Collier Apartments Austin Review: 6 Weeks Free in a 2007 Building. Here’s What That Actually Means.

When you look at as many Austin-area apartments as I do, a pattern shows up fast: the bigger the special, the more questions you should be asking. Collier is running 6 weeks free right now on 920+ square foot one bedrooms starting at $1,145. That’s a lot of space for the money in Pflugerville’s 78660 ZIP code. As a licensed apartment locator (TX #679806) who’s tracked this corridor for years, I can tell you the math here is real. But so is the year: 2007.

That year built matters for your daily life in ways the listing sites won’t mention. Roach complaints going back years across review after review. AC repairs that stretched past 7 days in 95-degree Texas heat. Marijuana smoke traveling through the vents between units because in a 2007 building, the vents connect apartments in ways newer construction doesn’t. A 2016 renovation gave the interiors a facelift, but it didn’t fix any of that.

Here’s what this review covers that no listing site will.

Quick Facts: Collier Apartments

The 4.0 Google rating across 308 reviews looks solid. But pull back and look at the full picture across platforms and it gets more complicated. Birdeye pulls together 477 reviews from Google, BBB, and Facebook and lands at 3.3. That gap matters. A lot of the BBB complaints are from 2–3 years ago under prior management (when the property was still called Autumn Ranch). ApartmentRatings has 34 reviews under the old name, and Yelp has another 41. I went through all of them. The patterns I break down below pull from every platform, not just Google.

Best For

You want space without paying for it. The A1 floor plan gives you 920 square feet in a one bedroom. The A2 gives you 931. That’s 100+ square feet more than what most Class B Pflugerville one bedrooms offer at this price point. If you work from home and need room for a desk setup, the square footage here makes a real difference.

You’re focused on budget and can lock into a 13+ month lease. At 6 weeks free on a 13 month lease, the net effective rent on an A1 classic unit drops to about $1,023/month. I’ll show the full math in the pricing section. That’s under $1,100 for a 920 square foot one bedroom in a gated Pflugerville community. Hard to beat that.

You need a guarantor option. Collier partners with Cosign, a credit guarantor service. If your credit or background doesn’t clear on its own, Cosign might help you get across the line. That’s not something every Pflugerville property offers. If you’re looking at second chance apartments in Austin more broadly, having a guarantor option already baked in is a real plus.

You want fenced yards or pickleball. Fenced yards in a Pflugerville apartment community are unusual. So is a pickleball court. If either of those is on your list, your options just narrowed to a handful of properties. Collier is one of them.

Skip If

You have a breed on the restricted list. Collier restricts Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Presa Canarios, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Akitas, Wolf Hybrids, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Great Danes, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and any mix of those breeds. That’s one of the longer breed restriction lists I see in this market. If you have any of those breeds, this isn’t your property.

Bugs are a dealbreaker for you. I’m going to lay this out clearly in the Uncomfortable Truth section, but bug complaints show up across multiple reviewers over multiple years at Collier. If roaches make your skin crawl, read that section before you tour.

You need fast AC repair in summer. Multiple 2026 reviewers said they waited 7+ days for AC repairs in 95 degree heat. One resident’s friend went without AC for over a week. In Texas summer, that’s not a minor inconvenience.

Ready to See If Collier Fits Your Situation?

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Collier sits on Swenson Farms Blvd, just east of FM 1825 (Pfennig Lane) in central Pflugerville. You need a car here. But the drive times to daily errands are short.

Grocery runs are easy. H-E-B on West Pecan Street is about 1.5 miles west, and there’s a Walmart Supercenter roughly 2 miles out. Dollar General and fast food are along Pecan Street within a mile.

Settler’s Ridge Retail Center is 0.7 miles away, and Lake Pflugerville Park is about 3 miles east if you want trails, swimming, or kayaking. Swenson Park is walking distance.

Schools in the attendance zone: Timmerman Elementary, Park Crest Middle, and Pflugerville High, all through Pflugerville ISD.

Commute Math

The I-35 commute south to downtown is the painful one. Rush hour regularly doubles your drive time. If you’re working at Amazon’s Pflugerville facility, Dell in Round Rock, or anything along the 130 Toll corridor, the commute math works much better.

The Actual Feel

Pflugerville isn’t Austin. It’s quieter and more spread out. The Swenson Farms area is a cluster of apartment communities and newer residential development. There’s not much to walk to, and nobody’s pretending otherwise. You’re here for the space, the price, and the shorter commute to north side employers.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

The rent spread between classic and renovated units is $125–175/month. What does that extra money get you? Renovated units have white quartz countertops, undermount sinks, and stainless steel appliances. Classic units come with the original 2007 finishes and standard appliances. Both include full size washers and dryers, a patio or balcony, and oversized garden tubs, so you’re not losing anything on the basics by going classic.

