About Us
We are more than an online list of apartments for rent, we are your dedicated experts for finding your next home in Austin. Apartment hunting should be streamlined for the client to save them time and money.
Our goal is simple: blend real local knowledge, current data, and honest advice so you see apartment choices that match your lifestyle, timing, and budget. No fluff, no fake promises, no last-minute surprises.
Meet the Founder (Our Story)
Austin Apartment Team began long before Austin’s current apartment boom. Our founder, Ross Quade, has more than 20 years of experience in real estate with a passion for apartment locating. He started his career as a residential agent with well-known brokerages such as Spyglass Realty and Watters International Realty, helping clients buy and sell homes, before shifting his focus to apartment locating and becoming a trusted local resource for renters.
While working with renters, Ross saw how stressful the process could feel, especially in a fast growing city like Austin. Listings and lease terms were confusing, photos often felt misleading, and renters rarely had the full picture. He knew there had to be a better way to help his clients.
Over the years, Ross has personally toured more than 500 apartment communities across Austin which has provided him a wealth of knowledge when it comes to builders, developers, property managers, screening companies and more. He has seen it all, from budget-friendly properties to luxury high rises and townhome style communities across Central, North, South, East Austin, and nearby suburbs.
He knows that slow elevators that waste your time, pictures do not always match reality, surprise community fees are a drag and pressure to apply within hours of touring can be intense. It’s helpful to have a second person you can bounce ideas around with or ask a question before you apply (especially if you have credit or background issues). Building this website is the growth story behind those experiences.
Why We Are Different (What Renters Get with our Service)
True local licensed agent experience
We spend time in the field, touring apartment communities across the city. After hundreds of site visits to countless leasing offices, club houses, gyms, pools and model floor plans, we know screening criteria for credit and background issues along with which communities offer real value across town and which ones only look good in photos.
Current, checked information
We stay in regular contact with leasing offices and agents every day, track price changes in real time, watch for new lease ups, and keep an eye on move-in specials for you to ensure we are providing value beyond our competitors. We provide the best options specific to your unique situation so you see options that are real and current based on your criteria.
Apartments matched to your life
Every renter’s story is different. Whether you’re graduating from college and this is your first apartment or you are moving to Austin from another state we can help you sort things out after credit or rental history issues. We listen first and foremost to your needs and then match you with apartments that fit your wants.
Free service, clear pricing
Our apartment locator service is free for Austin renters and those relocating to the area. Properties pay us from their marketing budget when a lease is signed and your rent does not increase because you used us. Your monthly rate is the same with or without our help, and we are upfront about how everything works.
Licensed, compliant, and trustworthy
We work under our broker – Spirit Real Estate Group and follow all Texas real estate rules and regulations. That means you get guidance that is not only helpful, but also compliant and professional.
Our Mission
Our primary goal in serving our clients is to make apartment hunting in Austin simpler and more honest. We are not here to send you apartment listings that you won’t qualify for or communities that don’t meet your needs. We focus on straightforward advice, local knowledge, and a real commitment to matching people with apartments that make sense for their lives.
We work to:
- Teach renters what to look for beyond photos and glossy ads
- Share accurate, up-to-date details on pricing, availability, and market trends
- Help renters feel confident and informed, whether they are new to Austin or long-time locals
- Stay transparent, licensed, and reliable so people know they can trust our guidance
Why Renters Choose Us
If you are worn out from generic listing sites, old information, confusing prices, or pushy agents, we offer a different path forward.
When you work with us, you get:
- Real local insight from a founder and team who have walked hundreds of properties
- Honest, direct guidance instead of sales pressure
- Access to apartments and specials many renters never hear about
- A team of licensed real estate agents that include Shaista Bhatti, Brittany Boxill and Marlene Quade that all care about helping you find a home, not just getting a lease signed
Curious about who can help you the most for your upcoming move? The answer is simple. The service we provide for our clients is powered by real experience, local roots, and a founder who still treats every renter like a person, not a lead.