Community of the Year Awards
Nominations for the Community of the Year Awards are open for 2025.
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 2025 APEX Awards, on December 5, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Nominations for 2025 are open from April 21 - May 30.
2025 Nomination Timeline
April 21 - May 30 - Community of the Year Call for Nominations
June - July - Community of the Year Mystery Shops
August - Community of the Year Finalists Announced
August - September - Community of the Year Inspections
December 5 - ALL Community and Professional Awards Winners Announced at the APEX Awards
Nomination Guidelines
Communities Are Evaluated On These Categories:
- Staff and staff designations
- Physical/visual inspection
- Mystery 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 2025 are open from April 21 - May 30, 2025.
$175 fee per submission.
No fee for the Resident Experience Award and the Rise Above Award.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY NOMINATION
2025 Award Categories
NEW Category for 2025 - Build to Rent
Single family homes that are built as a community and run as a community.
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 increased 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
Community must have 50 units and under.
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)
Awarded to two communities based on unit-count. Sub-categories include 50-299 units and 300+ Units.
Community of the Year — Built between 2017-2023
Any community built between 2017 and 2023.
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 1990
Any community built prior to 1990.
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.
Community of the Year — Mid-Rise
Any community that has units, 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 — 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.
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—Lease Up
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 3 residential floors and under, 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.