Tour by Alexa, @apartmentsbyalexa, April 2025
The Merle on Howard
East Howard Lane / SH-130 (Manor mailing address, near Pflugerville and Tech Ridge) · Austin 78653 · built 2025 · 444 homes
- $1,108
- base rent, lowest plan
- 10 wks free
- move-in special
- $895
- a month after the special, before fees
Rents and special checked Oct 24, 2026 on the property's own site.
I'm Alex, a licensed apartment locator with Relive Realty. Send me The Merle on Howard and I'll text back today's price on a real unit plus two or three similar places, free. The tour is from Alexa, my colleague at Relive Realty.
The Merle on Howard rents
Base rent by floor plan, checked Oct 24, 2026 on the property's own site
| Plan | Size | Base rent | After special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio1 bath · 528 sq ft | 528 sq ft | $1,108 | $895 |
| 1 bed1 bath · 649–918 sq ft | 649–918 sq ft | $1,231–$1,783 | $994 |
| 2 bed2–2.5 bath · 1,034–1,547 sq ft | 1,034–1,547 sq ft | $1,984–$2,091 | $1,602 |
| 3 bed2–3.5 bath · 1,537–1,962 sq ft | 1,537–1,962 sq ft | $2,490–$2,880 | $2,011 |
Special: Up To 2.5 Months Free + $500 Look and Lease Incentives
"After special" spreads 10 weeks free over a 12-month lease. Longer leases change the math; the calculator below handles that.
Want The Merle on Howard, or something like it?
Takes 20 seconds. I text back today's price on an available unit and two or three similar places nearby.
What you'd really pay
Free weeks are usually credited in the first month or two, but compare buildings on what they are worth spread over the lease. Slide the special and the lease length to see that number.
$994
a month, all in, for the 1 bed over 12 months
- Base rent
- $1,231
- 10 weeks free is worth
- $2,841
- Rent after the special
- $994
- Plus required fees
- $0
Rents checked Oct 24, 2026. Specials usually apply to select homes and lease terms; I confirm the exact unit before you apply.
My take on The Merle on Howard
Out on East Howard Lane by SH-130, with a Manor mailing address but marketed as Pflugerville, this is phase one of a 60-acre master plan. It opened in 2025 with 444 homes in 15 apartment buildings and 5 townhome buildings. The townhomes have attached garages, and there are 141 detached garages to rent. The 11,000 square foot clubhouse has an indoor golf simulator lounge, and outside there is a pool with cabanas, pickleball, a pond trail and a 9,000 square foot dog park with a splash pad.
Starting rents on the official site are $1,108 for a studio, $1,231 for a one-bedroom, $1,984 for a two-bedroom and $2,490 for a three-bedroom flat, with the three-bedroom townhome from $2,880. The site doesn't say if those are base or all-in, and RentCafe shows much wider ranges. The special is up to 2.5 months free plus a $500 look-and-lease incentive. Counted as 10 weeks on a 12-month lease, a $1,231 one-bedroom nets about $994 a month. Required monthly fees aren't published, so the true total is still unknown.
The Domain is about 18 minutes, downtown about 25 and the airport about 22, with the SH-130 ramp 3 minutes away. H-E-B and Walmart are about 10 minutes, as are the Shops at Tech Ridge. Everything here needs a car. Tip: get the monthly fee list and garage price before comparing this with a closer-in building.
- Worth a look if
- you want some of the lowest new-construction rents in the area, plus a golf simulator, a large dog park, and the option of a townhome with an attached garage
- Look elsewhere if
- you want walkable shops and restaurants or a short drive to central Austin
- The catch
- Out on East Howard Lane past the Pflugerville core, so most errands and commutes require a drive, and monthly required fees and deposits are not published online.
Fees, deposits and pets
What it costs to move in, and what gets added to rent each month.
| Application | $75 |
|---|---|
| Admin fee | Ask |
| Deposit | Ask |
| Monthly add-ons | Ask |
| Parking | Attached garages on townhomes; detached garages and covered parking for rent (prices not published) |
| Pets | Ask |
| Pet limits | Up to 2 |
| Income needed | Usually 3x rent; ask |
Fees not published.
Inside and around
In the homes
- quartz countertops
- stainless steel appliances
- wood-style flooring
- open-concept kitchens with pantries
- in-home washer and dryer
- glass shower enclosures
- pre-installed building WiFi
- private patios or balconies
- 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes with attached garages
In the building
- 11,000 sq ft clubhouse with work-from-home space
- indoor golf simulator lounge
- resort-style pool with pool house and cabanas
- fitness center with Peloton bikes
- 9,000 sq ft dog park with splash pad and pet wash
- pickleball and basketball courts
- scenic pond trail
- poolside party barn and community kitchen
- EV charging stations
- gated access with 141 private garages for rent
Where it is
2500 E Howard Ln, Austin 78653
East Howard Lane / SH-130 (Manor mailing address, near Pflugerville and Tech Ridge), Pflugerville. Drive times are typical off-peak estimates.
Close by
- The Shops at Tech Ridge (PopStroke, AMC, Pinstack)10 min drive
- H-E-B / Walmart10 min drive
- SH-130 on-ramp3 min drive
Drive to
- Downtown25 min
- The Domain18 min
- UT Austin23 min
- Airport22 min
- Q2 Stadium5.3 mi
The Merle on Howard questions
Do the townhomes at The Merle on Howard have garages?
Yes. The 2 and 3-bedroom townhomes come with attached garages. Apartment homes can rent one of 141 detached garages or use covered parking, but those prices are not published.
Is The Merle on Howard in Pflugerville or Manor?
The mailing address is Manor, TX 78653, but the property sits on East Howard Lane near Pflugerville and Tech Ridge. Check the exact address when you look at school zones, utilities and commute times.
How much is rent at The Merle on Howard?
Base rents on Oct 24, 2026: studios from $1,108, 1 beds from $1,231, 2 beds from $1,984, 3 beds from $2,490. Prices move with the unit, floor and lease length, so I check the live number before you apply.
Does The Merle on Howard have a move-in special?
On Oct 24, 2026 the special was "Up To 2.5 Months Free + $500 Look and Lease Incentives". On a $1,231 home that works out to about $994 a month over a 12-month lease. Specials change often and usually apply to select homes.
Is The Merle on Howard pet friendly?
Yes: up to 2 pets. Confirm the current policy and fees for your pet when we book the tour.
What fees does The Merle on Howard charge?
Up front: application $75.
Also worth touring
Nearby and close in price, each with its own tour.
The HowardEast Howard Lane / Pflugerville-Manor (SH 130 corridor) · built 2024 · 1BR/2BR/3BRfrom $1,07510 weeks freeabout $868 a month after the special
The BowerPflugerville (Dessau Rd / Olympic Dr, just north of Wells Branch Pkwy) · built 2025 · 1BR/2BR/3BRfrom $1,37010 weeks freeabout $1,107 a month after the special
1900 Parmer ApartmentsTech Ridge / East Parmer Lane · built 2024 · studio/1BR/2BRfrom $1,02410 weeks freeabout $827 a month after the special
Progress at Tech RidgeTech Ridge / Copperfield (Dessau Rd & Parmer Ln) · built 2024 · 1BR/2BRfrom $1,26712 weeks freeabout $975 a month after the special
The Merle on Howard is on these lists
Tour The Merle on Howard with me
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