Old South Austin Apartments Review: Is $1,078/Month in 78704 Too Good to Be True?

A 1BR in 78704 for $1,078 a month. That number sounds like a typo. It’s not.

Old South Austin Apartments at 3508 S. 1st Street is one of the cheapest ways to hold a 78704 address in 2026. I’ve tracked Austin apartment pricing across 1,000+ properties, and the math here stands out. A 1BR starts at $1,175, but with the current one month free special on a 12 month lease, your net effective rent drops to $1,078. That’s roughly $400 to $700 less per month than most nearby competitors on South Lamar and South Congress.

But here’s what listing sites won’t tell you: you’re getting a 425 to 475 square foot apartment in a 1985 building with no washer or dryer in the unit. I’ll break down whether that trade-off makes sense for your situation, what you’ll actually pay each month, and what 48 resident reviews across multiple platforms say about daily life here.

Quick Facts

Two things stand out. First, the credit score minimum isn’t published anywhere. That’s not unusual for smaller properties managed by independent companies. It usually means the manager reviews applications individually rather than feeding them through an automated system.

Second, only 62 units. When a unit opens up here, it doesn’t sit long.

Who This Property Works For

Best if you’re looking for:

• A 78704 address with a 1BR under $1,200. Even at the listed $1,175, ApartmentHomeLiving puts this property at 27% below the Galindo neighborhood average. Add the one month free special and the gap gets wider.
• A small, quiet community where you’ll recognize your neighbors. At 62 units across four buildings, this isn’t some anonymous 300-unit complex.
• A location close to downtown without downtown rent. S. 1st Street puts you 10 minutes from the city center during off-peak hours.
• Pet flexibility without paying a fortune. Two pets allowed with only $15/month per pet rent. RentCafe lists a 35lb weight limit though, so large dogs may not qualify.
• Free surface parking included. Newer 78704 communities often charge $50 to $150/month for a reserved spot.

Skip if:

• You need laundry in your unit. There’s no washer/dryer connection in any apartment here.
• You need more than 475 square feet in a 1BR. Some units here are as small as 425. If you work from home full time, that floor plan will feel it.
• You want a fitness center, business center, or package lockers. This is an older property with basic amenities: pool, outdoor kitchen, laundry room. That’s it.
• You’re looking for same-week availability. With 90% occupancy and only 62 units, the floor plan you want might not be open when you need it.

Want to Know If Old South Austin Fits Your Situation?

Tell me your budget and timeline. I’ll confirm current availability and whether you’re likely to qualify before you spend $50 on an application.

Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Old South Austin sits on S. 1st Street in the Galindo neighborhood, tucked between Ben White Boulevard and Oltorf. This part of 78704 is one of the more walkable areas in Austin outside downtown.

H-E-B on Oltorf is about 1.5 miles north. Central Market at Westgate (4477 S. Lamar) is about 2.5 miles west. For groceries, you’ve got options without driving across town. Elizabeth Street Cafe and Bouldin Creek Cafe are both less than 1.5 miles up S. 1st. South Congress runs parallel about half a mile east, so the restaurants, shops, and weekend foot traffic over there are a quick trip.

Mercury Hall is literally next door. St. Edward’s University is 1.1 miles away, so good to know if you work or study there.

Commute Times

Highway access is solid. Ben White (Hwy 290) is less than half a mile south, and that connects to I-35 and MoPac quickly. Heading north toward downtown via S. 1st Street is the path of least resistance during off-peak hours. Rush hour on S. 1st can stack up near Oltorf, though.

Bus-wise, CapMetro Route 3 runs along S. 1st Street with stops near the property. The South Congress Transit Center is about half a mile south at Ben White, where you can pick up Route 1, Route 315, or the Rapid 801 into downtown.

Neighborhood Reality

Galindo is residential and low-key. It doesn’t have the foot traffic of South Congress or the bar scene of South Lamar. And that’s kind of the point. The streets are tree-lined and quiet for being this close to the city center. Galindo Elementary, Fulmore Middle School, and Travis High School serve this address through Austin ISD.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

Apartments.com says water and trash removal are included in rent. Double check with the leasing office before you sign.

Net Effective Rent Calculation

The current special is one month free on a 12 month lease. Here’s how the math works using the daily calculation method, which is how Austin properties calculate net effective rent:

1BR at $1,175 base rent:

• Lease term: 365 days
• Free rent: 30 days (1 month)
• Multiplier: (365 – 30) / 365 = 0.9178
• $1,175 x 0.9178 = $1,078/month net effective
• You save $97/month compared to the listed price, or $1,175 total over the lease

2BR at $1,500 base rent:

• Same multiplier: 0.9178
• $1,500 x 0.9178 = $1,377/month net effective
• You save $123/month, or $1,500 total over the lease

For context, most South Austin apartments in 78704 start 1BRs at $1,300 to $1,800. Stoney Ridge down the street starts at $1,010 but that’s a 224-unit complex. Silver Creek at 2900 S. 1st starts at $1,210 with 132 units. Old South Austin’s pricing is in the same range as those larger properties, but you’re getting a 62-unit community where the manager knows your name.

