Why 422 at the Lake Works for Some Renters and Fails Others

422 at the Lake looks like a slam dunk on paper. Lady Bird Lake Trail across the street, a 97 Bike Score, up to four weeks free on select leases, and 1-bedrooms starting in the mid-$1,600s for a 2016-build in the 78704. But 21% of Google reviews mention the same issue, and the “SoCo” address isn’t quite what the marketing suggests.

I work this part of South Austin constantly, and 422 comes up in my client searches all the time. The attraction makes sense: trail access you can’t beat, a walkable neighborhood, and a move-in special that brings the net effective rent well below the sticker price. But the elevator situation is real, the maintenance trajectory is heading the wrong direction, and there are details about fees and screening that you won’t find on listing sites.

This review covers what 422 at the Lake actually costs after the current move-in special and mandatory fees, what income and credit you’ll need to get approved, what residents are saying about maintenance and building access, and how this property stacks up against nearby alternatives. No marketing spin. Just the numbers, the review patterns, and a straightforward breakdown of who should live here — and who shouldn’t.

Quick Facts: 422 at the Lake at a Glance

Who This Is (and Isn’t) For

Not every apartment works for every renter. Here’s who actually benefits from what 422 offers, and who should keep looking.

Best For:

Trail runners and cyclists. Lady Bird Lake Trail is across the street. Auditorium Shores is a 3-minute walk. The 97 Bike Score is one of the highest you’ll find outside of downtown proper.

Remote workers who want walkability. Walk Score of 83 means most daily errands don’t require a car. South Congress shops and restaurants are about 0.3 miles east. Trader Joe’s is roughly a mile out.

Pet owners under the weight limit. Two pets allowed up to 80 lbs each, and the Auditorium Shores off-leash area is one of the best in the city. If your dog is over 80 lbs or a restricted breed, check our list of large dog apartments instead.

Renters chasing move-in specials. The current four-weeks-free deal drops the net effective rent on a $1,658 one-bedroom (A1 plan) to about $1,531/month over a 12-month lease. That’s real savings over the life of the lease, and you can check your budget to see how the numbers work.

Downtown commuters who want a short ride. About 1.2 miles to downtown, 5 minutes by car, 7 by bike. If you work in the CBD or UT area, you’ll cut significant commute time and cost compared to living further south or in the suburbs.

Skip If:

You have mobility concerns or can’t do stairs. This is a 6-floor building with chronic elevator issues. 36 of 171 Google reviews mention the elevators. If you’re on an upper floor and the elevator goes down, you’re walking.

You need guaranteed quiet. Riverside Drive has constant traffic. Auditorium Shores hosts concerts and events. Lower-floor units facing the road will hear it.

Your pet is over 80 lbs or a restricted breed. No exceptions on the weight limit. Breed restrictions apply. If that’s your situation, don’t waste the $500 application fees.

Responsive maintenance is a must. Google reviews show a clear decline in maintenance quality from 2023 through 2025. Residents report broken exterior doors lasting months and delayed repairs.

You want newer finishes. Built in 2016, no major renovations since. The units are functional but showing their age compared to newer builds along this corridor.

💡 WHAT YOUR LOCATOR KNOWS

The $500 in non-refundable application fees here ($250 app + $250 admin) is on the high end for Austin. Most properties charge $50–100 for the application and $150–350 for admin. If you get denied, that money is gone. Greystar uses an automated screening system, and results usually come back in 24–48 hours. Before you apply, know your credit score (free at annualcreditreport.com, pull Experian), confirm your income meets the minimum threshold for the unit’s rent, and check for any property debt or broken leases on your record. If you’re not sure where you stand, a free apartment locator can tell you before you risk $500.

Think 422 at the Lake might be your place?

I can check if you’ll qualify before you waste money on application fees, share current specials that may not be listed online, and walk you through the process from tour to signed lease. I’m a real person, not a bot. You’ll hear back within a few hours.

