Community of the Year Awards
Nominations for the Community of the Year Awards will open on May 3, 2024.
Each year the Austin Apartment Association recognizes outstanding individuals and communities who achieved excellence and are leaders in their field. The Community of the Year winners will be announced at the 2024 APEX Awards, on December 6, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Nominations for 2024 are open from May 3 - June 9.
Click Here to Submit Your 2024 Nomination
Communities Are Evaluated On These Categories
- Staff and staff designations
- Physical/visual inspection
- Blind shop of the community
- Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) Score
Judges for the staff and physical inspection categories are all members of the Austin Apartment Association. The blind shops are performed by an independent entity, and the ORA scores are provided by an independent research entity. Any community to be considered for an award must first be nominated during the annual call for nominations. Nominations for 2024 are open from May 3 - June 9, 2024.
$170 fee per submission.
No fee for the Resident Experience Award and the Rise Above Award.
2024 Award Categories
Rise Above Award
The Rise Above Award is open to Owner/Management AND Products & Services (Supplier) members. This award recognizes a company that has given back to the community. Have you and your employees banded together to distribute PPE, have you provided mental health support, collected food for food pantry's or contributed to rental assistance programs. Tell us how you have contributed to the well-being of our community.
Resident Experience Award
The Resident Experience Award recognizes a community that has excelled at keeping its residents satisfied and engaged. How have you worked on resident retention? Maybe you held a DJ'd pool party, hosted an ice cream truck visit or resident happy hour. Submit the fun and creative things you have done!
Community of the Year — 50 Units and Under
Any community with 50 units or less.
Community of the Year — Active Adult/55+
Any community where 85% of the residents are a minimum age of 55+.
Community of the Year — Affordable Housing
Any affordable housing community. Must have income and rent restrictions on greater than 50% of the total number of units (e.g. HTC, AHDP, Bond, HOME, Housing Trust Fund, and COA Smart Housing)
Community of the Year — Built between 2017-2022
Any community built between 2017 and 2022.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Built between 2010-2016
Any community built between 2010 and 2016.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Built between 2000-2009
Any community built between 2000 and 2009.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Built between 1990-1999
Any community built between 1990 and 1999.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Built prior to 1999
Any community built prior to 1999.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — High Rise
Any community that has 9+ residential floors, has interior corridors, elevators, and a parking garage.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Lease Up | Affordable Housing
Any affordable housing community that is less than 12 months old, either at the time of nomination or within one year of 1st move in at the time of nomination. Must have income and rent restrictions on greater than 50% of the total number of units (e.g. HTC, AHDP, Bond, HOME, Housing Trust Fund, and COA Smart Housing).
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Lease Up | High Rise
Any high-rise community that is less than 12 months old, either at the time of nomination or within one year of 1st move in at the time of nomination. Must have 9+ residential floors, interior corridors, elevators, and a parking garage.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year—Lease Up | Mid-Rise
Any mid-rise community that is less than 12 months old, either at the time of nomination or within one year of 1st move in at the time of nomination. Must have 4-8 residential floors, interior corridors, elevators, and a parking garage.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Mid Rise
Any community that has 4-8 residential floors, interior corridors, elevators, and a parking garage.
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Renovation
Any community with renovations having started within the last three calendar years with at least 50% completed. The community must meet both interior and amenity renovations as identified.
Community of the Year — Student Housing
Any community where more than 50% of the units are student-occupied.