Carver Ridge Apartments Austin Review: New Construction Tax Credit Housing From $730 For Rent

Most apartment searches start with a question about price. Carver Ridge starts with a question about income caps.

This 60 unit property on County Road 137 in Hutto is a Low Income Housing Tax Credit community. That means 48 of its 60 units have income caps at 30%, 50%, and 60% AMI. The other 12 are market rate.

I track rental pricing across the Austin metro through ApartmentData.com and direct community contacts. Carver Ridge is one of the few places where you can get a brand new apartment, built in 2024, with modern finishes, starting at $730 a month on a two bedroom if you qualify for the 30% AMI tier. Even the 60% AMI tier runs $1,634. The Narrows, the market rate community literally next door (built 2023), starts at $1,405 for a two bedroom. Same neighborhood, same era, very different price.

But here’s what the listing sites won’t tell you: to qualify for a tax credit unit, your income has to be low enough, not just high enough. You can make too much money to live here. And because Carver Ridge only has 60 units total, units go fast when they open up.

Quick Facts

The 5.0 Google rating looks great on paper, but three reviews doesn’t tell you much. I’ll break down what those three reviews actually say, and what to keep an eye on as more residents move in, in the sections below.

Best For

You qualify for income restricted housing and want new construction. Most tax credit properties in the Austin metro are 10–30 years old. Carver Ridge was built in 2024. You’re getting vinyl plank flooring, kitchen islands, walk in showers, and full size washer/dryer in a building that’s barely two years old. That’s rare. Most tax credit communities in Williamson County were built in the 2000s or earlier.

You need a two or three bedroom and your household income falls within AMI limits. Carver Ridge has units at 30%, 50%, and 60% AMI tiers. For a four person household in Williamson County, the 2026 caps are roughly $35,050 at 30% AMI, $58,400 at 50% AMI, and $70,080 at 60% AMI. If your household income fits one of those brackets, you’re paying way less than the building next door charges for basically the same thing. The 1,083 square foot two bedroom starts at $730 for the lowest tier. The 1,273 square foot three bedroom starts at $1,548 at 50% AMI.

You work in Hutto, Taylor, or the northeast Austin corridor and want a short commute. Carver Ridge sits right off FM 1660. If you work at the Samsung facility in Taylor (about 10 miles east), at the H-E-B distribution center, or anywhere along Highway 79, your commute stays under 20 minutes most days.

Skip If

Your household income exceeds the AMI cap for available units. This is the biggest qualifier. Unlike market rate apartments where higher income is always better, tax credit properties have ceilings. If your household makes too much, you won’t qualify for the restricted units, and the 12 market rate units may not be available when you need them.

You need public transit. Hutto has almost no bus or rail service. The nearest Capital Metro park and ride is in Round Rock, about 8 miles west. You need a car here. Period.

Your pet exceeds 35 pounds. The weight limit is firm. If you have a Lab, a Husky, a German Shepherd, or any mid to large breed, Carver Ridge won’t work. The nearby Narrows (0.23 miles away) or communities further into Round Rock may have higher limits.

Ready to See If Carver Ridge Fits Your Situation?

I can tell you in about 5 minutes whether your income fits Carver Ridge’s tax credit tiers before you spend time on paperwork. If it doesn’t, I know which nearby income restricted communities in Hutto and Round Rock are currently taking applications.

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Carver Ridge sits on County Road 137 on the east side of Hutto, just south of Highway 79. It’s not in the middle of town. Around the property, it’s mostly houses and open land. Most of the shopping and food is along Highway 79, about 1.5 miles west.

Your closest grocery run is the H-E-B Plus at 5000 Gattis School Road, roughly 3 miles southwest. Walmart Supercenter is a similar distance. For quick errands, there’s a Dollar General closer in. And there’s a new grocery and taqueria going in at County Road 119 and Limmer Loop, which would cut that drive down.

Most of the restaurants are along Highway 79 and in the Hutto Co-Op District. Jack Allen’s Kitchen, Southside Market & BBQ, Smokey Mo’s BBQ, and Cottonwood Creek Brewery are all within a 5 to 10 minute drive. Old Town Hutto on East Street has a handful of local spots: Hippo Cafe, Downtown Hall of Fame, and Mario’s Mexican Restaurant.

Fritz Park and Hutto Lake Park are both within 3 miles for outdoor space. The Golf Club at Star Ranch is less than 4 miles south.

Commute Math

The downtown Austin commute is the pain point. US-79 into Round Rock gets congested during rush hour, and the I-35 merge between Round Rock and Pflugerville is where everything slows down. SH-130 (toll road) bypasses the worst of it but adds $2–$5 per day in tolls depending on your route. If you commute to downtown Austin five days a week, budget $40–$100 a month in toll costs. Or add 20–30 extra minutes each way on I-35. For a deeper look at how Hutto and its neighbors compare for commuters, I broke that down in my north suburbs apartment guide.