Location: The Marketing vs. The Reality

Let’s get the address right first. 422 at the Lake sits at 422 West Riverside Drive. That’s ON Riverside, about half a mile west of South Congress Avenue per Google Maps. The property and some listing sites market this as a “SoCo” location. It’s not. This is the Bouldin Creek neighborhood, and it borders the Riverside corridor.

That said, the actual location is still strong. It’s just not what some of the branding implies.

What’s Within Walking Distance

The big draw is Lady Bird Lake Trail, which is directly across Riverside Drive. You don’t need to drive anywhere to get a run or a bike ride in. Auditorium Shores, one of Austin’s best off-leash dog areas, is about 0.2 miles east. Zilker Park is 0.8 miles. The South Congress strip with its restaurants and shops is roughly a 7-minute walk.

For groceries, Trader Joe’s on W. Oltorf is about a mile south. The SoCo H-E-B is around 1.2 miles. Both are bikeable in under 10 minutes given that 97 Bike Score.

Commute Times

Distances and drive times verified via Google Maps; actual commute varies with traffic.

If you work downtown, this is one of the shortest commutes you’ll find south of the river. For tech workers heading to Tesla or Apple, you’re looking at a 25–30 minute drive on a good day, but I-35 and MoPac can double that during rush hour. Factor that into your monthly budget if time matters to you. We cover apartments near Tesla separately if the Gigafactory is your priority commute. Ross’s commute advice: try to live within 15 minutes of wherever you spend most of your time. 40 hours a month sitting in traffic to save $200 in rent is a bad trade.

For a broader look at South Austin neighborhoods, our guide to luxury apartments in South Austin apartments covers the full corridor.

The Noise Reality

What the marketing won’t tell you: Riverside Drive is a four-lane road with steady traffic. Units on the north side of the building, facing the lake, get road noise. Auditorium Shores hosts events and concerts, and sound carries. The CapMetro bus stop is right outside the property.

None of this is unusual for this part of Austin. But if you’re coming from a quieter suburb or a complex tucked into a residential street, the volume will be noticeable, especially on lower floors with windows facing Riverside.

Area Data

CrimeGrade rates zip code 78704 as a D (19th percentile for overall safety). We present this data without editorial commentary. Review the report and draw your own conclusions.

⚠️ HIDDEN COST ALERT

The advertised rent at 422 doesn’t tell the full story. On top of base rent, you’re paying for all utilities (electric, water, trash). Based on Austin Energy rate tiers for a Class A 1-bedroom, budget roughly $85–120/month for electric alone, plus $30–50 for water and sewer. Then add mandatory property fees: valet trash ($30/mo), pest control ($7/mo), trash admin ($3/mo), stormwater admin ($3/mo), and parking ($75/mo per vehicle). That’s $118/month in fixed fees before utilities. So a $1,658 one-bedroom is really costing you closer to $1,890–1,950/month all-in. Factor that into any comparison shopping.

What 422 at the Lake Actually Costs

Most listing sites show you one number: base rent. Not what you’ll actually pay. Full picture below.

Floor Plan Overview

*Net effective with 4 weeks free on a 12-month lease. Studio A6 (718 sq ft) is listed but not currently available. Pricing verified February 2026 from Apartments.com and property website. Rents are on computerized pricing (YieldStar) and fluctuate daily.

How Net Effective Rent Works

Listing sites show the base rent. Nobody shows you the math on what the move-in special actually saves. The breakdown for the 1 BR A1 at $1,658:

$1,658 × 12 months = $19,896 total lease cost Minus 4 weeks free: $19,896 − ($1,658 × 28/30) = $19,896 − $1,547 = $18,349 Divide by 12: $18,349 ÷ 12 = $1,529/month net effective

Using the daily-basis calculation standard in the Austin market (365 days minus 28 free days), the precise multiplier is 0.9233, which gives you $1,531/month. Either way, you’re saving about $127 per month over the life of the lease. Run the numbers for your unit with our net effective calculator.

That $1,531 is the number you should compare against other properties, not $1,658.

