Cannon South Apartments Austin Review: $710 Efficiency on South Congress, But Read This First

When you track Austin apartment pricing daily across 1,000+ communities, certain properties keep surfacing for one reason: the math. Cannon South Apartments sits at the corner of South Congress and William Cannon Drive, and it consistently lands on my lists for renters searching under $1,000/month in 78745. A 393 square foot efficiency starting at $710. A one bedroom at $915. Those numbers are 30-35% below the South Austin average, and that’s with one month free already prorated into the listed rent.

As a licensed Texas real estate agent (TX #679806) who’s toured over 500 Austin apartment communities, I’ve learned to ask the follow-up question: what’s the catch? At Cannon South, there are a few. This is a 1982 building. Cats only. No dogs, period. No gym. Shared laundry rooms instead of machines in your apartment. And in February 2024, a three-alarm fire displaced 22 residents and caused $2.5 million in damage. Here’s what the listing sites won’t tell you about any of that.

Quick Facts: Cannon South Apartments

The 4.5 Google rating is strong for any Austin property, and that’s saying something for a 77-unit complex built in 1982. The 3.6 on ApartmentRatings reflects older reviews from a previous management era. I read through 105+ reviews across Google, ApartmentRatings, Yelp, Apartments.com, and ApartmentHomeLiving to find the patterns, including one serious incident the ratings won’t show you.

Best For / Skip If

This Property Works Well If…

You need a South Congress address under $1,000/month. Cannon South is one of the cheapest entry points to a SoCo-adjacent zip code. The efficiency at $710 is hard to match anywhere in 78745. Nearby competitors like Marquis SoCo start at $982, Urban Oaks at $849, and Bexley SoCo at $1,039. If your budget ceiling is $900/month for a one bedroom, your options in this corridor are thin, and Cannon South is one of them. I break down South Austin apartment pricing by corridor in my area guide.

You keep getting denied because you don’t make 3x rent. G&B Property Management only requires 2.5x monthly rent in income. Most Austin apartments demand 3x. That means a one bedroom here at $915 needs $2,288/month in income instead of $2,745. If you’re earning $14-15/hour, that gap is the difference between approval and denial.

You have a cat and want a property that actually allows pets. Most budget properties in Austin either ban pets entirely or charge so much in fees that the savings disappear. Cannon South charges $200 deposit, $150 pet fee (not returned), and $15/month per cat. That’s on the low end for Austin.

You value quiet over amenities. “Quiet” and “community feel” are the two most repeated phrases in the Google reviews. If pool access, a laundry room, and a small property where you know your neighbors is enough, you’ll get that here.

You’re on a tight move-in budget. The total upfront cost here is unusually low for Austin. Application fee: $30. Admin fee: $0 (waived). Security deposit: $300 for an efficiency or one bedroom. Compare that to properties where you’re looking at $50-75 app fees, $150-300 admin fees, and $500-1,200 deposits before you even pay first month’s rent.

Skip This Property If…

You have a dog. Cannon South says “cats only, no dogs” on their own website, and every listing site confirms it. The property info sheet lists a 175 lb weight limit with “no breed restrictions,” which looks dog-friendly at first glance. It’s not. Don’t waste the $30 application fee if you have a dog.

You need in-unit laundry. Cannon South has shared laundry rooms. There are washer/dryer connections in every unit, so you could theoretically bring your own machines, but verify this with Marie before assuming.

The 2024 fire concerns you. I’ll cover this in detail later, but a major fire in February 2024 affected 21 units, displaced 22 people, and raised questions about smoke alarms. The property has rebuilt and is at 100% occupancy. But if fire safety in a 1982 wood-frame building is a dealbreaker for you, that’s a reasonable position.

You want a fitness center, business center, or modern common areas. Cannon South has a pool, a picnic area with an outdoor kitchen, and laundry rooms. That’s it. No gym, no coworking space, no package lockers.

Wondering if Cannon South fits your situation?

Fill out a quick form and I’ll reach out to go over your specifics: income, credit, pets, timeline. I can check if you’d get approved before you spend $30 on an application, and I’ll share any current specials that might not be listed online. You’ll hear from a real person (me), not an automated system.

Location: What 117 W. William Cannon Dr. Actually Means

What’s Actually Nearby

Cannon South sits right at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and William Cannon Drive. That intersection gets real traffic, so if noise bothers you, ask about units facing away from William Cannon.

Here’s what’s within walking distance. Four Corners Shopping Center is 0.2 miles. A Capital Metro bus stop sits right in front of the property, which is a real plus for transit riders. The H-E-B at Southpark Meadows is 1.2 miles south (a 4 minute drive). South Park Meadows with Target, Ross, and a dozen restaurants is about 1.5 miles south.