Two bedroom plans are also available (the B1 at 1,213 sqft starts around $1,550–$1,630 base rent, plus the same $152/month in mandatory fees). Call (512) 548-4287 for current two bedroom availability.

Net Effective Rent Calculation

The special is 6 weeks free on a 13+ month lease. Here’s the math on the most affordable unit:

• Base rent: $1,145/month (A1 classic)
• Lease term: 13 months = 395 days
• Free rent: 6 weeks = 42 days
• Daily multiplier: (395 – 42) ÷ 395 = 0.8937
• Net effective rent: $1,145 × 0.8937 = $1,023/month
• Monthly savings: $1,145 – $1,023 = $122/month

For a renovated A1 unit at $1,320:

• $1,320 × 0.8937 = $1,180/month
• Monthly savings: $140/month

That $1,023 net effective for 920 square feet is strong for Pflugerville. For context, the Pflugerville one bedroom average is around $1,281 according to Apartments.com data.

Fee Breakdown

Required Fees (everyone pays):

That’s $152/month in mandatory fees on top of base rent before you add parking or pets. And the $257.55 admin fee at move in is higher than what most Pflugerville properties charge.

Optional Fees:

Here’s what bugs me: Collier’s own website doesn’t list any of these fee amounts. You’d only find them buried in the Apartments.com cost calculator. If you’re comparing properties on the Collier website alone, you’d have no idea $152/month in mandatory charges is coming.

True Monthly Cost Scenario

Now I can show you the real number. Take an A1 classic unit at $1,145 base rent. Add the $152/month in mandatory fees. That’s $1,297/month before the special. Add one pet ($25/month pet rent) and covered parking ($50/month), and you’re at $1,372/month.

After the 6 weeks free on a 13 month lease, the base rent portion drops to $1,023 net effective. But the mandatory fees don’t get discounted. So your real monthly out of pocket with one pet and covered parking is roughly $1,250/month.

The gap between the advertised $1,145 and the actual $1,297 just in mandatory fees is $152/month. That’s $1,824/year you didn’t see coming if you only looked at the listing price. And at move in, you’re paying $50.72 per applicant in screening fees plus a $257.55 admin fee before you even get a key.

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

I track fee structures across Pflugerville communities. I can show you what you’d actually pay monthly here vs. comparable properties in the 78660 ZIP.

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Screening Criteria

Income Requirement

Collier requires 3x monthly rent in gross income. Here’s what that looks like:

The 3x requirement is standard. Nothing unusual about that. At $19.82/hour for the cheapest unit, this property is in reach for a lot of working renters. But it’s not the 2.5x you’d find at some second chance properties.

Credit and Background Screening

Everyone 18 and older on the lease has to clear a credit, criminal, and rental history check. They use a system called Get100, paired with CLEAR, to make sure your application docs are legit.

They don’t publish a credit score minimum anywhere. Their FAQ just says you need to “pass” screening, which usually means they have cutoffs they don’t share publicly. That’s frustrating but not unusual.

So what does that mean in practice? Collier is a Class B property managed by Knightvest. Class B properties in Austin generally work in the 580+ credit range, with higher deposits for scores below 620. But each management company sets its own cutoffs.

The Cosign Guarantor Option

Collier partners with Cosign, a credit guarantor service. If your credit or rental history has some marks on it, pay attention to this part. Cosign looks at your full picture, not just the number. If Cosign approves you, the property may say yes even if your credit or background would’ve been a no on its own.

This doesn’t mean anyone gets approved. But it means there’s a way in for renters who need extra help qualifying. Not every Pflugerville property has this.

What Gets You Denied

Collier doesn’t publish their denial triggers. But based on what I know about Class B Knightvest properties, here’s what usually gets you turned down:

• Active property debt (money owed to a previous landlord)
• Eviction filings within the last 2–5 years (varies by management company). If you’re dealing with an eviction, check out my breakdown of apartments in Austin that accept evictions.
• Felony convictions that are too recent (how recent depends on the charge)
• Fraudulent application documents (Get100/CLEAR screens for this)
• Income below 3x rent without a guarantor like Cosign to back you up

If you have a broken lease on your record, reach out before you pay the app fee. I can check whether your profile has a shot here or if we should look at other options. And if you’ve already been denied at another property, I can help figure out what went wrong.

Here’s what separates working with a locator from applying blind: I can tell you if your income, credit, and rental history will pass Collier’s screening before you spend $50.72 per person finding out. If Collier looks tight, I know which nearby Pflugerville communities have more flexibility. I also work with renters looking at eviction friendly apartments across the Austin metro.

