S.M.A.R.T Housing in West Campus Austin Texas

Hello Longhorns!

It is currently the beginning of October, meaning UT Students are about a month and a half into the 2021-2022 school year. It is at this time that properties in the campus area begin to release their 2022-2023 availability and pricing. It is also usually around this time that students start reaching out about pre-leasing for the following year. Since everyone is interested in getting the best deal for the nicest property, I will share one tip that can be of use. If you qualify for S.M.A.R.T Housing, you can lease a studio or 1 bedroom for around $500 or more under the market rate. Please keep in mind, you will only find S.M.A.R.T Housing at high-rise/apartment properties and not at condos or houses. Additionally, it is usually only offered on studio and 1 bedroom units.

What is S.M.A.R.T Housing in West Campus, Austin, Texas?

S.M.A.R.T. Housing is a program created by the city of Austin to assist students who are either receiving need-based financial aid or who are paying for school through student loans.

How do I qualify through financial aid?

If you are currently receiving need-based financial aid, you may automatically qualify. You would need to look at your current Financial Aid Award Letter for Fall and Spring, then compare your grants/scholarships/loans to the approved need-based Financial Aid list. If you have any items that appear on the list, no matter the amount, then you automatically qualify for S.M.A.R.T. Housing.

How do I qualify through income verification?

If you do not qualify based on the need-based financial aid list, then you can attempt to qualify based on your annual income. We would have to contact each leasing office directly for more information on income verification.

How does the leasing process work for S.M.A.R.T Housing?

1. Pre-qualify for S.M.A.R.T. Housing.

a) If you are qualifying through Financial Aid, bring your Financial Aid Award letter for Fall/Spring into the leasing office of your choice.

b) If you are qualifying through Income Verification, bring your most recent W2 and your 3 most recent pay stubs, your Financial Award letter for Fall/Spring, and your tuition bill into the leasing office of your choice.

2. Submit your housing application and complete snd necessary S.M.A.R.T. Housing forms.

3. Once your S.M.A.R.T. Housing paperwork is complete, you will be able to sign a Lease Agreement.

If you are currently looking for S.M.A.R.T Housing, I recommend reaching out so we can chat about housing in the UT Campus area. I can provide access to tools and resources, as well as expertise, to help you view properties for lease in the campus area. Additionally, feel free to complete a Renter’s Questionnaire and I will reach out ASAP!

How do apartment locators in West Campus help UT Austin students find a lease for free?

Hello Longhorn!

As of the time of writing this, I have been specializing in UT Austin off-campus housing for about 3 years. With that said, one common question I get is, how do apartment locators in West Campus help UT Austin students find a lease for free? Interestingly enough, it is actually quite a simple answer. The property pays the locator directly for touring with clients and assisting them with the application and leasing process. In the end, it is a win-win for everyone involved. The property owner gets a tenant for the schoolyear. The UT student gets assistance searching for and applying for the perfect spot. And the locator gets paid. Honestly, this is one of my favorite things about the job, that I get to provide a very valuable service at a free cost to the consumer.

If you are currently looking for a condo, house, or apartment for the coming UT school year, I recommend reaching out so we can chat about housing in the UT Campus area. I can provide access to tools and resources, as well as expertise, to help you view properties for lease or sale in the campus area. Additionally, feel free to complete a Renter’s Questionnaire and I will reach out ASAP!

Thanks,

Realtor Tineo

Texas Administrative Code, Determination of Resident Status, In-State- Tuition

Hello Longhorns,

So, you are an out-of-state student or parent who has been accepted to the University of Texas at Austin. Congratulations on this achievement. After acceptance to the University, you should strongly start to consider the costs of in-state vs non-Texas resident tuition costs. By using the UT tuition calculator, I arrived at the following in-state vs non-Texas resident costs. An in-state, full-time student could expect to pay around $11,000. A non-Texas resident can expect to pay around $39,000. I encourage you to check out the costs and tuition rates calculator and run the number for your specific case.

With that said, there is a path forward for non-Texas residents to gain Texas Residency and pay in-state tuition. One such path forward is to purchase property in Texas that way you can be classified as a Texas Resident by the University of Texas Admissions office. By purchasing property, you should be able to update your determination about residency by the following school year if everything is done correctly and timely.

The goal of this article is to highlight useful information for those planning to gain Texas Residency. One key piece of information I would like to highlight is that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board establishes the rules that govern Texas residency for higher education in Texas. As such, as someone interested in making sure you meet the criteria, I recommend reviewing the rules. Key topics covered in the Texas Administrative Code for Determination of Resident Status are listed below.

• Who is classified as a Texas resident and entitled to pay resident tuition at all institutions of higher education.

• List of documents that may be provided to support a claim of physical residence in the State of Texas.

• Domicile of the dependant’s parent is presumed to be the domicile of the dependent unless the dependent establishes eligibility for resident tuition.

I hope this information is helpful, but I am sure you will have questions! Please keep in mind this is just one of the topics to be aware of as you try to establish Texas Residency by purchasing property in Texas. I recommend reaching out so we can chat about key timelines to be aware of, the best season for making a purchase and set you up with access to tools that will help you stay up to date on the newly listed properties in the neighborhood. Feel free to submit an inquiry on my contact page and I will reach out ASAP.

Thank you for your time,

Realtor Tineo

Gaining Texas residency by purchasing property and establishing domicile.

Hello Longhorns!

Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as:

• A resident of Texas;

• A nonresident; or

• A foreign (international) student.

How you’re classified is important because it determines whether you pay non-resident tuition rates or in-state rates, which are lower.

Determining Residency

When a student applies for admission, the university uses the information provided on the admissions application to make an initial determination about residency.

Responses to questions on the form show that the student does or does not meet the requirements for one of the two options available for establishing residency below:

High School Graduation

This option for establishing Texas residency is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to international students.

To establish residency through high school graduation, you must:

1. Graduate from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas; and

2. Live in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation; and

3. Live in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date (usually the 12th class day) of the semester in which you enroll at the university (or another college or university).

4. If you are an international student seeking residency through high school graduation, you must submit a Residency Affidavit (PDF) stating that you will apply for permanent residency when you are eligible to do so.

Establishing Domicile Requirements

If you are independent for tax purposes, you may gain resident status if you establish domicile in Texas. If your parent(s) claim you as a dependent on their federal income tax return, they must establish domicile in the state for you to claim residency.

To establish domicile, you or your parent(s) must meet the following criteria:

1. Live in Texas for 12 consecutive months; and

2. Establish and maintain domicile for 12 consecutive months, as evidenced by:

• Gainful employment in Texas;
  Note: Student jobs do not qualify as gainful employment.

• Sole or joint marital ownership of residential real property in Texas by the person seeking to enroll or the dependent’s parent, having established and maintained a domicile at the residence;

• Ownership and operation of a business in Texas; or

• Marriage for one year to a person who has established domicile in Texas.

Purchasing property is an effective way to gain Texas Residency and qualify for in-state tuition rates. If you would like access to tools and resources to help you view data and properties for sale in the campus area, complete a Buyer’s Questionnaire and I will reach out ASAP!

Thank you for your time,

Realtor Tineo,