For groceries and quick errands, you’re driving. This is car-dependent South Austin. But everything you need (grocery, pharmacy, restaurants, gas) is within a 5 minute drive. The Little Darlin’, Aviator Pizza, and Thirsty Planet Brewing are all close by if you want to eat out without going far.

The Commute Math

Route notes: You’ll use South Congress north or I-35 for most destinations. I-35 southbound morning traffic and northbound evening traffic are the pain points. MoPac is accessible via William Cannon west, but adds distance for downtown commutes.

Neighborhood Vibe

This stretch of William Cannon and South Congress is functional South Austin. It’s not the walkable SoCo strip with food trailers and boutiques. That’s 4-5 miles north. This is strip malls, H-E-B runs, and residential streets. It’s been here a while and not changing fast, which is part of why the rent stays low. Austin ISD serves this address: Pleasant Hill Elementary, Bedichek Middle, Crockett High.

Pricing and True Cost

Current Floor Plans

This is the part most listing sites get wrong: Cannon South’s listed rents already include one month free, prorated across a 12-month lease. The prices below are what you’d actually pay each month. I’ve reverse-engineered the estimated base rent (what you’d pay without the special) so you can see the real savings.

Efficiencies (0 bed/1 bath)

One Bedrooms (1 bed/1 bath)

Two Bedrooms (2 bed/1 bath, Townhome)

Note: Cannon South is also pre-leasing new units for Fall 2026 at 1,000-3,000 square feet, with rents from $1,250 to $3,750. These are clearly different product from the existing inventory. I’ll update this review when those units come online.

Net Effective Rent: The Math

Since Cannon South already prorates the free month into their listed rents, the prices above are what you actually pay monthly. Here’s how the math works if you want to check:

One Bedroom at $915/month (listed, net effective):

The daily multiplier for 1 month free on a 12-month lease: (365 – 30) ÷ 365 = 0.9178

Working backward: $915 ÷ 0.9178 = ~$997 estimated base rent

Proof: $997 × 0.9178 = $915 net effective. That checks out.

You’re saving about $82/month compared to the base price. Over a 12-month lease, that’s roughly $997 back in your pocket.

If you’re comparing Cannon South to other properties, use the net effective number, not the base rent. That’s what you’re actually paying.

All the Fees

Here’s something listing sites won’t call out: Cannon South doesn’t charge valet trash, pest control, or technology package fees. At most Austin apartments, those add $30-75/month on top of rent. Over a year, that’s $360-900 you’re not spending. I cover how late fees work at Austin apartments separately if you want more on hidden costs.

True Monthly Cost: A Realistic Scenario

Let’s say you rent a one bedroom at $915/month and you have one cat:

• Net effective rent: $915
• Monthly pet rent: $15
• Additional monthly fees: $0
• Total monthly cost: $930

Move-in costs for that same unit:

• First month’s rent: $915
• Security deposit: $300
• Application fee: $30
• Cat deposit: $200
• Cat non-refundable fee: $150
• Total move-in: $1,595

That’s a low move-in number for Austin. Many properties in this area require $2,500-3,500 just to get the keys.

Want to know what specials are actually available right now?

Specials change. What’s listed above was accurate as of June 2026, but I talk to leasing teams regularly, and offers shift. Fill out a quick form and I’ll confirm current availability, pricing, and any specials that may not be posted online.

Screening Criteria

The 2.5x Income Advantage

Here’s something most listing sites won’t tell you: G&B Property Management, the company that manages Cannon South, only requires 2.5x monthly rent in income. I confirmed this on G&B’s own website. Most Austin apartments require 3x. That difference matters.

At a standard 3x property, that same one bedroom would need $2,745/month in income. The 2.5x threshold drops that to $2,288. For someone earning $14-15/hour, that’s the difference between qualifying and getting denied.

G&B requires pay stubs or tax documents as proof of income. One thing to confirm when you apply: whether they qualify you on the base rent or the net effective rent. The base rent numbers are higher, so it could change your math.

Credit Expectations

G&B doesn’t publish a credit score minimum. Here’s what I typically see at properties in this class, based on my work across hundreds of Austin communities:

Likely smooth approval: 600+ credit with clean rental history and 2.5x income. At a small property with independent management, that profile should get you approved without issues.

Possible with conditions: 550-599 credit. You may see a higher deposit requirement. Clean rental history (no evictions, no property debt) helps a lot at this level.

Harder but not impossible: Below 550 credit. Small independent managers sometimes have more flexibility than the big corporate management companies, but you’ll need strong income documentation and clean rental history to compensate.

If your credit situation is complicated, this is where working with me saves you money. I can pre-screen your profile against what I know about this property before you spend $30 finding out. My guide on second chance apartments in Austin covers how credit tiers work across the full market.

