The Villas at Southport Apartments: 78704 Pet Owners Pay Attention (Austin, TX Review)

Every few weeks, a renter with a 90 pound dog contacts me asking for 78704 apartments that won’t reject their pet on sight. The answer is always short. Most properties in this zip code cap weight at 50 to 75 pounds. The Villas at Southport is one of the exceptions: 175 pound weight limit, no breed restrictions, and 1BR rents starting around $1,170. I’ve tracked this South Central Austin area across 500+ apartment tours over 14 years (TX License #679806), and finding that pet policy at those prices in 78704 is tough.

Here’s what the listing sites won’t tell you, though. This is a 1987 property with a 2011 renovation. No current concessions at a time when most Austin apartments are throwing 6 to 12 weeks of free rent at you. And the leasing office isn’t even on the property. Those details matter.

Quick Facts: The Villas at Southport

A 4.2 on Google is solid for a Class B property this age. Only 35 reviews spread across several years, though, so there’s not a ton to work with. I’ll break down what those reviews actually say below.

Best For / Skip If

Best For

You have a large dog (or two) and need 78704. I work with a lot of pet owners, and the 175 pound weight limit here with zero breed restrictions is something you’ll find at maybe a handful of properties in this zip code. Most communities along South Lamar cap at 50 to 75 pounds. Got a German Shepherd, a Lab, a Pitbull mix, or any breed that gets auto-rejected elsewhere? This is one of your better options in the area. Two pets allowed. Two dog parks and a dedicated dog run on site, and people keep calling it “a dog owner’s dream” in reviews. Check out our verified list of Austin apartments that accept large dogs for more options.

You want a 1BR in 78704 under $1,300. A1 floor plan starts at $1,170 for 656 square feet. A2 with a fireplace starts at $1,250 for 722 square feet. In a zip code where newer builds charge $1,600 to $2,200 for similar square footage, that math works.

You want a property that doesn’t feel like a typical apartment complex. This isn’t a 300 unit building with a central corridor. It’s a mix of duplexes, fourplexes, and smaller 8 to 10 unit buildings set on a hillside with mature trees. Private patios and fenced backyards on some units. People on ForRent and Google keep saying it doesn’t feel like “boxy apartments.” They say it feels like a home. If that layout matters to you, your options in 78704 are limited.

You value quiet over flash. Reviewers keep using the same words: peaceful, serene, quiet. It’s 123 units tucked behind mature trees on a residential street. No rooftop lounge, no Instagram pool. Just a solid place to live where noise complaints barely show up in the reviews.

You prefer full size washer and dryer hookups over shared laundry. Every unit has full-size W/D connections. You’ll bring your own machines, but having hookups at this price point is a step up from coin-operated rooms. Shared laundry is also on site.

Skip If

You need concessions right now. Zero specials. No weeks free, no reduced admin fees, nothing. At 93% occupancy, they don’t need to discount. Meanwhile, nearby properties like South Lamar Village and Mission James Place are offering 4 to 8 weeks free depending on the unit. If your budget depends on a concession to work, look elsewhere.

You want modern finishes throughout. That 2011 renovation updated counters and appliances, but this is still 1987 bones. Expect some cosmetic age. Some units haven’t been touched at all. One reviewer described their pre-renovation unit as being in “a bit of disrepair” while calling the renovated units “absolutely gorgeous.” Ask which version you’d get.

You’re noise sensitive and can’t get a top floor or duplex. Here’s the irony of a generous pet policy: the dog above you could weigh 175 pounds. At least one ApartmentRatings reviewer complained about exactly this. Since the property has duplexes, fourplexes, and standalone units, you can pick something where nobody’s above you. But if you end up on a ground floor below a large dog, expect footfall noise. Request a top floor or standalone unit.

You need the leasing office on site. It’s at 1113 Banister Lane, not at 1508 Southport Dr. That’s Four Park Place, about 0.4 miles away. It’s a Tramor thing. People keep showing up at Southport expecting an office and finding nothing.

Wondering If The Villas at Southport 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 whether you’d likely qualify before you spend $80 on an application, and I’ll share similar options nearby if this one doesn’t work out. You’ll hear from a real person (me), not an automated system.

Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Southport Drive is a quiet residential street between Manchaca Road and South 1st Street, just south of Ben White Boulevard. Not on South Lamar itself, but you can get there in a couple minutes.

Walking distance (under 10 minutes): Not much. It’s all houses around here. Bus stops are about 0.4 miles away on Manchaca Road.

Short drive (under 5 minutes): H-E-B on South Congress (about 2 miles), Target on Ben White (1.4 miles), Brodie Oaks Shopping Center (1.8 miles), restaurants along South Lamar and South 1st.

