across Austin, our rent affordability guide walks through the math.
Fee Breakdown
Required Fees (everyone pays these):
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $85 per person (non-refundable) |
| Admin Fee | $0 |
| Security Deposit | Starts at $500 (based on Alexan brand standard; confirm with leasing office) |
Optional / Situational Fees:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Garage Parking | $10/month |
| Pet Non-Refundable Fee | $500 per pet |
| Pet Rent | $25/month per pet |
| Water/Sewer | Submetered (billed based on individual usage) |
| Common Area Electric | Up to $25/month (based on Alexan brand standard; confirm with leasing office) |
The $0 admin fee stands out. Most new construction in Austin charges $150 to $350 for admin fees. That’s money back in your pocket on move in day. The $10 garage parking is also surprisingly low. Most properties charge $50 to $150 for a garage spot.
One thing to ask about before signing: other Alexan properties charge monthly fees for valet trash ($25–$30), pest control ($5), amenity fees ($25), and technology fees ($15). Alexan St. Elmo hasn’t published whether these apply. If they do, that’s an extra $70 to $75 per month on top of your rent. Get the full fee sheet from the leasing office before you commit.
True Monthly Cost Scenario
Here’s what a renter in a one bedroom at 784 square feet actually pays each month during the lease up:
| Line Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base rent | ~$1,845 |
| Garage parking | $10 |
| One pet rent | $25 |
| Water/sewer (estimated) | $30–$50 |
| Common area electric (estimated) | Up to $25 |
| Estimated Monthly Total | $1,935–$1,955 |
That $1,845 listing on the property’s website becomes roughly $1,950 when you factor in what else hits your account each month. Always ask for the “all in” monthly number before you sign.
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Screening Criteria
Alexan St. Elmo hasn’t published its screening criteria publicly. That’s not unusual for a property still in lease up. But other Trammell Crow Residential properties (Alexan Memorial, Alexan Kendall, Alexan Gateway) all publish theirs, and the policies are consistent across the brand. Here’s what to expect. Confirm details directly with the leasing office before applying.
Income Requirements
The Alexan brand standard is 3x monthly rent as gross household income. Guarantors, if allowed, typically need 4x monthly rent.
| Floor Plan | Approx. Rent | Monthly Income Needed (3x) | Annual Income | Hourly Wage (40 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio (570 sf) | $1,200 | $3,600 | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| 1BR (784 sf) | $1,845 | $5,535 | $66,420 | $31.93 |
| 2BR (1,127 sf) | $2,010 | $6,030 | $72,360 | $34.79 |
| 2BR (1,465 sf) | $3,520 | $10,560 | $126,720 | $60.92 |
At the lease up studio rate of $1,200, you need to earn about $21 an hour full time to qualify. That’s accessible for a lot of renters. At the higher two bedroom rents, you’re looking at household income over $125,000 a year.
Ask the leasing office to confirm their exact income multiplier before applying.
Credit Expectations
The Alexan brand doesn’t publish a hard credit floor. Their properties use third party screening that evaluates the full application with a scoring model. Based on the brand’s positioning as a luxury product, expect:
- 650+ credit: Smooth approval, standard deposit
- 600–649 credit: Likely approved, possibly higher deposit
- Below 600 credit: High risk of denial at a property like this
If your credit falls below 600, you’re better off targeting properties built for renters with credit challenges. Burning $85 in application fees at a 2026 luxury build usually ends in a denial letter.
Likely Denial Triggers
Based on standard Alexan brand screening (confirm with leasing office):
- Any prior eviction on record (blanket denial at Alexan properties, no lookback period)
- Active property debt owed to a previous landlord
- Outstanding balance or lease violation history within the past two years
- Felony conviction (lookback period varies)
- Fraudulent application documents (automatic denial, reported to law enforcement)
- Insufficient income documentation within 48 hours of application
Application Process
- Submit application online with $85 fee per applicant
- Provide income documentation within 48 hours (pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements)
- Third party screener evaluates and provides recommendation
- Approval or denial, typically within 24 to 72 hours for complete applications
The $85 application fee is non-refundable. Self-employed applicants need two years of tax returns. The Alexan brand verifies income documents through fraud detection software.
What a Locator Does at This Property
Fair warning: Alexan St. Elmo doesn’t pay locator referral fees. That means I don’t earn a commission if you lease here. I’m including this review because renters searching for honest information about this property deserve it, commission or not.
What I can do: compare Alexan St. Elmo against every competing community in 78745 so you know whether this is actually the best option for your budget and situation. I pre-screen your profile before you spend $85 on an application you might not pass.
What to Watch For (In Place of Resident Reviews)
Alexan St. Elmo has two Google reviews and zero reviews on ApartmentRatings, Yelp, or any other platform. Nobody has lived here yet. I’m not going to pretend I can review a building nobody’s lived in yet. Instead, here’s what to watch for based on what I know about the Alexan brand, RPM Living’s track record, and new construction in Austin.
RPM Living Management
RPM Living manages over 200,000 units nationally. They’re huge. In Austin, I’ve worked with several RPM properties and the experience varies a lot depending on the onsite team. Some locations have fast maintenance and responsive leasing staff. Others have communication problems that drive residents up the wall. The corporate name on the building matters less than the people they hire locally. When you tour, pay attention to how the staff handles your questions. That tells you more than any corporate reputation.