The Real Hutto

Hutto was one of the fastest growing cities in the Austin metro in 2024, growing 9.4% in a single year. The population roughly doubled from 22,000 to over 46,000 since 2020. That growth brings new retail and restaurants, but it also means the infrastructure is still catching up. Highway 79 has gotten noticeably more congested, and traffic and construction have become real complaints from people who’ve lived here a while.

That said, it’s quiet out here. Carver Ridge residents bring that up in their reviews. If you’re coming from a louder area, the pace is going to feel different.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

Not all tiers are available for all floor plans. The leasing office at (512) 481-4025 has the current availability by tier.

As of this writing, both floor plans show “On Notice,” which means a current resident has given notice to leave. The unit isn’t open today, but should be available within 30–60 days.

Both floor plans are flat style (garden level). No elevators, no stairs between floors inside the unit.

Net Effective Rent Calculation

The current special is $500 off one month’s rent on a 12 month lease. Here’s the math using the 60% AMI two bedroom at $1,634:

• Base rent: $1,634/month
• Lease term: 12 months (365 days)
• Concession: $500 off one month
• Calculation: ($1,634 × 12 − $500) ÷ 12 = $1,592/month net effective
• Monthly savings: $42/month

And the market rate two bedroom at $1,585:

• Base rent: $1,585/month
• Calculation: ($1,585 × 12 − $500) ÷ 12 = $1,543/month net effective
• Monthly savings: $42/month

The $500 concession isn’t huge. Market rate communities in Round Rock and Pflugerville are running 6–12 weeks free right now. But Carver Ridge is already priced below market because of the tax credit structure. The 30% AMI tier at $730 for a two bedroom is roughly half what The Narrows charges next door for a similar floor plan. So the concession is just gravy.

Required Fees (Everyone Pays)

Optional Fees

True Monthly Cost Scenario

A renter in the two bedroom at 60% AMI ($1,634/month) with one pet under 35 lbs:

• Base rent: $1,634
• Monthly pet rent: $0
• Trash fee: $0
• Total monthly: $1,634
• Upfront costs: $99 deposit + $250 pet deposit + $250 pet non-refundable fee = $599 total to get in the door

$599 to walk into a brand new apartment. I see market rate communities in this area charging $300–$800 for just the security deposit, before you even touch pet fees.

Want to Compare This Property’s True Cost to Nearby Options?

Comparing tax credit pricing against market rate communities is tricky because the rules are totally different. I can walk you through how Carver Ridge stacks up against the other options in Hutto and Round Rock. Takes about 10 minutes.

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Screening Criteria

Here’s where it gets different from a regular apartment.

Income Requirements: Caps and Minimums

At a normal apartment, more income is always better. Tax credit properties flip that. You still need to earn enough to cover rent, but you can’t earn above the AMI cap for your unit’s tier. Too much income and you’re disqualified.

Williamson County 2026 AMI Limits (4 person household):

These caps are for a four person household. If you live alone, your cap is lower. If you have a bigger household, it’s higher. The leasing office has the full chart by household size, and HUD updates the numbers every year (most recently May 2026).

The 12 market rate units don’t have income caps, but you’ll still need to make enough to qualify. Most Wilhoit properties ask for 2.5x–3x rent. Call the leasing office at (512) 481-4025 to confirm what they’re asking here.

Credit and Background Screening

Wilhoit Properties runs the same screening system across all 200+ of their properties. They told the BBB that “all applications are processed through our property management software system, and decisions are made based on standardized screening criteria.” That’s corporate speak for: there’s a formula, and the onsite team follows it.

I couldn’t find a published credit score minimum or any specifics on how they screen backgrounds on their website or any listing site. That’s pretty normal for tax credit properties. Most of them don’t post that stuff online the way market rate apartments do. If you have credit or background concerns, call the leasing office at (512) 481-4025 and ask before you spend time on the application.

Here’s what I can tell you based on how most tax credit properties around Austin handle screening:

• Tax credit properties tend to be more flexible on credit than Class A market rate communities. They’re built for a different renter profile, so the bar is usually lower. If you’re dealing with credit or background challenges, I cover how screening works across property classes in my second chance apartments guide
• You’ll hand over more paperwork than at a regular apartment. Expect to bring pay stubs, tax returns, a letter from your employer, and bank statements
• Getting approved takes longer than a regular apartment (sometimes 2–4 weeks) because they have to verify your income against the AMI limits before they can say yes

Application Process

1. Contact the leasing office at (512) 481-4025 or visit during office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM)
2. Complete application ($0 fee with current special)
3. Bring income proof for everyone in your household
4. Income certification review (they check that your income is under the cap)
5. Standard screening (credit, background, rental history)
6. Approval and lease signing

Here’s what working with a locator does for you here: I can tell you in about 5 minutes whether your household income falls in the eligible range for this property’s units. Tax credit rules trip people up, and I’d rather save you the hassle of filling out forms that won’t go anywhere. I can also point you toward other income based communities with no waiting list that are taking applications right now.