Resident Reviews Decoded

I went through every review platform I could find for this property. Google has 308 reviews at 4.0 stars. ApartmentRatings has 34 under the old Autumn Ranch name. Yelp has 41. Birdeye pulls 477 reviews together from Google, BBB (110), and Facebook, landing at 3.3 overall. Here’s what the patterns show.

Review Pattern Analysis

What’s Working

The staff is the clear strength here. 74 combined Google mentions of “friendly staff” and “kind staff” out of 308 reviews is a big number. Specific names keep showing up: Yvonne, Sariah, Sofia, Genesis, Angelo Soto, Emily, Karla, Miranda, Jasmine, Yolanda, and Angela (new manager, praised on ForRent). When that many people call out staff by name across months of reviews on different sites, the office team is doing something right.

Jose on the maintenance team gets multiple standalone Google reviews praising his work. One resident said his arrival “did a complete 180 for our living situation.” Another gave him credit for finally fixing an AC problem that kept coming back.

One ApartmentHomeLiving reviewer said they’d been in the same unit for 10 years and still loved it. And a few Google reviewers said the application was quick, with one saying it took 3 days start to finish.

What’s Not Working

Pest complaints go back years on Google, ApartmentRatings, and BBB. On Google, the word “roach” appears in multiple reviews. One described an active German roach infestation in their kitchen. An older ApartmentRatings review (back when it was still Autumn Ranch) said the reviewer moved into a unit that was “infested with roaches” and had to have it bombed before they could actually move in. A third resident said they don’t have pest problems at all, so it may be building or unit specific. But it shows up on every review site, and that tells you something.

AC and appliance problems aren’t limited to Google. BBB reviews tell the same story. Three Google reviewers in mid-2026 said they waited 7+ days for AC repair in 95+ degree heat. Older BBB reviews tell the same story on AC and heating, plus appliances failing left and right: washers, dryers, refrigerators, and heat pumps taking weeks and multiple requests to fix.

Towing and rule changes: On ForRent and BBB, reviewers say cars get towed from paid spots for things like a flat tire. One ForRent reviewer said policy changes come in a single email. Miss it, and you could wake up to your car gone or get locked out of the gate.

What you tour vs. what you get: A BBB reviewer said they toured an updated apartment but got a unit with old appliances that barely worked. A Google reviewer’s advice: walk through the actual unit before you sign anything. Pay attention here because Collier has both classic and renovated units at different price points. You could tour a renovated model and end up in a classic.

Important context: Many of the BBB reviews (110 of the 477 Birdeye total) are from 2–3 years ago under prior management when the property was still Autumn Ranch. Knightvest took over, rebranded to Collier, and the recent Google reviews are a lot better. But some issues (pests, AC delays) show up under both names.

One more thing on how the office handles feedback: Collier responds to most Google reviews, but it’s template language. Negative reviews get redirected to call (512) 859-4288 or (512) 548-4287. Very few show a personalized response. On BBB, most negative reviews got no reply at all.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section.

I’m not trying to kill the deal. I want you to know what you’re signing up for before you sign a 13 month lease.

The Pest History Is Real

This is the biggest red flag at Collier. German roach complaints go back years and show up on multiple platforms. One reviewer who said they used to work at the property called cockroaches an ongoing problem. Another said their kid had to move out because of how bad it got. A third said the property was “infested with roaches, bugs and ants.”

Collier charges a mandatory monthly pest control fee. Whether that fee is keeping things under control or they’re just spraying units after complaints come in, that’s something to ask during your tour. Ask to see the unit you’d actually move into, not a model.

AC Repairs in Texas Summer Aren’t Fast Enough

In June and July 2026, at least three residents said they went 7+ days without air conditioning in 95 degree heat. One resident said emergency maintenance told them their plumbing issue wasn’t a real emergency. Someone else’s friend left a separate review about the same AC outage, saying the complex “does not care about your health or well being.”

AC units in a 2007 building in Texas are running at full blast six months out of the year. When they fail and repairs take a week, that’s a real problem.

$152/Month in Mandatory Fees Hides in the Fine Print

Collier’s listing price starts at $1,145. Your actual monthly bill starts at $1,297 once you add the mandatory tech fee ($10), trash ($20), property protection ($22), valet trash ($25), pest ($5), and internet ($70). That internet fee alone is $70/month, which is steep. They also sign you up for RentPlus credit reporting at $10–$15/month. You can cancel it, but you have to ask. If you don’t, you’re paying it every month. None of these amounts show up on Collier’s own website. You’d only find them in the Apartments.com cost calculator or by calling the office.