You’ll need to drive for: Barton Springs Pool (3.2 miles), Zilker Park (2.8 miles), downtown (4.5 miles), South Congress (2.5 miles). Don’t let the 78704 zip code fool you. The walkable 78704 (SoCo, Bouldin Creek, Travis Heights) is a couple miles north of here.

The Commute Math

Route notes: You’ll use Manchaca Road, South 1st, or South Lamar for most trips north. MoPac is accessible via Ben White but adds time during rush hour. I-35 is about 2 miles east. Highway access is the selling point here, not walkability.

Neighborhood Vibe

Quiet residential, south of Ben White, in one of Austin’s most wanted zip codes. South Lamar ranks well for remote workers thanks to Google Fiber availability and coffee shops along the strip. The mature tree canopy around the property is real, and residents keep talking about the wooded, tucked-away feel. It’s the kind of spot where your neighbor walks their dog at 11 PM and nobody thinks twice.

Tramor provides overnight security patrol (9 PM to 6 AM) according to resident reviews. That’s unusual for a 123 unit property at this price point.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

About those rent ranges: That $1,170 to $2,015 spread on the A1 is wide. Unrenovated units sit at the bottom of the range, and updated units push toward the top. Tramor’s website lists “From $1,195” for the A1, which suggests the $1,170 from listing sites may be slightly outdated. Ask about specific unit pricing when you tour. One thing to flag: the B2 is listed as a 2/1 in most places, but Tramor’s own site calls it “1/1 + Studio,” meaning it may function more like a one bedroom with a bonus room than a true two bedroom.

Net Effective Rent Calculation

This one is simple. No concessions right now. Zero weeks free. No reduced admin fee. No move-in specials. Your net effective rent equals your base rent.

For an A1 at $1,195 on a 12 month lease:

• Base rent: $1,195 x 12 months = $14,340
• Concessions: $0
• Net effective: $14,340 / 12 = $1,195/month

Now compare that to nearby competitors offering concessions:

Concessions change frequently. These figures reflect mid-2026 research. Verify current specials directly.

On a net effective basis, Southport costs more than several nearby properties right now. So why would anyone pay it? The pet policy, the unit style (loft/villa layout with patios and fenced yards), and the quiet residential feel. That’s the trade you’re making.

All the Fees

No valet trash fee. No technology fee. No package locker fee. For a Class B property, the fee structure is clean. That $80 application fee runs higher than the $50 you’ll see at many properties, but the $150 admin fee is moderate.

True Monthly Cost: What You’ll Actually Pay

Let’s run a realistic scenario. You’re renting the A1 (1BR, 656 sq ft) at $1,195 with one dog.

Move-in costs for this scenario:

• First month rent: $1,195
• Admin fee: $150
• Application fee: $80
• Pet deposit (refundable): $200
• Pet fee (non-refundable): $200
• Security deposit: TBD (ask leasing office)
• Estimated move-in total (before deposit): $1,825 + security deposit

Specials change. What’s listed above was accurate as of June 2026, but call me to confirm current pricing.

Want to Know What’s Actually Available Right Now?

Pricing and availability shift faster than listing sites update. Fill out a quick form and I’ll pull current numbers, compare net effective rents nearby, and send you options that fit your budget and what you’ll qualify for. Free, takes about 2 minutes.

Screening Criteria

Tramor doesn’t publish screening thresholds for this property. No credit minimum. No income multiplier. That’s common with smaller management companies, and it means you need to ask before you apply. For a Class B property from 1987 with rents in the $1,170 to $2,015 range, here’s what I’d expect:

Income Requirements (Estimated)

Most Class B properties in Austin require 2.5x to 3x monthly rent. Using 3x:

These are estimates.

Credit Expectations

No published minimum. For this property class, I’d estimate:

620+ credit: Smooth approval, standard deposit. 570–619: Possible approval, potentially with higher deposit. Below 570: Higher risk of denial. You’d likely need strong income or extra deposit to offset.

That’s my read based on how Tramor operates across their Austin portfolio. I can’t guarantee it. Ask the leasing office directly.

What Gets You Denied

Without published criteria, here’s what usually gets you denied at similar Class B properties:

• Active property debt owed to a previous landlord (near-universal dealbreaker)
• Recent eviction within 2 to 3 years
• Felony conviction within 5 to 7 years (varies by offense)
• Insufficient income documentation
• Falsified application information

The Application Process

1. Apply through the Tramor website or at the leasing office (1113 Banister Lane). $80 app fee per person, non-refundable.
2. Screening: Background, credit, and income verification.
3. Approval or denial from the leasing office.
4. Lease signing: $150 admin fee due. Minimum 6 month lease.