What to Watch For (New Property Assessment)

Carver Ridge opened in 2024 and has only 3 Google reviews as of this writing. I checked every platform I normally sweep: ApartmentRatings, Yelp, Birdeye, ModernMsg, VeryApt, ForRent, ApartmentHomeLiving, Apartments.com, RentersVoice, and Facebook.

Zero reviews on any of them.

Three Google reviews is all the resident feedback that exists right now. That’s not enough to see any real trends. I’m not going to pretend I can spot a pattern from three reviews. Here’s what those reviews actually say, and what to keep an eye on as the property fills up.

What the 3 Reviews Tell Us

Jennifer Martinez (also referred to as “Jenn”) is mentioned by name in all three reviews. A staff member named Deche also gets a positive mention. That’s a tiny sample. But when all three people mention the same staff member positively, that’s at least worth something.

One reviewer, Monica Rangel, said she hesitated to even apply because of her credit. She ended up having a good experience. If you’re in a similar spot, that’s worth knowing.

Management Response Pattern

Wilhoit/Zimmerman responds to all three Google reviews. Responses are brief, personalized (they use the reviewer’s name), and positive. No template language. Response times range from a few days to a few months. For a new property with a small staff, that’s reasonable.

What I’d Watch Over the Next 12 Months

Maintenance response times. Every new building has warranty period items that come up. How fast Wilhoit gets to those first requests will tell you a lot. One reviewer already praised maintenance. Good start. But BBB complaints about other Wilhoit properties mention slow maintenance and delayed work orders. And Indeed employee reviews bring up understaffing over and over again across the company’s 200+ properties. Carver Ridge is small (60 units) and new, so it may dodge those problems. But it’s the pattern to watch.

How the leasing office handles the paperwork load. Tax credit applications take more time and documentation than regular leases. As turnover picks up and yearly income checks pile up, you’ll see whether the office can keep up or if things start dragging. On the positive side, Wilhoit employees on Indeed say the training program is solid, which helps for a newer site team.

Pest management. New construction on the edge of Hutto means the building is surrounded by open land. Fire ants, spiders, and general pest issues are common in this part of Texas. Keep an eye on whether the property sprays on a regular schedule or waits for complaints.

Parking and towing. With 60 units and only surface lot parking, watch for whether the lot gets tight, especially in three bedroom units where households might have two or three vehicles. BBB complaints about other Wilhoit properties include parking and towing fights. Nothing like that has come up at Carver Ridge, but it’s worth knowing about the company that runs the place.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section.

I’m not trying to kill the deal here. Carver Ridge has real advantages for the right renter. But you should know what you’re signing up for.

The Washer/Dryer Situation Needs a Phone Call

Six listing sites say “washer/dryer in each unit.” The property’s own marketing on AffordableHousing.com says “WASHERS/DRYERS in every unit.” But my database lists it as “Fullsize, Connection,” which usually means hookups, not machines.

So which is it? Probably machines included. The “connection” label likely describes the hookup type (full size vs. stackable), not “bring your own.” But “probably” isn’t good enough when you’re planning a move. Call the leasing office at (512) 481-4025 and ask. If you do need to bring machines, budget $800–$1,200 for a basic set or $30–$50/month to rent.

The 35 Pound Pet Weight Limit Is Restrictive

At 35 pounds, you’re limited to small breeds. A full grown Beagle tops out around 30 pounds. A Cocker Spaniel, maybe 28. Anything bigger, and you’re shopping elsewhere. Breed restrictions also apply, though the specific restricted breeds aren’t published. If you have any bully breed, Rottweiler, Doberman, or German Shepherd mix, call the leasing office before you get attached to the idea.

This Is a Car Dependent Location With Real Commute Costs

Hutto has no meaningful public transit. The nearest bus connection is 8 miles away in Round Rock. If you commute to downtown Austin, you’re looking at 50–70 minutes during rush hour, or $40–$100/month in toll road costs to take SH-130. This isn’t a location issue specific to Carver Ridge. It’s a Hutto reality. But the rent savings can get eaten by transportation costs if your job is in central Austin.

You Have to Re-Qualify Every Year

Once you move in, you have to prove your income still falls under the AMI limit every year. If your income goes up past the cap, things get complicated. You won’t be evicted in most cases. But your rent may jump to market rate. On a two bedroom here, that’s the difference between $730 and $1,585. Know this going in.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to See Alternatives?

