Which San Antonio apartments are opening soon?
This page lists ground-up buildings that are pre-leasing with first move-ins ahead. Each card shows the expected first move-in date, renderings labeled as renderings, and any pre-lease special with base rent beside the discount. We exclude conversions and renamed older buildings, including Tower Life and The Whitney, so every option is new construction.
If your move date is two to six months out, opening-soon buildings can be worth a look. Deliveries are slowing: 6,877 units delivered in 2025 and about 2,000 expected in 2027 (CoStar), with tightening expected in late 2027 and 2028. Buildings opening now still compete hard for their first residents.
How does pre-leasing work?
A community starts pre-leasing before its Certificate of Occupancy, the city sign-off that lets people move in. Leasing usually runs from a trailer or a finished model unit. You sign a lease with a start date tied to the expected first move-in date.
The construction timeline drives everything. Inspections, utility hookups, and final finishes all have to land before the first keys go out. Phased communities may open one building while another is still framing, which is called construction phasing. We note which phase your unit sits in.
What can go wrong when a move-in date slips?
Delivery delays are the main risk. If your current lease ends before the new building opens, you face a holdover on your current lease, an interim lease somewhere else, or a short stay in temporary housing. Each one costs money.
Before you sign, we read the lease delivery language with you. Does it allow cancellation after a certain delay? Does the community offer interim housing or a hotel credit? Is there a move-in date guarantee, or only an estimate? We ask these in writing. If a date slips after you sign, we raise it with the community in writing and report back. Our guide on what happens when a move-in date slips covers the options.
How do you weigh a pre-lease special against the risk?
Price the gap. Compare the pre-lease special with base rent beside it, then add the cost of any overlap or gap with your current lease. If you’d need to break your lease early, our Break-or-Wait tool compares breaking now with waiting.
Watch the pre-lease special expiration date, too. Short windows are common, but they shouldn’t rush you. We confirm the end date with the office so you can decide on a timeline that works.
What should you verify before pre-leasing from renderings?
- Your unit, not the model. Ask for your unit’s floor plan, floor, orientation, and finish package in writing.
- The view. Renderings show an ideal view. Ask what’s planned for adjacent lots.
- Amenity timing. The pool and gym may open after the first move-ins.
- Parking. Garages and covered spots may be assigned later, and some carry a monthly fee.
Our guide on renderings versus the real building has a full checklist. If you’re choosing between an opening building and one that’s open now, read pre-lease or move now.
How we help with opening-soon buildings
We confirm the first move-in date in writing before you commit. We label every rendering as a rendering. We price the cost of a gap, set up a model unit tour or a live video walk, and follow up if anything changes. When your building opens, we help start utilities and check in at Day 7 and Day 30.