New Construction Growing Pains
Every new building goes through a shakedown period. HVAC systems need tuning. Elevators get dialed in. Common areas might not be finished on move in day. Fire alarms going off because of construction dust? That happens in new builds more than anyone admits. If you sign a lease here in the first few months, expect some of that. The real question is whether the leasing team communicates well and fixes things fast when they come up.
The One Review That Exists
Lynn Stepanenko, a Google Local Guide with 31 reviews, wrote: “Awful location on a street littered with potholes and next to noisy car repair facilities. Don’t recommend.” This was posted before the building opened, so it’s about the location, not the apartments. But it’s worth taking seriously. Drive Weidemar Lane yourself. Look at what’s across the street. Decide whether the surrounding environment matches what the marketing promises.
The Uncomfortable Truth
No listing site will write this section.
You’re Paying Luxury Prices for an Unproven Product
Alexan St. Elmo charges $1,790 and up for a one bedroom. That’s luxury pricing in the 78745 ZIP code. 44 South, built in 2020 and half a mile away, starts one bedrooms around $1,029. St Elmo Living (2023) starts around $1,080. You’re paying a 65% to 75% premium over nearby competitors for the privilege of being first through the door at a building with zero operational history. The finishes are nicer. The amenities are newer. But you won’t know if the plumbing works well or if the walls are paper thin until someone actually lives here for six months.
The St. Elmo “District” Isn’t What the Marketing Suggests
The property’s website talks about “Keep Austin Weird” energy and “original Austin.” In reality, Weidemar Lane sits in a transitional zone. St. Elmo Brewing and The Yard are real draws. But the food market that was supposed to anchor this district never opened. You’re also next to auto body shops and light industrial businesses. The neighborhood will likely look different in three to five years. Right now, it’s a construction zone with a vision attached.
No Locator Commission Means No Built-In Advocate
Most Austin apartment communities pay locator referral fees from their marketing budget. Alexan St. Elmo doesn’t. No apartment locator in Austin has a financial incentive to recommend this property. The flip side? The property is confident enough in its lease up to skip locator partnerships entirely. For you as a renter, you’re going it alone on the application process. Nobody is pre-screening your profile or negotiating on your behalf here. If your application gets stuck, you’re dealing with it yourself.
Want an Honest Comparison Before You Apply?
I compare Alexan St. Elmo against every other option in 78745, including the ones that’ll actually save you money. No pressure. Just real numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alexan St. Elmo pet friendly?
Yes. No weight limit and no count limit per the property’s data, with breed restrictions. You’ll pay a $500 non-refundable pet fee plus $25 per month in pet rent per pet. Note: RentCafe lists a maximum of two pets, so confirm the exact policy directly with the leasing office before signing.
What is the income requirement for Alexan St. Elmo?
Based on the Alexan brand standard, expect 3x monthly rent as gross household income. For a $1,845 one bedroom, that means $5,535 per month or about $66,420 per year.
Does Alexan St. Elmo offer parking?
Yes. Surface lot parking appears included. Garage parking is available for $10 per month, which is well below the Austin average.
What school district serves Alexan St. Elmo?
Austin ISD. The property is zoned for Galindo Elementary, Bedichek Middle School, and Travis Early College High School.
Who built and manages Alexan St. Elmo?
Trammell Crow Residential developed the property under their Alexan luxury brand. RPM Living handles day to day management.
Is Alexan St. Elmo a smoking community?
No. It’s a non-smoking community.
When did Alexan St. Elmo open?
The property is opening summer 2026. It’s currently in its lease up phase, which is why reduced rents are available.
Does Alexan St. Elmo have a sky lounge?
Yes. The fifth floor sky lounge overlooks Austin with TVs and an entertaining kitchen. It’s the kind of space that looks good on a tour and actually gets used.
Are utilities included in rent?
No. Water and sewer are submetered and billed based on your individual usage. You’ll also pay a share of common area utility costs. Electric and internet are separate.
The Bottom Line
Alexan St. Elmo gives you what you’d expect from a brand new build by a national developer: clean finishes, modern amenities, in unit washer and dryer, and a sky lounge that’ll probably look great on your Instagram. Studios starting around $1,200 during the lease up are competitive for this level of finish in 78745.
The trade-off is that you’re signing a lease on a building with no track record, in a neighborhood that’s still half construction zone, managed by a team that hasn’t been tested by a full building of residents yet.
This property makes sense if you value new construction over proven track records, you want South Austin access without downtown pricing, your credit and income are solid enough for a luxury property, or you’re the type of renter who likes being first.
This property doesn’t make sense if you want to read resident reviews before committing, you need flexible screening for credit or background challenges, you’re bothered by an industrial transition neighborhood, or you’d rather save $500 to $700 per month at a slightly older building half a mile away.
The verdict: Alexan St. Elmo is a bet on new construction quality and the St. Elmo district’s future. The lease up pricing makes it worth considering, but go in with your eyes open about what “brand new” really means: no reviews, no track record, and a neighborhood that’s still finding itself. Tour the building and the surrounding blocks before you decide.
Need Help Deciding?
Work With Us
My apartment locating service is free. I compare communities across South Austin and the rest of the metro based on your budget, screening profile, and priorities. I know which properties approve your specific situation and which ones will waste your application fee. Even for a property like Alexan St. Elmo that doesn’t pay locator commissions, I can tell you whether the math works compared to everything else on the market.
Go Solo
If you want to apply on your own, visit alexanstelmo.com or call the leasing office at (737) 332-3933. Just tell them “Ross Quade from Austin Apartment Team” referred you on your tour and application. Text me at 512-360-0852 when you apply so I can make sure everything’s on track.