What Gets You Denied

G&B’s website lists the specific factors their team reviews during screening:

• Previous eviction history
• Past due rent or outstanding charges owed to a previous landlord
• Breach of lease or failure to give proper notice to vacate
• Criminal history (G&B runs a background check on all applicants; results “may influence” the decision, meaning it’s not automatic decline but not ignored)
• Insufficient income documentation (pay stubs or tax returns required)

The Application Process

1. Contact the office: (512) 445-0550 or email cannonsouthapartments@gmail.com
2. Submit application with $30 fee per applicant (non-refundable)
3. Screening review (credit, criminal background, rental history, income verification)
4. Approval or denial. Small properties like Cannon South often process faster than large management companies.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Saturday and Sunday by appointment only.

What separates working with a locator from applying blind: I can tell you whether you’re likely to qualify before you spend $30 finding out. If Cannon South’s screening looks tight for your situation, I know which nearby properties have more flexibility, and which ones will definitely deny you. My service is free. I’m paid a referral fee from the property’s advertising budget.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Listing sites show you a 4.5 Google rating and call it a day. But what does a 4.5 actually mean at a 77-unit complex built in 1982? I read through all 61 Google reviews, 35 ApartmentRatings reviews, 9 Yelp reviews, and the available reviews on Apartments.com, ApartmentHomeLiving, and Yahoo Local to find the patterns across 105+ total reviews.

Review Pattern Analysis

One more thing: ApartmentRatings runs separate resident surveys, and Cannon South scores 5 out of 5 on grounds, staff, maintenance, and noise. That tracks with what the reviews say.

What Residents Keep Coming Back To

Marie. Across Google, Apartments.com, Yelp, and ApartmentRatings, she’s named by first name in review after review. “Amazing,” “a gem,” “super responsive,” “phenomenal.” One reviewer (Darren Patrick) said he was hesitant to leave a review because he “didn’t want everyone to know that Cannon South is the best kept secret in Austin.” A resident named Howard J has lived there 27 years. You don’t stay 27 years at a place with bad management or rent that keeps jumping.

Hector, the maintenance tech, gets repeated praise too. A Yelp reviewer confirmed same-day or next-day turnaround on work orders.

The pattern is clear: this is a property where one strong manager creates the entire resident experience. That’s rare. Older ApartmentRatings reviews reference previous staff and describe a different property entirely. One reviewer from that era said “since the new management took over, it has been very peaceful and quiet.” The Marie era is a clear improvement.

What Residents Criticize

The February 2024 fire is the biggest negative, and it shows up on five platforms: Google, ApartmentRatings, ApartmentHomeLiving, Yahoo Local, and Nextdoor. On ApartmentHomeLiving, the displaced resident’s extended review adds: “Communication was poor, support was minimal, and residents were left trying to rebuild their lives largely on their own.” On Yahoo Local, another reviewer wrote the complex “went up super fast like a tinder box.” I cover the full details below.

Beyond the fire, older ApartmentRatings reviews mention car break-ins in the surface lot. One reviewer said it happened their first week. Another warned against parking in the back. A third pointed out this happens across South Austin, not just here. Current reviews don’t mention break-ins, and the property lists courtesy patrol as an amenity, so conditions may have improved.

One ApartmentRatings reviewer left specifically because Cannon South doesn’t allow dogs: “I hate to leave, but they don’t allow dogs and I’m a dog person.” If you have a dog, this is a hard no.

The 3.6 rating on ApartmentRatings includes those much older reviews from the pre-Marie era. The more recent reviews are much more positive.

How Management Responds

Marie responds to nearly every Google review. She uses reviewer names, references specific details, and the tone is genuinely warm. Template responses signal corporate obligation. Personalized responses from an onsite manager who clearly knows her residents by name? That tells you what happens when you submit a maintenance request.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section. I’m not trying to kill the deal. I just want you to know exactly what you’re signing up for.

A Three-Alarm Fire Hit This Property in February 2024

On February 1, 2024, around 3:20 AM, a fire started on a corner balcony of Building 6 and spread to two connected buildings. Over 80 firefighters responded. The Austin Fire Department classified it as a three-alarm fire.

Twenty-two people were displaced from 21 apartment units. Structural damage totaled $2 million, content damage another $500,000. The cause? Improperly discarded smoking material.

Here’s the part that concerns me most: the Austin Fire Department noted there were no active reports of smoke detectors going off in the first building affected. AFD said investigators would need to get inside to determine why. At least one displaced resident left a review saying management didn’t do enough to help afterward.

The property has clearly rebuilt. Cannon South is at 100% occupancy and pre-leasing new units for Fall 2026. But you should know this happened, and you should ask Marie directly about what fire safety improvements were made since.