Income You’ll Need

422 requires 3x monthly rent in gross income. In real dollars:

That 3x threshold is standard for Greystar properties and most Class A apartments in Austin. Run the numbers on our 3x rent calculator to see where you stand. If you’re short, some properties in this area accept a third-party guarantee (a one-time fee, usually about one month’s rent) if you’re close but not quite there.

True Monthly Cost

This is the number that actually hits your bank account. For the 1 BR A1 at net effective rent:

Compare that to the “$1,658” on the listing page. With mandatory fees and utilities, you’re paying $1,764–1,819 even at the discounted net effective rate. Without the special, it’s closer to $1,890–1,950. For more on costs apartments don’t advertise, see our guide to hidden apartment costs.

One-Time Move-In Costs

That $500 in non-refundable app and admin fees is worth repeating. If you get denied, you don’t get it back.

The Renewal Reality

Here’s something nobody talks about. That net effective rent of $1,531? It’s a year-one number. When your lease comes up for renewal, the move-in special is gone. Greystar properties in Austin typically increase rent 10–15% at renewal, and concessions on renewals are rare.

So your $1,531 one-bedroom could become $1,824–1,906 in year two. At base rate. Plus $118/month in mandatory fees and $115–170 in utilities on top. A jump that big is the reason I always tell clients to run the year-two math before signing. The deal is real in year one. Just go in with your eyes open about year two.

What You’re Actually Getting: Amenities at 422

The amenity list at 422 is solid for a 2016 mid-rise. But the real question isn’t what’s on the brochure: it’s what’s holding up nine years later.

The Standouts

The fitness center gets consistent praise in reviews. Residents describe it as large with a good equipment selection. The rooftop lounge and pool area are the other high points. 22 out of 171 Google reviews mention amenities positively, and pool, gym, and rooftop account for most of that.

Bike storage matters here more than at most properties. With a 97 Bike Score and the Lady Bird Lake Trail across the street, you’ll actually use it. The coworking area and fiber optic internet are practical adds for remote workers, and the outdoor kitchen gives the pool area more functionality than a standard deck-and-chairs setup.

Unit Finishes

Inside, you’re getting quartz countertops, a kitchen island, stainless appliances, wood floors, high ceilings, and a walk-in shower. Standard Class A finishes for 2016. Nothing has been significantly updated since construction, so expect some wear. But the bones are good.

Where It Falls Short

Common area cleanliness is a recurring complaint. Six reviews specifically mention hallway conditions, and the smell issue (7 reviews) extends beyond the elevators into shared corridors. The cinema room and clubhouse exist but don’t generate much review commentary, positive or negative. Valet trash is $30/month mandatory, which adds to your true monthly cost but at least keeps hallway garbage under control.

The amenity package isn’t the reason to rent here. The location is. But for a building this age, the in-unit finishes and fitness center hold up reasonably well.

What Residents Actually Say (171 Google Reviews Decoded)

A 3.7 out of 5 on Google doesn’t tell you much. What matters is what people are saying and when they’re saying it. So I pulled the data from all 171 Google reviews and counted the actual mention patterns.

Review Theme Breakdown

Sources: Google Business Profile (171 reviews), cross-validated with ApartmentRatings (91 reviews).

The location praise is consistent across nearly every positive review. People love the trail access. But the complaints cluster around building infrastructure, and they’ve gotten worse over time. That timeline matters.

The Management Transition

422 was previously managed by Berkshire. Reviews from that era skew more positive on maintenance and building upkeep. After Greystar took over, the negative trend becomes visible. Recent reviews (late 2024 into 2025) do mention new staff positively — Michelle, Devin, Jacqueline, and maintenance tech Maximus get called out by name repeatedly. Good sign. But the building-level issues (elevators, doors, garage security) haven’t caught up to the staffing improvements yet.

The Uncomfortable Truth

I include this section in every property review because it’s the part you won’t find anywhere else. Two things you need to know.