Fee Breakdown

Required fees (everyone pays):

Optional fees (if applicable):

No valet trash fee. No technology fee. No package locker fee. That matters. Many newer communities in this ZIP code tack on $75 to $150/month in mandatory fees for stuff you never asked for.

What You’ll Actually Pay (1BR, One Pet)

Move-in cost estimate:

Specials change. What’s listed above was accurate as of June 2026. I talk to leasing teams weekly, and offers shift.

Want to Know What Specials Are Actually Available Right Now?

Current promos can change before listing sites update. I verify directly with the property.

Screening Criteria

Income Requirements

The income multiplier isn’t published anywhere online for Old South Austin. Not on their website, not on RentCafe, not on Apartments.com. For a renovated 1985 property in this rent range, 3x monthly rent is what I’d expect. Check with the leasing office before you apply.

Remember: communities qualify you on the base listed rent, not the net effective rent after concessions. So even though your net effective for a 1BR is $1,078, you’ll need to show income qualifying at the full $1,175.

Credit Expectations

Old South Austin doesn’t publish a credit score minimum. For older, independently managed properties like this in Austin, here’s what I typically see:

• 620+: Smooth approval, standard deposit
• 580-619: Likely approved, possibly higher deposit
• Below 580: Individual review by property manager. Smaller properties like this sometimes have more flexibility than corporate-managed complexes because Maureen reviews applications personally rather than running them through automated screening software. If your credit is in this range, check out second chance apartments in Austin to see what else might work.

If you’re working with credit challenges, that’s exactly the kind of thing worth discussing before you apply. I can tell you whether this property’s screening looks workable for your situation before you spend $50 finding out. Call me at 512-320-4599 or text 512-865-4672.

What Typically Gets You Denied

Screening criteria for this property aren’t publicly listed. But based on how Rassier Properties and similar independent management companies operate, here’s what typically triggers a decline:

• Active property debt owed to a previous landlord (this is an automatic decline at nearly every Austin property)
• Recent eviction filings (typically within the last 3 to 5 years)
• Insufficient income documentation
• Certain felony convictions depending on type and recency

Application Process

1. Submit application with $50 fee (not refunded if denied)
2. Screening review by property management
3. Approval or denial, typically within 1 to 3 business days for smaller properties
4. Lease signing and move-in scheduling

What a locator does here: I pre-screen your situation against this property’s criteria before you pay a dime. If Old South Austin’s screening looks tight for your situation, I know which nearby properties along the S. 1st corridor have more flexibility. If your profile is clean, I handle the registration paperwork so your application doesn’t sit in a pile. Either way, the service is free. The property pays my fee from their marketing budget.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Listing sites show you a rating and call it a day. I pulled reviews from every platform I could find: 23 on Google (4.4 stars), 25 on RentCafe (4.5), at least 1 on Yelp, and zero on Apartments.com or ApartmentRatings. Here’s what the combined data actually tells you.

Review Pattern Analysis

RentCafe breaks reviews into subcategories, and those scores tell you more than the overall number. Staff scored a perfect 5.0. Value scored a perfect 5.0. But noise? That came in at 4.0 out of 5.0, the lowest of any category. Makes sense when you consider the property sits on S. 1st Street, a two-lane road that gets busy during peak hours. One reviewer called this out specifically.

What Residents Praise

Three staff members get called out by name across platforms: Maureen (property manager), Jesse (maintenance), and Lupe (also praised on Yelp and the property’s own website). At a 62-unit property, this means residents interact with actual people who know them, not a rotating door of temporary staff.

One resident confirmed living there for over 10 years. Another lived there 4 years and only left to move in with a partner, noting the units are “very small, but if you’re a solo person wanting to be close to everything in town, this is a wonderful spot.” A former resident mentioned Maureen forwarded a package that arrived after they’d moved out. You don’t see that kind of thing at a 300-unit property managed by a national company.

One reviewer on RentCafe got specific about what’s inside the units: hardwood floors, dark countertops, a walk-in shower, A/C that handled an Austin summer, and Google Fiber as an internet option. Their only con? “Slightly small interior.”

The Criticism

Most reviews are positive, but one negative stood out on student.com. A resident who broke their lease early for a work relocation actually found their own replacement tenant who paid $200 more per month. No gap between tenants. And they were still hit with a re-letting fee of about $1,450 (one month’s rent). Their words: it “left a bad taste.”

That’s the only real negative I found across all platforms. But I’ll be honest: 48 reviews total for a property that’s been around since 1985 isn’t a lot of data. Some unhappy residents may never have bothered leaving feedback.