The “Pet Friendly” Listing Is Misleading

Several listing sites show Cannon South as “Pet Friendly” or “Pets OK.” The property’s own website and every detailed listing confirms: cats only, no dogs. Period. Their info sheet lists a 175 lb weight limit with “no breed restrictions,” which reads as dog-friendly if you’re scanning quickly. It’s not. If you have a dog, don’t apply here. You’ll lose the $30 application fee.

It’s a 1982 Building. That Means Something.

I say this about every pre-1990 property: year built affects your daily life more than the amenity list. At Cannon South, that means:

• Wood-frame construction. Thinner walls than concrete or steel buildings. You may hear neighbors, especially in the flat units.
• Older plumbing and electrical systems. Nothing specific in the reviews suggests active issues, but 40+ year old pipes and wiring carry more risk than newer construction.
• No modern insulation standards. Utility bills may run higher than newer construction, though one ApartmentRatings reviewer said their townhome electric bill never exceeded $100 even running A/C all summer.
• Laundry rooms, not machines inside your apartment. Washer/dryer connections exist in units, so bringing your own may be possible. Verify with management.

These aren’t reasons to avoid the property. They’re reasons to go in with your eyes open. A 1982 building at $710-$1,195/month is not going to feel like a 2020 building at $1,400-$2,000/month. The price tells you that up front.

Surface Lot Parking Means No Gated Security

Cannon South has open surface lot parking with no gates or controlled access. Two or three older ApartmentRatings reviews reported car break-ins, with one warning against parking in the back. Current reviews don’t mention this issue, and the property lists courtesy patrol. But if you drive a newer vehicle, ask Marie about the current parking situation.

Ready to move forward, or want to see other options?

Now you know what you’re working with. If Cannon South fits your situation, I can help you through the application process and make sure you’re getting the best available deal. If the fire history, cats-only policy, or construction era are dealbreakers, I know which nearby South Austin properties might work better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cannon South allow pets?

Cats only. No dogs. Two cat maximum. $200 deposit, $150 pet fee, and $15/month per cat.

What is the application fee at Cannon South?

$30 per applicant, below the Austin average of $50-75. Admin fee is currently waived.

Does Cannon South have in-unit laundry?

No washer or dryer inside the apartment, but every unit has full-size washer/dryer connections. Shared laundry rooms are on-site. Ask Marie whether you can bring your own machines.

What utilities are included in rent?

None. Residents pay electric through City of Austin. Water is billed through the property. Cable and internet are tenant responsibility.

What happened with the fire at Cannon South?

A three-alarm fire on February 1, 2024 started on a balcony from improperly discarded smoking material. It damaged 21 units, displaced 22 residents, and caused $2.5 million in total damage. The property has been rebuilt and is at 100% occupancy. Ask management about fire safety improvements made since.

What school district serves Cannon South?

Austin ISD. Zoned for Pleasant Hill Elementary, Bedichek Middle School, and Crockett High School.

The Bottom Line: Is Cannon South Worth It?

Cannon South delivers something you almost never find in Austin’s 78745 zip code: rent under $1,000 for a one bedroom on the South Congress corridor, with a $30 app fee, no admin fee, low deposits, and zero hidden monthly charges. The 4.5 Google rating across 61 reviews is earned, and almost all of it traces back to one person: Marie, the onsite manager.

The trade-off is a 1982 building with fire history, a cats-only pet policy, and the limited amenities you’d expect at this price.

This property makes sense if:

• Your budget ceiling is $1,000/month and you need a 78745 address
• You don’t make 3x rent and need the 2.5x income threshold to qualify
• You have a cat (not a dog) or no pets at all
• You value quiet community atmosphere and responsive management over amenities

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• You have a dog, regardless of size or breed
• You need laundry inside your apartment, a gym, or modern finishes
• The 2024 fire and smoke alarm questions make you uncomfortable
• You want walkable access to restaurants and nightlife (that’s 4-5 miles north on SoCo)

My verdict: if your budget is tight and you care more about quiet living, low fees, and a manager who actually picks up the phone than you do about a gym or modern finishes, Cannon South is one of the strongest value plays in South Austin. The first-year math works. Whether the trade-offs work depends on you.

If you want help figuring out whether Cannon South fits, or you’d rather find similar pricing without the 1982 construction or cats-only limitation, fill out the form below and I’ll text you within a few hours. I also cover East Austin apartments and North Austin apartments if you’re open to other areas.

Need Help?

You’ve got everything to evaluate Cannon South on your own. But if you want help, fill out the form and I’ll text you to answer questions, check your application situation, share current specials, and coordinate next steps. You’ll talk to me directly, not an automated system.

Going solo? 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.