May 13

May 13 NO SENSE

‘Because that’s what we decided’, she explained. Except that was not what I wanted to hear. It made no sense at all.

‘I have kids who go to school here’, I tried stating my case. It really is the most convenient place to live. No driving. No bus. No worries.

‘You can move to, whatever that place is now called…the Asten’, she offered. It’s actually listed as Bridge at Ribelin Ranch. The third name change in the past two or three years.

But why can’t I just stay here, I wanted to ask again. I didn’t bother. I would simply have to wait until sometime near the end of summer to find out if they will renew our lease. If they do, we will have to stay put for another year or so.

The leasing agent at our apartment complex emailed me this morning to let me know that the property management company is still not allowing transfers to either smaller or larger apartments within the community. I inquired about the 3-bedroom apartment near the pool, available in August. I had also inquired about another apartment in the building next to us when it became vacant a few months ago, but has since been rented.

The reason, or lack or reasons, make no sense to me at all. Something about wanting to upgrade certain apartments. Which didn’t really seem like a good reason to end somebody’s lease. Why, then, could I not move into another unit? I’m willing to pay the increased market rate just for the convenience of living across the street from the schools, though I’ve already had a $300 per month increase last summer. Do they not want more money?

After pondering the thought of having to move soon, I have decided that it’s not worth the stress of worrying at the moment. We still have several months until we hear a decision, so I will wait until then. The Austin housing market is truly outrageous. As is the ‘3 times the rent’ requirement of gross income in order to qualify. At an average rent of $2,300 for a 2-bedroom apartment with a garage in the vicinity of the school, it has become far beyond expensive for a single income family. No sense, indeed.