Try to look for an alternative between a house and an apartment. There's townhouses and you can have both pros and cons offered from the apartments and houses in the townhouses. In the townhouse, there's a lot of spacious room and in the back of the townhouse, there's room for the animals to roam. Most townhouse complexes do have a fenced in backyard. Townhouse complexes are good for young families and they do have a program for first-timer renters since townhouses do have an either inclusive rent which means you only pay for phone & cable or you pay everything. Gas, electricity and the bills and the rent is good. If you take in a roommate, set up a lease with the landlord. Have it signed in "black and white", it's legit. When you and your roommate sign another agreement pertaining food and phone & cable bills, make sure you have it in "black and white" and have a witness sign it as well. [Fanatic Judge Judy fan here!!] Townhouses do allow you the luxury of painting and it's wonderful to live in townhouses because it's a lot like houses. With Deaf people, you don't have to shush them like you have to in apartments. You have a lot of parking space in townhouses and you can put your extra storage space in the basement. I'd really check into the townhouses if I were you. http://www.google.com/local?q=townhouses+for+rent&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&near=Austin,+TX+73301&radius=0&latlng=30230379,-97714431,30287384,-97744962 This one has a townhouse for $415/month & states it welcomes first time renters and pets are welcome. I'd really check into this one. It's the outskirts of Austin. Check the Avignon Realty, it's where I got it from. [I've got friends living in Austin, TX]