What a locator can do here: I can help you figure out whether you’d qualify here before you spend $80 finding out. If Southport’s screening looks tight for your situation, I know which nearby Tramor properties (and other management companies) have more flexibility. That conversation is free and saves you from burning application fees at places that will auto-decline you.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Listing sites show you a 4.2 Google rating and move on. That number tells you almost nothing with only 35 reviews. I went through 120+ reviews on Google (35 reviews, 4.2 stars), Yelp (38 reviews, 4.5 stars), ApartmentRatings (47 reviews), ForRent, and ApartmentHomeLiving. Individual complaints aren’t that useful. Repeated themes are.

Review Pattern Analysis

What Keeps Coming Up Positive

Staff, by name. Jenny, Tiffany, Molly, and Ilean all get called out on different sites. On Yelp, 7 reviews mention Tiffany and Molly specifically. Jenny gets repeated praise on Google and Apple Maps. Four staff members praised individually on four different sites. That’s not a coincidence.

It doesn’t feel like an apartment complex. This one comes up constantly. It’s a mix of duplexes, fourplexes, and smaller 8 to 10 unit buildings set on a hillside with mature tree canopy. One ForRent reviewer put it well: “If you prefer boxy apartments with thin walls and a view of a hot parking lot on all sides, this isn’t the place for you.” An ApartmentRatings reviewer talked about a downtown skyline view from their hilltop unit in winter. You don’t hear that at a typical 300 unit complex.

People stay way longer than they plan to. This might be the most telling thing in all those reviews. A resident who moved in for one year post-divorce stayed three. I found several three year tenants on different review sites. When people stay at a Class B property 2 to 3 times longer than planned, the place is doing something right.

It’s built for dogs. Reviewed as a “dog owner’s dream” on ForRent. Two dog parks, a huge dog run, and it seems like everybody here has a dog. People actually like the Poo Prints DNA program, which tells you something about the community. This isn’t a place that tolerates dogs. It’s designed around them.

What Keeps Coming Up Negative

Upstairs noise from large dogs. One ApartmentRatings reviewer signed a lease without being told the upstairs unit had a large dog. When they asked to transfer, they were quoted $500 and told the noise was “just apartment living.” If you’re noise sensitive, request a top floor or standalone duplex.

Maintenance depends on what kind of problem you have. Emergency calls? They’re on it. One reviewer described a 5 AM call during the 2015 floods where maintenance arrived in 20 minutes in torrential rain. That’s excellent. But the most recent Google review? A broken drawer removed and never replaced for over a week. Emergency calls get fast action. Routine stuff seems to slide sometimes.

Tree removal. One Student.com reviewer reported Tramor removing healthy trees during the hottest summer on record without notifying residents. Those trees are the thing people praise most in reviews. Ask the leasing office about current landscaping plans before signing.

Fee frustration. At least one ApartmentRatings reviewer described “jacked up” fees. The published fee structure ($80 app, $150 admin, pet deposits) looks normal for this type of property. Still, confirm there aren’t fees that don’t show up in the listing.

How Management Responds

Tramor responds to Google reviews. Template language, yes, but they respond to both positive and negative ones. That alone puts them ahead of about 40% of Austin properties I track. And here’s what matters more: one ApartmentRatings reviewer noted that even when “office management changed or maintenance handlers changed or rotated, nothing ever REALLY changed.” That tells you Tramor has actual systems in place, not just good individuals who might leave next month.

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.

You’re Paying More Than Your Neighbors Getting Concessions

This is the biggest financial reality. Zero concessions at 93% occupancy while Austin’s pipeline of new apartment construction has flooded the market. Most properties are competing hard for tenants. Southport doesn’t need to. On a 12 month lease, you’re leaving $1,000 to $3,000 on the table compared to nearby properties offering 4 to 8 weeks free. Does the pet policy and property style justify that premium? Maybe. But you should know it exists before you sign.

1987 Construction Has Real Limits

That 2011 renovation updated surfaces: countertops, appliances, flooring in some units. Renovations don’t replace plumbing, electrical systems, or structural insulation from the Reagan era, though. If you’re coming from a post-2015 build, expect thinner walls, older HVAC efficiency (higher electric bills), and occasional maintenance issues caused by aging infrastructure, not bad management.

And not every unit has been renovated. One ForRent reviewer gave 4 stars instead of 5 solely because their pre-renovation unit was in “a bit of disrepair,” while noting the renovated units are “absolutely gorgeous.” Ask about the specific unit you’re being offered and whether it’s been updated.