1. The Elevator Situation Is Real

36 out of 171 Google reviews mention elevator problems. One in five. For a 6-floor building where upper-floor residents depend on elevator access daily, that ratio is hard to ignore. Reviews describe extended outages, residents getting stuck, and the smell in elevator areas when units are down. Management responses acknowledge the problem and mention repair efforts and additional service providers. But the complaint pattern spans years, not months. Cross-checking ApartmentRatings confirms 20+ similar mentions there. This isn’t a one-time breakdown. It’s a recurring infrastructure issue.

If you’re considering a unit on floors 4–6, ask the leasing office directly about current elevator status and recent repair history. Anyone with mobility limitations should treat this as a dealbreaker regardless of floor.

2. Maintenance and Building Security Have Declined

22 of 171 reviews mention maintenance concerns, with a clear negative trend from 2023 through 2025. Multiple residents report broken exterior doors lasting months, which connects directly to the 6 reviews mentioning unauthorized access to the building. Package theft, car break-ins in the garage, and hallway cleanliness are recurring themes.

The good news: the current staff seems to be working on it. Recent reviews praise the on-site team by name. But building infrastructure problems take time and budget to fix, and Greystar’s corporate repair timelines don’t always move at the speed residents need. If fast, reliable maintenance is non-negotiable for you, this property’s track record should give you pause.

How 422 Compares to Nearby Alternatives

Three properties within half a mile compete for the same renter. Here’s how they stack up.

Pricing from Apartments.com and property websites, verified February 2026.

Crescent is the closest direct comparison. Similar Riverside location, recently renovated, and priced about $100 above 422’s entry point. The trade-off is an older building structure (2008) behind the updated interiors. SoCo On The Lake is the budget play in this corridor at $1,260 for a 1-bedroom, but it shows its 1972 bones. Water Marq is the premium alternative: same 2016 build year, but generally larger floor plans, higher finishes, and a more aggressive 6-weeks-free special that narrows the effective gap. All three share the trail access advantage, so the decision comes down to price tolerance, building age preference, and how much the elevator situation at 422 bothers you.

Applying to 422 at the Lake: What to Know Before You Spend $500

The application process here is straightforward, but the cost of getting denied is high. Understand the requirements before you apply.

Screening Requirements

Greystar uses automated screening. Results typically come back within 24–48 hours. The $250 application fee and $250 admin fee ($500 total) are both non-refundable, even if you’re denied. That’s the highest combined fee in this immediate corridor. Crescent and Water Marq both charge less.

Before applying: pull your credit report free at annualcreditreport.com (use Experian), confirm your gross income clears the threshold for your target unit, and check for any property debt or broken leases. If anything on your record might flag, ask the leasing office before paying the $500.

You’ve seen the full picture on 422 at the Lake.

If it still looks like a fit, fill out the form. I’ll answer any remaining questions, check your application situation before you risk $500 in fees, and help with next steps. If it’s not the right place, I can point you to alternatives nearby that might work better.

Frequently Asked Questions About 422 at the Lake

Does 422 at the Lake allow pets?

Yes. The property allows up to 2 pets with an 80-pound weight limit per pet. Breed restrictions apply. Expect a $20–$300 pet deposit and $75/month in pet rent per pet. The Auditorium Shores off-leash dog area is about a 3-minute walk, which is a genuine perk for dog owners.

What credit score do I need for 422 at the Lake?

Greystar doesn’t publish an exact credit minimum for 422. Based on typical Greystar screening for Class A properties, a score of 620 or above gives you the best shot. Scores in the 580–619 range may require a larger deposit or a third-party guarantee. If your score is below 580 or you have past rental issues, our 2nd chance apartments page covers properties with more flexible screening. You also need gross income of at least 3x the monthly rent.

What utilities are included at 422 at the Lake?

No utilities are included. Tenants pay electric, water, and trash separately. For a Class A studio built in 2016, budget roughly $110–160/month total for utilities based on Austin Energy rate tiers. Summer months (June through September) will run at the high end of that range.

How much is the security deposit at 422 at the Lake?

The standard security deposit is $1,000 (refundable). A deposit alternative program is available through a third party if you’d rather pay a smaller non-refundable fee instead. Deposits may vary based on screening results. Contact the leasing office at (737) 216-8535 for your specific situation.

