Your Austin apartment search, handled. Free to you.
Imperium Sky Realty is a licensed apartment locator in Austin, Texas: a licensed agent confirms availability, pricing, fees and move-in specials with properties and books your tours at no charge to you, because participating apartment communities pay the brokerage when you sign a lease.
Is an apartment locator free to renters in Austin?
Yes. Imperium Sky Realty's apartment locating is free to Austin renters: participating apartment communities pay the brokerage a commission when a renter it referred signs a lease, and the renter pays no locator fee.
Apartment locating in Texas is a licensed real estate service. The payment comes from the property, not from you.
- You pay no locator fee.
- Your rent is set by the property. Using a locator does not raise it.
- We tell you up front that we are paid by the property, so you always know how our service is funded.
How does apartment locating work?
Apartment locating with Imperium Sky Realty takes five steps: you share your needs once, a licensed agent builds a confirmed shortlist, you tour in person or by video, you review each property's requirements before applying, and the agent follows up after you sign.
1. Tell us what you need. Budget, move-in date, number of bedrooms, the areas you are considering, and anything that is a must-have in the home itself -- in-unit laundry, a garage, pet policy, a ground-floor unit, an accessible unit, parking, a work space. It takes a few minutes by form, text or chat.
2. A licensed agent builds your shortlist. We check availability, current pricing, fees and move-in specials directly with properties. You get a shortlist of places that actually fit -- not a list of everything in the zip code.
3. Tour your way. We schedule tours at times that work for you. If you are still out of town, we can set up live video tours so you can see the actual unit.
4. Apply with confidence. Before you apply, we go over each property's application requirements, fees and deposit so there are no surprises.
5. Sign, move, and we follow up. After you sign, we check in. If something you were promised is not reflected in your lease, we help you raise it with the property.
Why should you name your locator on your first visit?
Many Austin apartment properties credit a locator only when the locator is named at the renter's first contact or visit, so telling the leasing office you work with Imperium Sky Realty keeps your search free and keeps your agent able to help.
If you reach out to a property on your own before we do, please tell us -- and when you tour, let the leasing office know you are working with Imperium Sky Realty. It keeps us able to help you all the way through.
How do move-in specials work in Austin?
A move-in special, or concession, is an incentive an Austin apartment property offers to fill a unit, such as reduced rent for part of the lease, a waived fee or a lower deposit; the property sets it and can change or end it at any time.
Why they are hard to compare. One property might offer time free while another offers a lower monthly rent. To compare them fairly, we look at the total cost over the full lease, sometimes called net effective rent, along with fees and deposits -- not just the headline.
How we keep them honest. Specials change often and differ by unit, floor plan and lease length. We confirm any special directly with the property before you tour, and we recommend you get it in writing on your application or lease before you sign.
What we will never do. Advertise a special we have not confirmed, or promise one the property has not offered.
What we ask -- and what we do not
To search well, we ask about the HOME you need: budget, timing, size, location, features and policies (pets, parking, lease length). We do not ask who you are or who you will live with beyond what a property's application itself requires, and we never steer anyone toward or away from any area or property. Where you look is your call. Our job is to show you every option that fits your criteria.
Questions renters ask
Does using an apartment locator raise the rent in Austin?
No. Rent at an Austin apartment is set by the property and is the same whether a renter comes through Imperium Sky Realty or walks in alone.
Do apartment locators need a real estate license in Texas?
Yes. Apartment locating in Texas requires a real estate license from the Texas Real Estate Commission, and every Imperium Sky Realty search is handled under the brokerage's license.
Can an Austin apartment locator help renters moving from another state?
Yes. Imperium Sky Realty plans apartment searches and live video tours for renters who have not arrived in Austin yet; the Relocating to Austin page covers the details.
Does Imperium Sky Realty work with every apartment property in Austin?
Imperium Sky Realty works with many Austin apartment properties and tells a renter when a property of interest does not work with locators, so the renter can decide how to proceed.
Who handles an apartment search at Imperium Sky Realty?
Searches at Imperium Sky Realty are handled by a licensed Texas real estate agent; the automated assistant only gathers the basics and hands the renter to that agent, and it does not choose units or negotiate.
Ready?
Tell us what you need. We will take it from there.
Our service is free to renters. We are paid by the property when you sign a lease. Availability, pricing and specials are set by each property and can change without notice; we confirm them before you apply.