The Tree Canopy Might Be Shrinking

“Treehouse” living, “tucked in the trees,” wooded patios. That’s the #1 thing people praise in every review. It’s the property’s identity. So this matters: one recent review on Student.com reports Tramor actively removing healthy trees without telling anyone. If the tree canopy is your reason for choosing Southport, ask the leasing office what their landscaping plans are. Get specifics. If those trees are gone, a big part of why people choose this place goes with them.

Hookups, Not Machines

The marketing says “full size washer/dryer connections.” Apartments.com says no in-unit laundry. Here’s what’s actually happening: units have full-size W/D hookups, but you bring your own machines. Shared laundry rooms are on site if you need them. An ApartmentRatings reviewer specifically chose this property over neighboring Oak Run for the “washer dryer connections.” So the hookups are real. “Connections” and “supplied machines” are different things, though. Budget for buying or renting a washer and dryer.

This Property Does Not Work With Apartment Locators

Full transparency. The Villas at Southport does not pay locator referral commissions. Zero financial incentive for me to recommend this property. Everything in this review is about whether it fits your situation, nothing else. If you apply here, you’re dealing directly with the leasing office. I can still help you decide if it’s worth it and compare it against nearby options, but I can’t work the application for you the way I can at properties that work with locators.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to Explore Alternatives?

You’ve seen the full picture. If The Villas at Southport works for your situation, go for it. If the lack of concessions or the screening unknowns give you pause, fill out the form below and I’ll send you similar options in 78704 that might offer better first year math or be easier to get approved at.

FAQ

Does The Villas at Southport allow large dogs?

Yes. Up to 2 pets with a 175 pound weight limit per pet and no breed restrictions. Pet costs include a $200 refundable deposit, $200 non-refundable fee, and $20/month pet rent per pet. All dogs must participate in the Poo Prints DNA waste registry program.

What credit score do I need for The Villas at Southport?

Tramor doesn’t publish a credit minimum. Based on similar Class B Austin properties, I’d estimate you’ll want 600+ credit for a smooth approval.

What utilities are included in rent?

None. You’ll set up and pay for electricity, water, and internet separately. Budget $150 to $200 per month for a one bedroom, more for two bedrooms. They’ve got Google Fiber.

Does The Villas at Southport offer move-in specials?

Not currently. At 93% occupancy, they’re offering reduced rents only. No free rent, no waived fees.

Where is the leasing office?

At 1113 Banister Lane, Austin, TX 78704. Not at the property address. That’s the Four Park Place office, and it handles several Tramor properties. Don’t show up at Southport expecting a walk-in office.

When was The Villas at Southport built and renovated?

Built in 1987, renovated in 2011. Not all units have been updated. Ask whether your specific unit got the renovation.

Is parking included?

Yes. Surface lot parking at no additional charge. No covered or garage parking available.

What school district serves this property?

Austin ISD. Galindo Elementary, Fulmore Middle School, and Travis High School.

Does every unit have in-unit washer and dryer?

Units have full-size W/D hookups, but machines aren’t included. You’ll need to buy or rent your own. Shared laundry rooms are also on site.

What types of buildings are at The Villas at Southport?

Not a single apartment building. Duplexes, fourplexes, and smaller 8 to 10 unit buildings spread across a hillside. Some units have private fenced backyards. If noise is a concern, ask about standalone duplex units.

The Bottom Line: Is The Villas at Southport Worth It?

Here’s what it comes down to. This is a quiet, wooded, 123 unit community in 78704 with one of the most generous pet policies in the area. 175 pound weight limit, no breed restrictions, fenced yards on some units, two dog parks. Staff (Jenny, Tiffany, Molly, Ilean) get consistent praise by name. Rents start around $1,195 for a one bedroom.

The trade-off is just as specific. You’re paying full price with zero concessions while the market around you hands out free rent. The 1987 construction means aging infrastructure. The leasing office is off-site. And the tree canopy that defines this property may be shrinking.

This property makes sense if:

• You have a large or restricted breed dog and need 78704
• You value quiet, wooded surroundings over amenity packages
• You’re comfortable paying a slight premium for the pet policy and unit style
• You prefer a small community (123 units) over a 300+ unit complex

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• Your budget depends on a concession to work
• You want post-2015 finishes and construction quality
• You need walkability to restaurants and nightlife
• You’d rather pay $900 to $1,100 net effective at a nearby competitor and save $100 to $300 per month

My honest take: if you have a large dog and want 78704, The Villas at Southport earns a spot on your short list. If pets aren’t the deciding factor, the South Austin apartment market has stronger first year math at properties offering concessions within half a mile.

Need Help?

You’ve got everything to evaluate The Villas at Southport on your own. But if you want help:

Fill out the form above and I’ll text you to answer questions, compare this property against similar options nearby, see where you stand on qualifying, and share current availability across the South Lamar area. You’ll talk to me directly. Not an AI phone 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.