Management Response Pattern

Neither Google nor RentCafe show management responding to reviews. The Yelp listing is unclaimed. Residents say management is responsive in person, but there’s no online presence backing that up.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section.

The Units Are Small

425 to 475 square feet for a 1BR. That’s the size of a large studio at most newer properties. The 2BR at 750 square feet is compact for two people with furniture. If you’re moving from a newer build with 700+ square foot one bedrooms, this will feel like a downgrade. Tour the actual unit, not just the photos. Measure your furniture before signing.

No Washer or Dryer in Any Unit. Period.

There’s no washer/dryer connection in any unit. Not “connections available in select units.” Not “stackable available for an upgrade.” Zero. You’re using the community laundry room for every load, every week. If laundry is a dealbreaker, this property won’t work regardless of the price.

Breaking Your Lease Will Cost You

A former resident reported a re-letting fee of roughly $1,450 (one month’s rent) even after finding their own replacement tenant at a higher rent. That fee applied regardless. If there’s any chance you’ll need to move before your lease ends, ask about early termination terms upfront and get the answer in writing before you sign.

S. 1st Street Traffic Is Real

The property sits directly on South 1st Street, a two-lane road that gets noticeably busy during peak hours. A reviewer called this out specifically, and the RentCafe noise score (4.0 out of 5.0) backs it up. So what do you do? If you’re a light sleeper, ask which units face the interior courtyard instead of S. 1st.

It’s a 1985 Building

Renovated in 2013, yes. But the bones are over 40 years old. That means original plumbing behind the walls, older electrical infrastructure, and a building that just isn’t comparable to something built in the last decade. The renovation covered cosmetic updates: countertops, flooring, appliances. It didn’t rebuild the structure. Ask about HVAC age and water heater replacement during your tour.

Not Sure If You’d Get Approved?

Every property screens differently. I know which management companies are flexible and which ones auto-decline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Old South Austin Apartments accept pets?

Yes. Two pets maximum with a 35lb weight limit per RentCafe. Pet deposit is $300 refundable, plus a $200 fee (waived for certified adopted pets). Monthly pet rent is $15 per pet. Breed restrictions apply, so check with the leasing office about your specific breed before you apply.

Does Old South Austin have laundry hookups in the units?

No. There are no washer/dryer connections in any apartment. The property has a shared laundry room on site.

What’s the current special at Old South Austin Apartments?

As of June 2026, the property offers one month free on a 12 month lease. That brings the 1BR net effective rent down to $1,078/month.

How far is Old South Austin from downtown?

About 3.5 miles, or a 10 minute drive during off-peak hours. Rush hour can push that to 20 to 25 minutes depending on the route.

Does Old South Austin have a fitness center?

No. Amenities include a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen with BBQ area, picnic area, and laundry room. There’s no gym or fitness center on site.

What school district serves Old South Austin Apartments?

Austin ISD. The assigned schools are Galindo Elementary, Fulmore Middle School, and Travis High School.

Is parking free at Old South Austin?

Yes. Surface lot parking comes with the unit. No extra charge.

What’s the application fee?

$50 per applicant. There’s also a $125 admin fee due at lease signing.

Does Old South Austin have gated access?

Yes. The property has access gates and is a fenced community.

Are utilities included in rent?

Apartments.com says water and trash removal are included, but check directly with the property. Electricity and internet are on you. Google Fiber is available at this address.

The Bottom Line

Old South Austin Apartments gives you a 78704 address and a net effective rent starting at $1,078 for a 1BR. In a ZIP code where most one bedrooms start north of $1,300, that pricing is hard to beat. The 4.4 Google rating, consistent praise for the property manager by name, and “quiet community” showing up in nearly a third of reviews all tell the same story: this place is run right for what it is.

The trade-off is clear: 425 to 475 square feet, no laundry in the unit, no gym, and a 1985 building with 2013 cosmetic updates. You’re choosing location and price over space and modern amenities.

This property makes sense if:

• You want 78704 without paying 78704 prices
• You’re comfortable in a compact space (solo renter, minimal furniture)
• A small community feel matters more to you than a gym and a rooftop lounge
• You want included parking and low monthly fees

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• Having laundry in your apartment is non-negotiable
• You need 600+ square feet in a 1BR
• You want a gym, business center, or modern common spaces
• You work from home and need room for an office setup

My verdict: if you can handle a shared laundry room and don’t mind the square footage, this is one of the best value plays in 78704 right now.

Need Help Deciding?

Option 1: Work with me. Tell me your budget, your must-haves, and your screening situation. I’ll confirm whether Old South Austin is a fit or point you toward better options on the S. 1st corridor. The service is completely free. Call/Text me at 512-360-0852 .

Option 2: Go on your own. 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. You’ll get the same rent and specials either way. Registration is required via email for this property, so reaching out to me first can actually speed up the process.

Either way, make sure you tour in person. Photos don’t show you the laundry room situation, how the parking lot fills up, or whether 425 square feet feels livable with your stuff.