The Unit You Tour May Not Be the Unit You Get

Pay attention to this one. It came up on both BBB and Google. A BBB reviewer said they toured a nice updated apartment, then moved into a unit with old appliances that barely worked. Washer/dryer didn’t function, stove only had 2 of 4 burners working, refrigerator had no handle. A Google reviewer said “I highly suggest walking through your potential unit before moving in.” Because Collier has both classic and renovated units, you could easily tour one and end up in the other. Always ask to see the exact unit you’ll be signing for.

Towing and Rule Changes Can Catch You Off Guard

ForRent and BBB reviewers say they got towed from their own paid parking spots. One person got towed over a flat tire. Collier sends rule changes out in a mass email. Miss it and you could wake up to your car towed or find yourself locked out of the gate. Before you sign, ask the leasing office to walk you through every rule that could cost you money.

Smoke Travels Between Units

Weed smoke coming through the vents is a recurring complaint on Google. One resident said the smoke fills their entire apartment. Another said weed smell was the only bad thing about living there. That’s a 2007 building thing. The vents run between units, and there’s nothing the management can really do about it short of a full retrofit.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to See Alternatives?

Whether Collier works for you or not, I can check your situation against this property and 5–10 nearby options so you’re not guessing.

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FAQ

Does Collier accept dogs?

Yes, up to 2 pets per apartment. But they have a long breed restriction list that includes German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Great Danes, Huskies, Mastiffs, Dobermans, and several other breeds plus mixes. The pet fee is $350 non-refundable per pet, plus $25/month pet rent per pet.

What is the income requirement at Collier?

3x the monthly rent in gross income. For the cheapest one bedroom at $1,145, that’s $3,435/month or about $19.82/hour.

Does Collier accept applicants with bad credit?

They run credit, criminal, and rental history checks on everyone. They also partner with Cosign, a credit guarantor, which can help renters with lower credit scores get approved. Specific credit minimums aren’t published.

What was Collier previously called?

Collier was previously known as Autumn Ranch on Swenson Farms. ApartmentRatings (34 reviews), Yelp (41 reviews), and BBB (110 reviews) still list the old name. Most of those are from prior management, but pest and AC issues show up under both names.

Is Collier a gated community?

Yes, fenced and gated. That said, at least one reviewer mentioned broken gates and vehicle break-ins. Ask about the gate status during your tour.

What schools is Collier zoned to?

Pflugerville ISD: Timmerman Elementary, Park Crest Middle School, and Pflugerville High School.

Does Collier have washers and dryers in the unit?

Yes. Full size washers and dryers are included. Confirm with the leasing office that your specific unit type has them, since some listings say “select units.”

How far is Collier from downtown Austin?

About 20–25 minutes off peak, 35–50 in rush hour. The Domain is closer at 15–20 minutes.

What’s the difference between classic and renovated units?

Renovated units have white quartz countertops, undermount sinks, and stainless steel appliances. Classic units have the original 2007 finishes. Price difference: $125–175/month for the same floor plan.

The Bottom Line

Collier’s math is hard to argue with. A 920 square foot one bedroom at $1,023/month net effective in a gated Pflugerville community with full size washers and dryers, fenced yards, and a pickleball court.

The staff gets genuinely strong reviews. 74 out of 308 Google reviews call out friendly or kind staff, often by name. You can’t fake that. And the Cosign partnership gives renters with credit issues a real shot at getting approved.

But the uncomfortable truths are real too. Bug problems going back years across multiple reviewers and platforms. AC repairs that took 7+ days in triple digit heat. Weed smoke coming through the vents. And $152/month in mandatory fees that don’t show up on the listing price.

This property makes sense if: you want a large one bedroom in Pflugerville for under $1,100/month net effective and you can commit to a 13+ month lease. Your pets aren’t on the restricted breed list. And you’re willing to walk through the exact unit you’d be moving into before you sign anything.

This property doesn’t make sense if: you have a restricted dog breed or you’re really sensitive to pest issues. It also doesn’t work if you need fast AC repair turnaround or you work from home and need reliable WiFi. Internet complaints showed up in reviews too.

My honest take: Collier is a solid Class B value play in Pflugerville. If you’re also looking at luxury apartments in Pflugerville at a higher price point, it’s worth seeing what that extra money actually gets you. But go in with eyes open. Tour the specific unit. Ask what they’re doing about bugs. Get every fee in writing before you sign. If everything checks out on your walkthrough, the price per square foot here is one of the better deals in the 78660 ZIP.

Need Help?

My service is free. I’m paid a referral fee from the property’s marketing budget. Your rent is the same whether you use me or apply on your own.

Want to know if Collier will work for your situation, or compare it against other Pflugerville options at this price point? Fill out the intake form or reach out directly. I’ll tell you whether your income, credit, and rental history will work here before you spend $50.72 on the application.

If you’d rather apply on your own, call Collier directly at (512) 548-4287. 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.