What specials does 422 at the Lake currently offer?

As of February 2026, the property is offering up to 4 weeks free base rent on qualifying leases (minimum term applies). On a $1,658 one-bedroom (A1 plan), that drops the net effective rent to about $1,531/month over a 12-month lease. Specials change frequently and are controlled by computerized pricing (YieldStar), so confirm the current deal before you apply. Check our move-in specials page for the latest deals at 422 and nearby properties.

What is parking like at 422 at the Lake?

Garage parking is $75/month per vehicle and required for residents who park on-site. Reserved spots are $100/month. One thing to weigh: several Google reviews mention vehicle break-ins in the garage and security concerns. Factor that into whether you want to keep a vehicle here or rely on the 97 Bike Score and 64 Transit Score instead.

Are the elevators at 422 at the Lake reliable?

Bluntly, no. This is the most common complaint in reviews — 36 of 171 Google reviews mention elevator issues. The property has 3 elevators across 6 floors. Reviews describe extended outages, residents getting stuck between floors, and odor issues during downtime. Management has acknowledged the problem and referenced additional service providers. Ask the leasing office for current elevator status before touring if you’re considering upper floors.

What is the Walk Score for 422 at the Lake?

Walk Score is 83 (Very Walkable), Bike Score is 97 (Biker’s Paradise), and Transit Score is 64 (Excellent Transit). The high Bike Score reflects direct Lady Bird Lake Trail access across Riverside Drive. South Congress shops and restaurants are roughly a 7-minute walk east.

How long is the minimum lease at 422 at the Lake?

Three months. But the 4-weeks-free special requires a minimum lease term (typically 12 months). Shorter terms are available — they just won’t include concessions and typically cost more per month. For most renters, the 12-month deal is where the math makes sense.

How much are application fees at 422 at the Lake?

The application fee is $250 and the admin fee is $250, totaling $500. Both are non-refundable, even if you’re denied. On the higher end for Austin. Before you apply, check your eligibility to make sure you’ll pass screening, confirm your income meets the 3x rent requirement, and check your credit report for any property debt that could trigger an automatic denial. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our apartment application guide.

The Bottom Line on 422 at the Lake

422 at the Lake is a location play. The Lady Bird Lake Trail access, the 97 Bike Score, and a 5-minute commute to downtown are hard to match at this price point south of the river. Anyone whose daily life revolves around outdoor access, walkability, and proximity to South Congress should give this address a serious look.

But the building hasn’t kept pace with the location. The elevator reliability problem isn’t a minor inconvenience — it’s a pattern spanning years and affecting one in five reviewers. Maintenance has declined since the Greystar transition, and exterior door security gaps are a documented concern. The current on-site staff is earning positive reviews by name, but whether those improvements catch up to the infrastructure debt is the open question.

On cost, the 4-weeks-free special is real savings. Net effective rent on a 1-bedroom drops to about $1,531 — that’s the number to compare against Crescent at $1,754, Water Marq at $1,890, or SoCo On The Lake at $1,260. Just run the year-two math too. That $1,531 becomes $1,824+ at renewal, plus $118 in mandatory fees and $115–170 in utilities on top.

My recommendation: tour a unit on a lower floor, test the elevators yourself, and ask the leasing office directly about recent repair history. Pass the in-person test and clear the income threshold, and the location value here is legitimate. Want help comparing 422 against nearby alternatives or need to start your apartment search with a broader look at the Riverside and Bouldin Creek corridor? That’s what I do.

Need Help With Your Search?

You’ve got everything to evaluate 422 at the Lake on your own. But if you want help:

Fill out the form above and I’ll text you to answer questions, check your application situation, share current specials, and coordinate next steps. You’ll talk to a real person, not an AI phone tree.

Going solo? Just tell them “Ross Quade from Austin Apartment Locators” referred you on your tour and application. Text me at 512-865-4672 when you apply so I can make sure everything’s on track.