Our Austin-based team researches tax credit communities, income-restricted apartments, S.M.A.R.T. Housing units, and properties with lower minimum-income requirements across the city and the I-35 suburbs. Tell us what you need, and your personalized list arrives by text and email within 48 hours.
Delivered by text and email within 48 hours
Operated by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC • Austin-based • 20+ years of combined experience
A building can advertise market rents while holding a share of income-restricted units, so renters scanning listings may skip a property that has an option for them.
Why it happens here: Under the city's S.M.A.R.T. Housing program, developers earn fee waivers by setting aside reasonably priced units, from a 25% waiver at 10% of units up to 100% at 40%.
How we help: Our income-restricted research looks for these set-aside units and labels them separately, so you can ask the leasing office which units are restricted and which limits apply.
Many properties ask for gross income of about three times the rent. Some use lower multiples, but listings rarely say so up front.
Tax credit, income-restricted, income-based, and Section 8 mean different things, and a listing may not say which one applies.
Calling property after property to ask about income rules takes hours, and you may still not get a clear answer.
Paying to apply at a community you turn out not to qualify for costs money you can't get back.
From Georgetown and Round Rock down I-35 to Buda, Kyle, and San Marcos, we research tax credit communities, income-restricted units including S.M.A.R.T. Housing set-asides, and lower minimum-income properties.
Research on properties or designated units with income eligibility limits, plus a clear explanation of how they differ from income-based rent.
Research on Low-Income Housing Tax Credit communities, including income limits, rent restrictions, and what to confirm before you apply.
Research on communities whose screening criteria may require less income relative to rent. This is not the same as a subsidized or income-restricted property.
From your request to a researched list, delivered by text and email within 48 hours.
Share preferred locations, budget, household income, household size, bedroom needs, and move timing.
We review your request, research potentially relevant communities, and contact leasing staff or management when clarification is needed.
Your personalized list arrives by text and email, with why each community was included and what to confirm.
Follow the suggested next steps to confirm current availability, requirements, and application procedures.
No Social Security number, bank details, or ID uploads. A research request is not an application, and you decide which communities to contact.
Operated by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC • Austin-based • 20+ years of combined experience
Austin is our home market. Renters here often work Downtown, near the University of Texas campus, at The Domain, or near the airport, and each job center pulls a search in a different direction.
Some affordable options sit inside market-rate buildings. Under the city's S.M.A.R.T. Housing program, developers earn fee waivers by setting aside reasonably priced units, from a 25% waiver at 10% of units up to 100% at 40%. Our S.M.A.R.T. Housing guide explains how to ask about them.
Utilities work differently than in Houston or Dallas. Austin Energy is city-owned and stays out of retail electric choice, and its Customer Assistance Program discount serves households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Your list flags the utility arrangements leasing staff confirm, so you can compare total cost.
Many searches here follow the I-35 corridor, north into Williamson County (Round Rock, Georgetown) or south into Hays County (Buda, Kyle, San Marcos). Others run along MoPac (Loop 1) toward Cedar Park and Leander.
If CapMetro bus or rail access matters, include the routes or stops you use. The Red Line runs from downtown to Leander, and we'll note transit access on your list when we can confirm it.
Some renters search here and in San Antonio at once, since the I-35 suburbs between them are within reach of both. You can choose both markets in one request and tell us how far you're willing to move.
The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) administers housing programs in the city. We don't issue vouchers or decide eligibility, but you can share your voucher status in your request.
The area also has many tax credit (LIHTC) communities, overseen statewide by TDHCA. These have income and rent limits, but rent usually isn't calculated from your own income.
Income-restricted units from S.M.A.R.T. Housing and other city programs sit alongside tax credit options. Each property confirms which units are restricted and which limits apply.
These are common coverage areas, not statements about government-program jurisdictions. Choose as many as you'd consider and tell us how far you're willing to move.
ZIP codes we cover include 78701, 78702, 78704, 78723, 78741, 78744, 78745, 78752, 78753, 78758, plus any other ZIP code you add to your request.
Map shows the general area. Our team is based in Austin and has no public office address.
Name the places and routes that matter to you, and we'll keep research close to them.
A request takes a few minutes. We never ask for Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, ID documents, or income-verification uploads.
The city, nearby suburbs, neighborhoods, or ZIP codes you'd consider, and how far you'll move
Monthly rent budget and approximate gross household income (monthly or yearly)
Household size and the number of bedrooms you need
Your target move date or date range
Voucher status, pets, accessibility features, transit needs, and other considerations
Your email and mobile number, so we can send your list by text and email
The form opens with this city already selected.
Yes, where we can identify them. The city ties developer fee waivers to the share of reasonably priced units, so restricted units often sit inside market-rate buildings. Each property confirms which units are restricted, and our S.M.A.R.T. Housing guide explains the program.
Yes. This is our home market, and the team researches all five Texas cities from here. We don't publish an office address.
Yes. Our I-35 corridor coverage runs from Georgetown and Round Rock to Buda, Kyle, and San Marcos, plus Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Leander.
Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander are mainly in Williamson County, while Buda, Kyle, and San Marcos are mainly in Hays County. That can affect which agencies and income tables apply, so the property confirms the details.
Yes. Choose both markets and tell us how far along I-35 you're willing to move.
Usually not. Austin Energy is city-owned and stays out of Texas retail electric choice, so renters in its territory are billed by the city utility. Ask about its Customer Assistance Program discount, which serves households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
No. HACA is a separate public agency. We can note your voucher status, but we don't administer or issue vouchers.
Not always. Program rules cap restricted rent, but asking rent and total monthly cost still vary. Your list shows researched rent with the date we found it.
Email us at texas@incomebasedapartments.com or start your request and add the question in the notes.
Get My Apartment ListWhat Austin's S.M.A.R.T. Housing program is, how income-restricted units inside market-rate buildings work, and how to identify and confirm eligibility.
Read guideA field-by-field guide to completing your apartment search request so your 48-hour list is as useful as possible. No SSN or documents needed.
Read guideIncome-based rent, income-restricted units, tax credit communities, and lower minimum-income properties are different. See the comparison table and what each means for you.
Read guideYou can include more than one market in a single request. Each community appears on your list once.
Tell us what you need. Your personalized list arrives by text and email within 48 hours of a completed request.