If Carver Ridge works for your situation, I can help you get in the door. If it doesn’t, I can show you what else is out there. Tax credit communities have specific qualification windows, and I know which ones are taking applications right now.

Get started here

FAQ

Is Carver Ridge Apartments in Hutto income restricted?

Yes. 48 of 60 units are income restricted through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program at 30%, 50%, and 60% AMI tiers. The other 12 are market rate. Call the leasing office at (512) 481-4025 for current income limit charts.

What are the income limits for Carver Ridge Apartments?

HUD sets these limits and updates them every year. For a four person household in Williamson County in 2026, the rough caps are $35,050 (30% AMI), $58,400 (50% AMI), and $70,080 (60% AMI). Your cap depends on how many people live in your household. The leasing office has the full chart.

Does Carver Ridge accept Section 8 vouchers?

The AffordableHousing.com listing mentions Section 8 eligibility, but Wilhoit told the BBB that having a voucher doesn’t guarantee approval. Tax credit housing and Section 8 are two different programs. One doesn’t automatically come with the other. Call the property at (512) 481-4025 and ask before you start paperwork.

What school district serves Carver Ridge Apartments?

Hutto Independent School District. Zoned schools are Ray Elementary, Farley Middle School, and Hutto High School.

Does Carver Ridge have washer and dryer in the unit?

Six listing sites and the property’s own marketing say “washer/dryer in each unit.” My database lists it as “Fullsize, Connection,” which could mean hookups only. Everything points to machines being included, but call (512) 481-4025 to confirm before you plan your move.

How far is Carver Ridge from Austin?

Downtown Austin is about 28 miles southwest. Off peak, you’re looking at 35–45 minutes. Rush hour pushes that to 50–70 minutes on I-35, or a bit less on SH-130 (toll road, about $2–$5 per trip).

Are there apartments near Carver Ridge in Hutto?

Yes. The Narrows is 0.23 miles away (market rate, built 2023, $1,405–$1,850). Other nearby communities include Trails at Carmel Creek (1.83 miles), Hutto Station (2.15 miles), and Resia Hutto Square (2.14 miles). Most of the other options nearby are market rate and priced higher.

Does Carver Ridge allow large dogs?

No. The pet weight limit is 35 pounds with breed restrictions. If you have a dog over 35 pounds, you’ll need to look at communities that allow large dogs or have no weight restrictions.

What is the application fee at Carver Ridge?

Currently $0 (waived through the current special). The standard application fee is $10. The security deposit is reduced to $99 with the current promotion.

The Bottom Line

Carver Ridge gives you something genuinely hard to find in the Austin metro right now: brand new construction at income restricted pricing. A two bedroom starting at $730 (30% AMI) or $1,634 (60% AMI), in a 2024 building with modern finishes and a $99 deposit. The market rate new build next door starts at $1,585+ for the same size unit. If you qualify, the math speaks for itself.

The main trade-off is qualification. You have to fall within specific income brackets, and the paperwork is heavier than a regular apartment application. You also have to be comfortable living in east Hutto. That means a car is required, downtown Austin is 35–70 minutes away, and the restaurant and retail scene is still catching up to the growth.

This property makes sense if:

• Your household income qualifies for one of the tax credit tiers and you want the newest building at that price point in Williamson County
• You work in Hutto, Taylor, Round Rock, or the northeast Austin tech corridor and want to keep your commute under 25 minutes
• You’re looking for a quiet, smaller community (60 units) rather than a 300 unit complex
• You want to get in cheap: $99 deposit, $0 app fee, no admin fee. Try finding that anywhere else

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• Your income exceeds the AMI caps for the restricted units
• You commute to downtown Austin daily and aren’t willing to pay tolls or sit in traffic
• You have a pet over 35 pounds
• You need immediate availability (units are currently showing “On Notice” status)

My honest take: for the renter who qualifies, this is one of the better deals in the Hutto market right now. You’re getting 2024 construction quality at pricing well below the market rate community literally next door. The lack of reviews is the main unknown, but all three residents who have spoken up are happy, and management responds to every review personally. That’s a decent starting point.

Need Help?

Full disclosure: Carver Ridge doesn’t pay locator referral fees. I don’t earn a commission if you move here. I’m writing this review because the property serves renters I work with regularly, and honest information matters more than a referral check.

My service is still free to you. I can help you figure out whether your income qualifies for Carver Ridge’s tax credit tiers. If it doesn’t, I’ll compare other income restricted options in the area and make sure you’re applying to the right places before you spend time on paperwork.

If you want to go direct: Call Carver Ridge at (512) 481-4025. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Just tell them “Ross Quade from Austin Apartment Team” referred you on your tour and application. Text me at 512-360-0852 when you apply so I can make sure everything’s on track.